Suchergebnisse

How are social movements of the underdogs sustained and how are constraints of these movements overcome, in particular, constraints imposed by non-liberal democratic states? Utilizing the Damansara Save Our School movement in Malaysia as its case study, this article describes factors that led to the successful resistance of the Damansara New Village community against the closure of its community school, the Damansara Chinese Primary School. Although inexperienced in social movement activities, small in size, financially and socially disadvantaged, the villagers of Damansara New Village successfully sustained their resistance for seven years and eventually procured compromises from the Malaysian authorities, which reopened the school premises in January 2009. Lacking access to democratic institutions in the country, the Damansara Save Our School movement relied on unconventional - yet highly institutionalized - resistance methods to mobilize support and engage in political contention. This article analyzes three components that had led to the movement's successful endurance: institutionalization of the Save Our School Committee as the main mobilization machinery; formation of a temple school that sustained the functioning of the school, physically and symbolically; and dynamic adaptation of movement repertoires to overcome constraints imposed by the stronger and not so liberal state. For the movement community and supporters alike, the reopening of the school premises in 2009 attests to the miracle of everyday resistance by underdogs in surmounting unjust policies imposed by a powerful state. (Pac Aff/GIGA)

This article explores why and how a minority social movement persists despite persistent constraints placed upon it by a majority-dominated State. The Chinese education movement has been one of the largest, longest, and most sustained social movements in Malaysia. Sociological, economic, and demographic changes of the Chinese community along with domestic political struggles revolving around the ethnic question have influenced the fluctuation of movement trajectory over time. The movement has sustained its activities and received moral and material support from the Chinese communities, despite persistent constraints by the government, scarcity of resources and lack of support from others Malaysian population. This article argues that constraints imposed by the State have been utilized by the social movement organization to mobilize support from the masses, and thus became the most significant factors that have sustained the movement. The article will first look into the evolution of the social movement and analyze the dynamic interaction between the State and the challengers from various perspectives, including the current status update of the social movement organizations and activities organized to sustain continuous collective action. In addition to the analysis of the movement's achievements, this article will also explain the State's reaction towards the movement and the measures undertaken to constrain or terminate the movement. ; Introduction Malaya Chinese and Nation Building Institutional Reform and Revive Movements Political Opportunities and New Politics in Malaysia Conclusion REFERENCES

The First Panel The Historical and Political Backgrounds of the Conflicts in Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, and Aceh Northern Ireland: Siobhan Ni Chulchain .................... 23 Sri Lanka: P. Ramasamy ............. 28 Aceh: Edward Aspinall ............................ 31 Discussion (Moderator: Withaya Sucharithanarugse) ........... 43 The Second Panel Violence, Mediation, and the Peace Negotiation Processes in Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, and Aceh Northern Ireland: Christine Bell ... 51 Sri Lanka: Jehan Perara ....... 57 Discussion (Moderator: Danthong Breen, Co-moderator: Juanda) ... 62 The Third Panel The Peace Frameworks and Peace Accord: A Comparative Analysis of Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, and Aceh Northern Ireland: Siobhan Ni Chulchain ............ . 73 Sri Lanka: Jehan Perara............................... ................ 79 Aceh: M . M . Billah ........................ 94 The Peace Discussions Framework and Peace Accord: Mark Tamthai .... 108 Discussion (Moderator: Chaiyan Rajchagool) ............... 111 The Fourth Panel The Role of Civil Society in Peace Building: Case Studies of Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, and Aceh Northern Ireland: Christine Bell .................................................... 119 Sri Lanka: Freddy Gamage ................... 123 Aceh: Otto Syamsuddin Ishak ............... 126 Discussion (Moderator: Kevin McBride) .. 132 The Fifth Panel The Response and Role of Regional Government in Achieving a Sustainable Peace in AcehThe Response and Role of the US Government: Saiful Mahdi................ 141 Political Situation in Indonesia: Usman Hamid ...... 144 Discussion (Moderator: Sriprapha Petcharameesree) ....... 148 Film on Aceh: Anywhere but Fear ....... 152 The Sixth Panel Discussion on the Possible Strategies for Initiating the Peace Process Moderator: Kamarulzaman Askandar .................... 157