Seminar Portfolio: South Asia and Africa's Development Challenges

This seminar portfolio explores two critical issues in international relations: the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan in South Asia and the development challenges faced by African states. The first seminar examines the historical and political factors contributing to the unresolved Kashmir dispute, highlighting the complexities of diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. The second seminar delves into the concept of 'weak states' and analyzes why many African states are categorized as such, focusing on the challenges of governance, security, and economic development. The portfolio provides a comprehensive analysis of these issues, drawing on relevant academic literature and offering insights into potential solutions.

The Seminar Portfolio
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Contents
Seminar 16- South Asia.............................................................................................................3
Question 1- Why have India and Pakistan been unable to resolve the sources of conflict in
South Asia through diplomatic means?..................................................................................3
Seminar 18- Africa II: Development Challenge........................................................................6
Question 1- What do political scientists mean when they call states 'weak' and why are
most African states placed in this category?..........................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................8
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Seminar 16- South Asia
Question 1- Why have India and Pakistan been unable to resolve the sources of conflict
in South Asia through diplomatic means?
Introduction
The India and Pakistan relations are popular all over the world. The nations have faced and
are facing the toughest and hardest time in resolving such issues. The partition of India took
paces in 1947 which was because of the British rule that this decision has been taken. This
decision has created two states India and Pakistan and after some time in 1971, Bangladesh
also gets a different nation. The borders of India and Pakistan are still in the fight whereas the
authorities of both the nations are in the nature of improving the relations (Spate and
Learmonth, 2017). The relations of the nations are unsorted because of the ownership and
usage of the northwest region of India known as Jammu and Kashmir.
India and Pakistan have been unable to resolve the sources of conflict in South Asia
through diplomatic means
This conflict between the two nations is because the Jammu and Kashmir are very important
for both of the countries. These countries may enrich their population and economy through
the use of the Indus River which is a rich source of water, irrigation, fishing, and energy.
The complete picture provides that the India Pakistan will fight for long as they are unable to
resolve this issue through diplomatic means (Spate and Learmonth, 2017). This is clear that
both of the states cannot give up having or attaining Jammu and Kashmir because of its
richness in resources. The Kashmir and Pakistanis were interested in making one nation of
Kashmir and Pakistan. Because of the majority of the population in Kashmir is Muslims, the
favor toward the Pakistan authorities is more in Kashmir. The 70% population of Kashmir is
Muslim (McLeod, 2016). Pakistan also considers the Kashmir into their hand because of the
weaker section of the world. As their economy is weaker and not enough strong to connect
and conflict with the other countries easily, their motive is to include Jammu and Kashmir
into their hands and improve the economy and population by acquiring. The countries are
facing some major issues in resolving the conflicts in the diplomatic means because their
reasons for acquiring the Jammu and Kashmir are not strong enough. Providing the
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information on both sides it is very necessary that the countries resolve this issue as soon as
possible (McLeod, 2016). Because if this issues many terrorists attacks and other risks are
occurring in India and Pakistan as well as different countries have their less opinion on the
issue because of the terror attacks issues.
On the other hand, the seminar also provided about the information by which the relations
could be improved between India and Pakistan. There are many opinions of people on the
relations between these two countries but the situation and circumstances are under the
control of these countries (Mitra, 2017). This makes it tough for the people as well. Everyone
wants the relations between these two nations could be improved so as to enhance the power
of the world. The opinion regarding the improvement in the relations of these nations
includes the role of institutionalises mechanisms to resolve the issues or problem of terrorism
in the countries could be done by the authorities. The issue of water from the Indus River has
become one f the major relations for conflicts (Mitra, 2017). To remain to unsettle this issue
from being a serious conflict the countries must focus on the treaty and agreements to resolve
the issue.
The relations of the nations are unsorted because of the ownership and usage of the northwest
region of India known as Jammu and Kashmir. The complete picture provides that the India
Pakistan will fight for long as they are unable to resolve this issue through diplomatic means.
The Kashmir and Pakistanis were interested in making one nation of Kashmir and Pakistan.
Pakistan also considers the Kashmir into their hand because of the weaker section of the
world. The countries are facing some major issues in resolving the conflicts in the diplomatic
means because their reasons for acquiring the Jammu and Kashmir are not strong enough
(Mukherjee, 2018). There are many opinions of people on the relations between these two
countries but the situation and circumstances are under the control of these countries. The
issue of water from the Indus River has become one f the major relations for conflicts. The
issues related to Kashmir take over must be concerned in the manner of the effective sales.
The nations have faced and are facing the toughest and hardest time in resolving such issues.
These countries may enrich their population and economy through the use of the Indus River
which is a rich source of water, irrigation, fishing, and energy (Mukherjee, 2018). This is
clear that both of the states cannot give up having or attaining Jammu and Kashmir because
of its richness in resources. Because if this issues many terrorists attacks and other risks are
occurring in India and Pakistan as well as different countries have their less opinion on the
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issue because of the terror attacks issues. Everyone wants the relations between these two
nations could be improved so as to enhance the power of the world (Mukherjee, 2018). To
remain to unsettle this issue from being a serious conflict the countries must focus on the
treaty and agreements to resolve the issue.
