Thesis by other Maldivians - އެމް.އެން.ޔޫގެ ދަސްވެނީން ފިޔަވައި އެހެނިހެން ދިވެހީންގެ ތީސީސްތައް
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Item On evildoers : a foucaultian analysis of the discursive structuring of contemporary terrorism(Dublin City University, 2012-01) Naseem, Azra; އަޒްރާ ނަސީމްTerrorism is routinely portrayed in the twenty first century as an evil perpetrated by Arab/Muslim barbarians—Evildoers—waging a holy war against the Western civilisation. This study challenges not just this present understanding of terrorism, but the very existence of a ding an sich of terrorism. Using a combination of Foucault’s archaeological and genealogical methods it provides an alternative history of the phenomenon in the form of a history of its discursive structuring: the regimes of practices that governed what could and could not be thought of, identified, defined, known, judged and punished as ‘terrorism’ during particular epochs, and particular places. It asserts that the conceptual anchor point of the present Evildoer-terrorist is the rebel who opposes established order, and identifies the first such figure in modern Western history as the Devil who rebelled against God and came to play a significant politico religious role in Western societies of the Middle Ages. The discourse of ‘terrorism’ emerged from the epistemic spaces created from the separation of religion and politics in the eighteenth century, from when onwards rebellion was no longer a sin but a crime. Since then, various other rebels have been brought under the domain of terrorism during different epochs, the latest of whom is the Evildoer. This is not to say that the Devil remained a blatant constant in the forefront of Western terrorism discourse, but that the various rebels share a conceptual history that made it possible for the contemporary terrorist to be the Evildoer that he is. How the rebels came to be known as terrorists during various epochs and the various mechanisms implemented to defend societies against them, it is argued, are irrevocably linked: one could not exist without the other. The contemporary terrorist cannot be known as an Evildoer without the War on Terror; at the same time, the War on Terror cannot be waged without the knowledge of the terrorist as an Evildoer. To demonstrate this power/knowledge dyad at work, this study analyses what was said and done about terrorism by the United States and the United Kingdom, the foremost allies in the War on Terror, during its first ten years. In the differences in their discourses emerges not just the ontological uncertainty of terrorism but also how these mechanisms for establishing the ‘truth’ of terrorism function as mechanisms of power. It is asserted that the Evildoer has made possible, and was made possible by, some of the most significant changes in how power is exercised in Western societies since the separation of religion and politics in the eighteenth century.Item Socio-economic, political and social capital factors that influence the state expenditure: a comparison of rural communities in the Maldives(School of Public Administration : National Institute of Development Administration, Bangkok, 2019-10) Zahir, Mohamed; މުހައްމަދު ޒާހިރުThe Maldives is a nation in the Indian Ocean that includes approximately 1200 coral islands in 21 clusters known as atolls. For administrative purposes, these atolls are grouped into seven provinces located geographically in the Central, Northern, and Southern areas. These island communities operate as groups, which explains to some extent the unequal allocation of resources among the rural communities and Central city, as many studies have supported. Therefore, to understand the unequal distribution of wealth in rural communities, it is very important to determine the factors associated with the provision of public funding as a whole. This study’s goal was to use multidimensional variables to estimate the factors that determine the provision of public funding, and economic, political, and social capital factors were combined to determine their relation to the Maldives’ total expenditures. More interestingly, after 2010, many rural areas have made huge improvements in their education level, healthcare services, and infrastructure development. The constitutional reform in 2008 that mandates multiparty democratic elections are suspected to be the root cause of these improvements. Ideally, citizen participation and engagement are intended to foster any state’s development. The Maldives government always has been criticized for its process of electing government officials, specifically influences on the part of candidates and other stakeholders, either by mutual benefits or malfeasance. However, it is clear that there is an expectation on both sides’ part. This basically indicates that public spending will be higher when it caters to the public’s demands. However, to what extent is this statement true in the case of rural development? Therefore, this study attempted to analyze the provision of public funding at both the island and provincial levels, and two models were developed to investigate these relations.Item The power of small : the diplomacy of small states in regional organizations(The Australian National University, 2012-01) Mohamed, Ali Naseer; އަލީ ނަސީރު މުހައްމަދުHow can small states influence the conflict management activities of regional or ganisations? The conventional wisdom in the literature of International Relations holds that small states lack the ability to shape the preferences of other actors. In recent years, some small-state scholars have challenged this view. They argue that some small states make bold initiatives and succeed in influencing institutions like the European Union. These studies are, however, mostly single-country case studies, focusing almost exclusively on European small states in the European Union. They do not, therefore, reveal what is unique to that case, and what can be generalised to small states in other parts of the world. Moreover, these studies have not examined adequately international-level factors such as the role of the dominant power in the