title: Governance and conflict in Pakistan: Developing a Conflict Prevention and Reduction (CPR) model to promote peace in Baluchistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA)

authors: Karim, Muhammad Arsalan

subjects: Conflict Prevention and Reduction

abstract: Pakistan is an unstable country, home to a single religious nation made up of four major regional ethnic sub-nations. The inability of the political leadership of Pakistan to successfully connect and merge the interests of the nation and sub-nations with the interests of the state has been a longstanding issue. This has weakened the central political institution and allowed the military and civil bureaucracies, feudal elites and oligarch families to dominate the central government, preventing it from delivering good governance to the nation and sub-nations. These key central stakeholders allow the tribal chiefs, and religious and ethnic elites to dominate the regional political institutions and to become key regional stakeholders, triggering religious and ethnic conflict. Out of the four major sub-nation regions in Pakistan, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Baluchistan are hotbeds of religious terrorism and ethnic insurgency, generating a conflict that affects the rest of the country.

Through a mix of secondary data and primary information (that includes field interviews and surveys) gathered from Baluchistan, FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), this thesis reveals the existence of sub-states that operate as discrete regional systems of socio-political governance. The study provides empirical evidence that the religious and ethnic conflicts in Pakistan are produced and sustained by these socio-political structures and their governance mechanisms. These conflicts exist in FATA and Baluchistan but not in KP – this difference between the regions offers an opportunity to consider why KP has been more successful than FATA and Baluchistan. This, in turn, provides an opportunity to consider why the governance structures and mechanisms in KP have been successful, and in the process to develop a new Conflict Prevention and Reduction (CPR) model focused on improving governance in FATA and Baluchistan. This could reduce violence and terrorism in Pakistan, while the model has potential relevance for fractured nations beyond Pakistan.

text: Governance and conflict in Pakistan: Developing a Conflict Prevention and Reduction (CPR) model to promote peace in Baluchistan and the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) Pakistan is an unstable country, home to a single religious nation made up of four major regional ethnic sub-nations. The inability of the political leadership of Pakistan to successfully connect and merge the interests of the nation and sub-nations with the interests of the state has been a longstanding issue. This has weakened the central political institution and allowed the military and civil bureaucracies, feudal elites and oligarch families to dominate the central government, preventing it from delivering good governance to the nation and sub-nations. These key central stakeholders allow the tribal chiefs, and religious and ethnic elites to dominate the regional political institutions and to become key regional stakeholders, triggering religious and ethnic conflict. Out of the four major sub-nation regions in Pakistan, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Baluchistan are hotbeds of religious terrorism and ethnic insurgency, generating a conflict that affects the rest of the country.

Through a mix of secondary data and primary information (that includes field interviews and surveys) gathered from Baluchistan, FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), this thesis reveals the existence of sub-states that operate as discrete regional systems of socio-political governance. The study provides empirical evidence that the religious and ethnic conflicts in Pakistan are produced and sustained by these socio-political structures and their governance mechanisms. These conflicts exist in FATA and Baluchistan but not in KP – this difference between the regions offers an opportunity to consider why KP has been more successful than FATA and Baluchistan. This, in turn, provides an opportunity to consider why the governance structures and mechanisms in KP have been successful, and in the process to develop a new Conflict Prevention and Reduction (CPR) model focused on improving governance in FATA and Baluchistan. This could reduce violence and terrorism in Pakistan, while the model has potential relevance for fractured nations beyond Pakistan.

year: 2022

title: An appreciative view of year 9 student leadership in a New Zealand secondary school context

authors: Mackay, Janine Karen

subjects: Student Leadership

abstract: Engaging students in relevant and meaningful leadership activities in schools can prove to be a challenging task. Understanding the leadership experiences and skills that students have is an important beginning step to understanding how schools can best serve their needs. This thesis shares the details of a qualitative research project, which explored year 9 students’ perspectives and experiences of leadership. The study engaged a strengths-based approach to learning and, amongst other things, encouraged students to reflect upon past experiences of leadership. Central to the research design were the voices of the students as they examined these past experiences to find out what factors made leadership enjoyable, meaningful and useful to them. 
The findings indicated the significant difference in opportunities students were provided in year 8 (intermediate school) as compared with year 9 (secondary school). Coming from environments where students most often had significant leadership opportunities, upon entering high school students perceived few opportunities for leadership. Students shared their views about ways they could contribute to and be involved in leadership at secondary school and suggested changes that needed to occur for this to happen. The findings also highlighted the powerful influence of the school and family on students’ leadership understandings and demonstrated that leadership development for young people should not be something schools ‘do’ to them but something that encourages them to recognise their existing skills and future potential.