Conclusion
In my opinion, the seminar has provided some very useful information but at the same time,
there are some points which are to be considered for a better opinion. The India-Pakistan
conflicts are not just because of the Kashmir or terrorism but there are various trading nations
which are interfering in this conflicts and the economy of both the nations. On the other hand,
I believe that because of the globalisation, there are various issues which came across the two
nations. The politicians and the media have also mixed a role of negative aspects between the
relations of the India and Pakistan. The nature of providing them easy and accessible
information has also created a problem.
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Seminar 18- Africa II: Development Challenge
Question 1- What do political scientists mean when they call states 'weak' and why are
most African states placed in this category?
Introduction
The report presents the explanation about the weak states and the reason for which the
African states are placed in this category of weak states. The politics have chosen their way
of providing the information about the places and states. The reasons are behind them. The
nations and states are weak because of their inability to perform well. The report presents the
information about the challenges which the countries in the African continent face in the
development. The development challenge is provided in this report which comes across to the
states of Africa (Handel, 2016). The less developed or underdeveloped states of Africa takes
it to the politician’s words of the weak states.
Weak states
The weak states are those which are unable in providing or producing the good quality of
political goods or producing the lesser quality of political goods. The weak states are those
which do not provide the adequate amount of products and services of politics. This is
because of having lesser resources in the countries (Handel, 2016). There are many countries
and nations which are considered weak which include Bangladesh, south to Africa, Fiji and
Central Asian countries. These are the places or countries which help in developing the
nations in the different weak sections. The development of these countries is very ineffective
as because of the lower level ad lesser quality of resources they have. The weak states face
the challenges in the world as their competition is with the big and developed countries
having a great economy and working effectively (Mentan, 2017). The proper amount of
resources is not developed and these states face the problem.
The development of the weak states is very difficult bout on the other side some of the weak
states develops some fake strengths with the use of autocratic government. The autocracy or
dictatorship of the states and countries helps them in attaining the strength (Mentan, 2017).
This kind of states which are weak from inside but have some strength from outside shows a
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different nature of being fake. After their autocracy depletes these states fail to serve and
provide their own nation.
African states are considered weak
Africa is a continent having less economic balance. The economy of the countries in Africa is
imbalanced and not so strong. Their economy and people fail in providing and producing
political arms and goods for their own country. They are being attacked by the other countries
in a different manner which makes them weaker. The politicians use these words because
Africa is unable to develop its nation as well as strengthen their economy (Patterson, 2018).
The different reasons which show the failure of Africa and pressure the politicians to consider
it as a weaker section of the world are the safety and security issues. These safety and
security issue is one of the major reasons which affect the strength of the countries in Africa.
The nations in Africa are unable to develop the safety and security walls in their countries
because of a lack of resources and arm power (Patterson, 2018). The functioning of the
government and cross-border attacks is the reason for their weakness.
On the other hand, some of the people have an opinion that the Africans are inappropriate in
understanding the rule of law and transparency. The power of law and transparency helps the
nations in securing their properties and rights from the other countries. Many countries in
Africa face these challenges of being acquired by the different countries. Their rights and
properties are acquired in the major section of the world. This is because of their weaker
society and government. The countries have to face this challenge of being underdeveloped.
The opinion of people was also in the regards of the third major reason for their weak
economic situations are their less participation and respect for human rights (Roessler and
Ohls, 2018). Their involvement with the other countries in the major areas of the economic
concern such as participation and respect of human right also has a diminished value. This is
because they fail in protecting their human rights and participation of the human rights.
Conclusion
There are many factors which make the African countries facing such issues and challenges.
The different opinion of the people on the government of Africa and their weaker section is
also effectively judged in this report (Roessler and Ohls, 2018). The weak states face the
challenges in the world as their competition is with the big and developed countries having a
great economy and working effectively. Complete information on the weakened section and
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the society of Africa is provided under this. The countries could be improved and weak states
can be developed with effective human rights and enhance effects in other countries.
References
 Handel, M.I., 2016. Weak states in the international system. Routledge.
 McLeod, D., 2016. India and Pakistan: friends, rivals or enemies?. Routledge.
 Mentan, T., 2017. Dilemmas of weak states: Africa and transnational terrorism in the
twenty-first century. Routledge.
 Mitra, S., 2017. Intimate enemies: Trauma, violence and longing in India-Pakistan
relations: A review article. India Review, 16(2), pp.266-276.
 Mukherjee, K., 2018. Assessing security relations in the Asia Pacific: the cases of
China, India and Pakistan. Canadian Foreign Policy Journal, 24(1), pp.56-73.
 Patterson, A.S., 2018. Weak and ineffective? African states and recent international
AIDS policies. In The African state and the AIDS crisis (pp. 187-210). Routledge.
 Roessler, P. and Ohls, D., 2018. Self-Enforcing Power Sharing in Weak
States. International Organization, 72(2), pp.423-454.
 Spate, O.H.K. and Learmonth, A.T.A., 2017. India and Pakistan: A general and
regional geography. Routledge.
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