regional organisations, in helping or hindering the initia tives of the small states. This study aims to fill that gap. It seeks to understand the national and interna tional-level factors that determine the abilities of small states to influence the con flict management activities of regional organisations. The study also seeks to expand our understanding of small-state diplomacy by examining non-European small states. It analyses seven case studies involving six small states in five regional organisations, located in four different parts of the world. To my knowledge, it is one of the first scholarly attempts to understand the factors-both at national and international levels-that determine the abilities of small states to exert influ ence in regional organisations. In doing so, I hope to make a contribution to the study of diplomacy in general, and the diplomacies of small states in particular. The thesis examines the seven case studies with the help of a theoretical frame work that identifies five factors as necessary for small states to be able to exert in fluence in conflict management activities of regional organisations. The factors are: small states' credibility, norm entrepreneurship, diplomatic resilience, the in- xiii stitutional mechanisms within the regional organisation, and the role of the re gional power. The empirical analysis of the case studies shows that all five factors are necessary for small states to exert influence. Yet it also shows that each of the five factors has varying degrees of impact on the abilities of small states to exert influence. There is evidence from the case studies to suggest that the role of re gional power is a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for determining whether small states can exert influence in regional organisations. Second, small states could influence the shaping of a regional power's preferences if the farmer's diplomacy is sufficiently resilient. Small states derive their diplomatic resilience from the strength of the foreign policy bureaucracy, the persuasive power of dip lomats, and niche diplomacy. Third, small states exert influence by pursuing norm entrepreneurship in regional organisations: seeking to generate new and in novative ideas to solve common problems. Fourth, small states' ability to influ ence depends on whether the institutional mechanisms within the regional organisation allow sufficient space for these states to manoeuvre. Finally, small states can exert influence if they have credibility derived from a non-threatening foreign policy posture and from persistent activism and expertise in a given issue. Thus, small states can exert influence in regional organisations if their diplomacy is sufficiently resilient. The findings of this study reveal that with the right poli cies, small states can increase their diplomatic resilience. For size alone does not determine destiny; persuasive diplomacy doesItem Reaching the community through community radio : readjusting to the new realities : a case study investigating the changing nature of community access and participation in three community radio stations in three countries New Zealand, Nepal and Sri Lanka(University of Canterbury, 2012) Nafiz, Ahmed Zaki; އަހުމަދު ޒަކީ ނާފިޒުCommunity radio is often described as a medium that celebrates the small community life and where local community members plan, produce and present their own programmes. However, many believe that the radio management policies are now increasingly sidelining this aspect of the radio. This is ironic given the fact that the radio stations are supposed to be community platforms where members converge to celebrate their community life and discuss issues of mutual interest. In this case study, I have studied three community radio stations- RS in Nepal, KCR in Sri Lanka and SCR in New Zealand- investigating how the radio management policies are positively or negatively, affecting community access and participation. The study shows that in their effort to stay economically sustainable, the three stations are gradually evolving as a ‘hybrid’; something that sits in-between community and commercial radio. Consequently, programmes that are produced by the local community are often replaced by programmes that are produced by full-time paid staff; and they are more entertaining in nature and accommodate more advertisements. The radio stations also actively seek the sale of airtime to wellfunded NGOs, giving agency-driven programmes priority over local community programmes. This means the stations have become vehicles that help agency objectives. Hence, although ‘hybrid’ initiatives have merits financially, while depicting as local community representatives, they are marginalising the voices and interests of the very people that gave the radio stations their community characteristics and identity. Hence, in the interest of earning more revenue to secure market survival, the ‘hybrid’ initiatives are in fact, settling for a lesser community role. This study also shows that although management policy decisions aimed at greater financial sustainability have impacted on local community access and participation in the way they used to be, by readjusting to the new realities of modern-day communications, the three stations are also providing a second ‘hybrid’ pathway, a new interactive radio environment enabling stronger community access and participation. As this new platform facilitates unhindered local community access and participation in the radio, it is also viewed as a solution that will help them to utilise more of their on-air time for revenue-generating programmes. The new platform is also seen as the answer to reach the new generation youth and increase their participation, thereby, in fact, further strengthening community participation in the radio.Item The rule of law in the maldives and the tax regime’s contribution to its failure(University of Canterbury, 2018) Holmes, KevinThe thesis comprises an examination of the application of rule of law principles in the nascent democracy of an Islamic developing country – the Maldives – with a particular focus on the design and application