Comprises articles generated contemporaneously in response to key issues of the day, both on the national and international fronts.
2007
JIHAD REVISITED? SHIFTING DYNAMICS OF RADICAL MOVEMENTS IN INDONESIA TODAY
56 pp (2007)
By Farish Ahmad-Noor
Free
ISBN – 967-947-288-4
In this paper the author, who had spent close to two months in Indonesia, outlines his study on the translocal, transnational transfer of ideas, especially the development and reform of Islamic education at higher institutions of learning in Indonesia. He looked at the traditional sources of Islamic education i.e. the pesantrens and madrasahs. It was a journey to locate actors and agents who are part of the Islamic discursive process in Indonesia and to trace their origins.
1997
ASEAN, APEC AND ASEM: CONCENTRIC CIRCLES AND ‘OPEN CLUBS’
25 pp (1997)
By Andrew Elak & Hadi Soesastro
RM 3.50
ISBN – 967947-231-0
This paper analyses the principles for liberalising and facilitating investment in Apec set out in the 1995 Osaka Action Agenda. It also analyses the need for further refining these principles. It proposes a concise set of guiding principles which build on those agreed in Osaka and generalise the fundamental GATT/WTO principles of transparency, non-discrimination and national treatment. The authors believe the principles proposed in the paper for co-operative arrangement for economic links involving Asean and non-Asean economies.’
1990-1996
THE SOUTH PACIFIC NUCLEAR FREE ZONE
(The treaty of Rarotonga)
13 pp (1992)
By Stuart McMillan
RM4.00/US$2.00
ISBN: 967-947-161-6
In this paper the author briefly outlines how The South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, which was signed in 1985, came into being, the motives of the promoters and signatories, the contents of the treaty and some aspects of the negotiation. The argument advanced by the writer of this paper is that the world may be at a stage at which regional nuclear free zones have become more important as disarmament and arms control measures.
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE:
An overview of recent immigration and emigration in Malaysia
60 pp (1992)
By Patrick Pillai
RM7.00/US$3.50
ISBN 967-947-158-6
This paper is an attempt to provide a broad overview of immigration and emigration in Malaysia, utilising published secondary data. It describes the natures, contributory factors and consequences of cross-country labour mobility and its economic, social and political consequences.
THE POLITICS OF CONTROL AND DOMINANCE:
Subjugating Iraq and Libya
17 pp (1992)
By Chandra Muzaffar
RM4.00/US$2.00
ISBN 967-947-154-3
The current confrontational posture of Western powers towards Iraq and Libya is analysed in terms of the endeavour of Western powers, especially the US and its allies, to establish their hegemonic rule not only in West Asia but also in other parts of the world, in the context of an emerging ‘unjust’ international order.
THE SPRATLYS DISPUTES AND PROSPECTS FOR SETTLEMENT
36 pp (1992)
By Ji Guoxing
RM5.00/US$2.50
ISBN 967-947-137-3
The Spratly Islands, the biggest of the four archipelagoes in the South China Sea are claimed either in part of or wholly, by five countries: Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China. The author of this paper traces the history of the islands from its discovery and administration by the Chinese, who maintain their sovereignty over the islands, intervention by foreign powers and finally to the present conflicting claims. He says that China is all for a peaceful ‘common exploration and sharing of resources with the problem of sovereignty pushed aside for a certain period of time’.
THE FUTURE OF ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AFTER THE OSAKA MEETING
12 pp (1996)
By Noboru Hatakeyama
RM3.00/US$1.50
ISBN 967-947-223-X
The Osaka Apec Meeting was a success in that it would result in Apec countries harmonising tariff nomenclature by 1996. Japan and China will reduce tariffs on hundreds of items. Also, investment in the energy sectors of Apec countries will be facilitated further. The remaining issues are that of the definition of liberalisation of trade and investment and of nondiscrimination in granting most favoured nation status to other countries as a result of trade and investment liberalisation.
The writer also briefly describes the characteristics of the Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Area or the Trans-Atlantic Market that was agreed to in December 1995. Finally, he makes out a strong case for the Asia-Pacific-Europe Economic Co-operation by listing the many advantages that this consultation mechanism would hold for Apec countries.
APEC AFTER OSAKA
12 pp (1996)
By Hadi Soesastro
RM3.00/US$1.50
ISBN 967-947-218-3
Dr Hadi believes that it will be a combination of Apec members’ individual action plans (IAPS) and their collective action plans (CAPS) that will characterise the Apec process after the Osaka Summit. Apec post-Osaka will have to be able to demonstrate that ‘Apec methodology now known as “concerted unilateralism,” driven by collective peer pressure of action plans implemented by each economy at its own pace, works. The writer feels the implementation of the Osaka Action Agenda should always be viewed in the broadest context of Apec’s development, which emphasises, among other things, the importance of co-operation among regional countries in such areas as population, food, resources, energy and the environment. The task ahead for Apec is to translate these challenges into a balanced agenda. He goes on to discuss the two pillars of the Osaka Action Agenda: trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation; and economic and technical cooperation, also known as development co-operation.
1985-1989
INDUSTRIAL R&D IN MALAYSIA:
Challenge and response
48 pp (1986)
By Helen Sharmini Nesadurai
RM8.00/US$4.00
ISBN 967-947-000-8
With Malaysia having embarked on a new phase of industrialisation emphasising heavy, high-technology and resource-based industries, it is timely to examine the state of the nation’s research and development programmes. This paper discusses the country’s various research institutes and the problems facing them.
MALAYSIA’S RICE POLICY:
A critical analysis
70 pp (1987)
By Tan Siew Hoey
RM7.00/US$3.50
ISBN 967-947-047-4
Recent developments in the padi and rice industry have amply demonstrated the enormity of problems besetting the sector. A major contributory factor appears to be the pervasive intervention in the industry. This study traces the evolution of the rice policy against the context of the prevailing policy environment. The analysis covers the impacts of the policy on production and the redistributive goal and the efficiency of resource use in padi production. It also charts out the direction of the policy reform needed to facilitate structural adjustment in the industry.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOUTH-SOUTH CO-OPERATION
50 pp (1987)
By Farooq Sobhan
RM8.00/US$4.00
ISBN 967-947-040-7
This analysis of the existing and feasible ways through which the South can achieve co-operation details the many options available and their merits. The writer also proposes recommendations for the better implementation of the Caracas Programme of Action and future directions of South-South co-operation.
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO UNEMPLOYMENT IN MALAYSIA
22 pp (1989)
By R. Thillainathan
RM5.00/US$2.50
ISBN 9667-947-087-3
In this paper, the writer discusses the major economic changes in the Malaysian economy in the early and mid-eighties and how they have contributed to the unemployment problem. He analyses recent developments in the labour market and offers suggestions on how to tackle the unemployment problem. The writer is general manager and chief executive of Bank Buruh and is considered one of Malaysia’s top economists.
