Volume 3, Issue 2 (2012)


A Tale of Two Cities: Hong Kong and Dubai. Celebration of Disappearance and the Pretension of Becoming
Thorsten Botz-Bornstein

Nigeria and Conflict Resolution in Africa: The Darfur Experience
Joseph C. Ebegbulem
Conflicts in Africa have over the years led to loss of lives, displacement of persons and misery in many parts of the continent. The need to resolve, manage and prevent these conflicts, and equally deal with the socio-economic challenges arising from these conflicts has become a source of worry to African nations including Nigeria, the giant of Africa. It is in the light of the foregoing therefore, that this paper attempts to analyze Nigeria's role in conflict resolution in Africa using the Darfur crisis in Sudan as a case study. The paper examines the historical background of the Darfur conflict and efforts made by Nigeria to resolve the crisis through peace initiatives. Since the restoration of peace in Darfur is a big challenge facing the African continent, the paper looks at the problems and prospects of peace in that part of the continent. The paper concludes by positing that even though Nigeria has demonstrated her commitment in resolving the conflict in Darfur, she still has a lot to do in concert with the African Union, especially now that Southern Sudan is a sovereign state.

Political Corruption and Narcotrafficking in Mexico
Nubia Nieto
In recent years Mexico has been the headlines of the news of drug-related violence. The power of the gangs challenges the army and the police, killing and torture political leaders, policemen, soldiers and civilians. They seem to be unbeatable. However, they could not have prospered, without the conditions of the political corruption of the country. This article analyses the development of political corruption and drug trafficking in Mexico. Firstly, it analyzes the role of the corruption during the post-revolutionary political system headed by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Secondly, it studies the arrival in power of the technocrats and their relationship with drug traffickers. Then, it evaluates briefly the political transition thought the defeat of the PRI in July 2000 by the National Action Party (PAN). Finally, it examines the flourishing of narcoindustry in Mexico, the militarization, the rise of the violence and its social consequences for the population.

Changing Profile of Urban Poverty A Case Study of Jharkhand (India)
Kiran Sharma
The paper would like to explore the changing profiles of urban poor in the newly formed state, Jharkhand since 1970's. Here, an attempt is made to compare the poverty scenario in Jharkhand with its parent state Bihar. This paper seeks to provide an understanding of key concepts and issues pertaining to urban poverty, its causes and its changing nature in the era of liberalization. Further, the important urban poverty alleviation programmes is critically analysed to find out its contribution towards alleviating poverty in the country with specific reference to Jharkhand.

Hunger and Coping Strategies among Kondh Tribe in Kalahandi District, Odisha (Eastern India)
Gadadhara Mohapatra
The paper presents the field notes about the local coping strategies adopted by the tribal's and forest dwellers to escape from hunger in the forest-based and mining areas of Kalahandi district of Odisha in Eastern India. It analyses the methods which the poor people employ to combat recurrent drought conditions and food shortages in the study area. The paper also highlights various aspects of the tribal households and villagers such as: the social identity and livelihoods of Dongaria Kondh, health and nutritional status, food consumption-related coping strategies, functioning of PDS, benefit that the villagers received from different government schemes, land-holding system, indebtedness, impact of mining on people, and perception of villager's about the food security situation over the past 10 years. The paper provides a critical appraisal of development in these tribal regions in the lines of rights based framework and further suggest strengthening the livelihood strategies of the local people.

Reviews
Silja Klepp: Europa zwischen Grenzkontrolle und Flüchtlingsschutz. Eine Ethno- graphie der Seegrenze auf dem Mittelmeer.
A Review by Sabrina Grosse Kettler.

Anand Kumar: Understanding Globalisation and Emerging India.
A Review by Tamer Söyler.

Madeleine Arnot: Educating the Gendered Citizen: Sociological Engagements with National and Global Agendas.
A Review by Elektra Paschali.