Management of Internal Conflicts in Asia (Phase 1)

This multiyear project (2002–2007) investigates the domestic, transnational, and international dynamics of internal conflicts in the Asia Pacific and explores strategies and solutions for the peaceful management and eventual settlement of these conflicts.  Issues investigated include sovereignty, autonomy, economic development, migration, security operations, and secessionist movements.

Funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the first phase (2002–2004) investigates internal conflicts arising from the political consciousness of minority communities in response to the nation and state building projects of the national elite in China, Indonesia, and the Philippines. With additional funding, the project will expand in subsequent years to include Burma and South Asian countries.

Project Meetings

The first meeting was held at the Key Bridge Marriott in Rosslyn, VA from September 30–October 3, 2002. The meeting was attended by 34 participants from the United States, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines.

The second round of meetings was held separately for each study group. The Aceh and Papua study group met June 16–18, 2003 in Bali and Jakarta, Indonesia and was attended by 17 members. The Southern Philippines study group met in Manila, Philippines from June 23–24, 2003, with 18 group members. The Tibet and Xinjiang study group met from August 20–21, 2003 in Honolulu, Hawai'i. The study groups convened a third time in Washington, D.C., on February 28–March 2, 2004.

Monographs and Policy Papers

Five monographs and approximately 20 policy papers will be published as a result of this project.  Subject to satisfactory peer review the monographs will be published in the Asian Security monograph series and Contemporary Issues in the Asia-Pacific series published by the Stanford University Press.  The policy papers appear in the East-West Center Washington Policy Studies series.

Public Forums

Public Forums are an important component of the Management of Internal Conflicts in Asia project, designed to engage the informed public and disseminate the findings of the study groups.  Public forums have been organized in conjunction with each round of study group meetings and have been widely attended by the public.