text: An appreciative view of year 9 student leadership in a New Zealand secondary school context Engaging students in relevant and meaningful leadership activities in schools can prove to be a challenging task. Understanding the leadership experiences and skills that students have is an important beginning step to understanding how schools can best serve their needs. This thesis shares the details of a qualitative research project, which explored year 9 students’ perspectives and experiences of leadership. The study engaged a strengths-based approach to learning and, amongst other things, encouraged students to reflect upon past experiences of leadership. Central to the research design were the voices of the students as they examined these past experiences to find out what factors made leadership enjoyable, meaningful and useful to them. 
The findings indicated the significant difference in opportunities students were provided in year 8 (intermediate school) as compared with year 9 (secondary school). Coming from environments where students most often had significant leadership opportunities, upon entering high school students perceived few opportunities for leadership. Students shared their views about ways they could contribute to and be involved in leadership at secondary school and suggested changes that needed to occur for this to happen. The findings also highlighted the powerful influence of the school and family on students’ leadership understandings and demonstrated that leadership development for young people should not be something schools ‘do’ to them but something that encourages them to recognise their existing skills and future potential.

year: 2014

title: Kei moenga - Tārā i te ārero. Lest it be severed from the tongue

authors: Bailey, Iraia Thompson

subjects: te reo Māori

abstract: Tūwharetoa are a distinctive tribal group who are located within the central North Island. With a proud and celebrated history, Tūwharetoa evolved through out time to become a complex and unique tribe, containing a number of sub tribes, each with its own authority, structure and land holdings. However, like all Māori, Tūwharetoa were greatly affected by the impact of European colonisation. In particular the unique language and customs of Tūwharetoa where savaged by the policy of assimilation and the introduction of a new language and its cultural beliefs. Presently the traditional language of Tūwharetoa is in a perilous state, and regardless of the many Māori language initiatives that have been established over the past few decades, the special language of Tūwharetoa is declining. This thesis is concerned with understanding the reasons why the traditional language of Tūwharetoa finds itself in this position, while also assessing the initatives implemented by Tūwharetoa to rectify this situation. Furthermore this study will look to create a possible pathway forward for Tūwharetoa to support the regeneration and revitalisation of the language. Ultimately this thesis will propose a framework bedded within language planning theory, supported by a kaupapa Māori research methodology and founded within the beliefs of Tūwharetoa, to see the return of te reo Māori as the main form of communication for the people of Tūwharetoa, and as a clear marker of our identity and uniqueness.

text: Kei moenga - Tārā i te ārero. Lest it be severed from the tongue Tūwharetoa are a distinctive tribal group who are located within the central North Island. With a proud and celebrated history, Tūwharetoa evolved through out time to become a complex and unique tribe, containing a number of sub tribes, each with its own authority, structure and land holdings. However, like all Māori, Tūwharetoa were greatly affected by the impact of European colonisation. In particular the unique language and customs of Tūwharetoa where savaged by the policy of assimilation and the introduction of a new language and its cultural beliefs. Presently the traditional language of Tūwharetoa is in a perilous state, and regardless of the many Māori language initiatives that have been established over the past few decades, the special language of Tūwharetoa is declining. This thesis is concerned with understanding the reasons why the traditional language of Tūwharetoa finds itself in this position, while also assessing the initatives implemented by Tūwharetoa to rectify this situation. Furthermore this study will look to create a possible pathway forward for Tūwharetoa to support the regeneration and revitalisation of the language. Ultimately this thesis will propose a framework bedded within language planning theory, supported by a kaupapa Māori research methodology and founded within the beliefs of Tūwharetoa, to see the return of te reo Māori as the main form of communication for the people of Tūwharetoa, and as a clear marker of our identity and uniqueness.

year: 2013