of the country’s newly-enacted tax legislation. The benchmark against which that investigation is undertaken is the features of the rule of law enunciated in the literature and jurisprudence in developed Western countries and parallel notions in Islamic jurisdictions. The study concludes that, contrary to the fundamental tenets of Islam, which the Maldives embraces, application of the rule of law generally has failed. The way in which the tax regime was established and is administered has contributed to that failure. This research demonstrates the need for a seismic change in the mindset of those people in the Maldives who draft, enact, administer and adjudicate taxation legislation and other laws. Consequently, the thesis offers some recommendations on how a more focussed recognition and application of the rule of law might be achieved in the tax arena and more generally in the Maldives.Item Integrating culture and heritage into the tourism product of the Maldives(KDI School, 2012-12) Rasheeda, Fathmath; ފާތުމަތު ރަޝީދާThe Maldives is known worldwide for its natural beauty. However, the country also boasts of a rich culture and history that have yet to be explored and experienced by the hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting the country every year. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, to explore the possibility of integrating the cultural and heritage resources of the country into its successful tourism industry. The paper examines existing literature on the experiences of other countries that are using their culture and heritage as part of their tourism product. Through the research certain negative impacts such as commodification of the cultural products and loss of traditional values were identified. It was also identified that a successful integration of the tourism product with the cultural and heritage assets would not only enrich the visitors experience, but also help manage the rare and fragile resources in a sustainable manner. Moreover, it would help attain economic and social benefits to the host community. It is believed that certain recommended actions such as strengthening the infrastructure, educating the locals and visitors, establishment of a Cultural Management System and continuous marketing would ensure the success of an integration between the culture and heritage and the tourism industry of the Maldives.Item Reducing risk for erosion in Maldives : Comparative case study of local people’s and resort’s adaptive capacity in Laamu atoll(Lund University, 2014) Borgudd, JuliaThis study is a comparative case study and investigates how local people on two islands called Maamendhoo and Maavah, and one resort operator called Six Senses in Laamu atoll, Maldives reduce their risk for erosion. This has been done by performing capacity analyses for these islands and the information has been collected mainly from interviews. The capacity analyses are based on which adaptive capacity they have regarding the risk reduction and adaptation measures; hazard reduction and avoidance, vulnerability reduction, preparedness for response and preparedness for recovery. It involves how local people and the resort operator both have adapted in the past and how they currently adapt (used capacity). Further it involves how they plan to adapt, which lacking capacities and also which unused capacities they have. The capacity analyses are analyzed to see if there are any gaps or weaknesses in their adaptive work and if the adaptive capacity differ between the resort island and the local islands and what the reason for this may be. The result from the capacity analyses shows that the resort have a lot of used capacity and implement many measures to reduce their risk to beach erosion compared to what local people have. The reason for this is mainly because the resort have more economic capacity to implement measures against erosion. The study shows that local people have more gaps in their adaptive work since they do not use all the measures and they have much more unused and lacking capacities compared to the resort island. The study is also investigating the interaction between local people/the resort and authorities. The result shows that authorities and Six Senses are supporting each others work with erosion, they are complementing each others work and the authorities are assisting with the resources the resort is requesting. The result also shows that local people do not think the authorities are supporting them in their adaptation work. The local people are complementing the authorities gaps/weaknesses in their adaptation work to a certain extent. The local people do not in general get the help they are requesting from the authorities, and they think that the authorities have not done enough to prevent the risk of erosion.Item Reducing risk of beach erosion in Maldives : Comparative case study of authority ́s adaptive capacity in Laamu Atoll(Lund University, 2014) Englund, BodilThe low-lying island nation Maldives is vulnerable to sea level rise and beach erosion. This study is a comparative case study investigating national, regional and local authorities risk reduction and adaptation work of beach erosion on two local islands and one resort island in Laamu atoll, Maldives. The aim of the study is to investigate if the authorities risk reduction works differ depending on if it is a resort island or a local island, if there are any gaps in the authorities’ adaptive work and if they are prioritizing any specific kind of measures. In the study capacity analyses are carried out for each island based on Wamsler’s theoretical and operational framework. The authorities’ adaptation measures are mapped out and categorized based on the initial risk factors the measures are intended to reduce. Furthermore the interaction between the authorities and the resort operator and local people on the selected islands are also analyzed by comparing the result of a parallel study carried out by Borgudd (2014). The main method used in the study is a qualitative semi structured interview method where officials and councilors were interviewed at the three authority levels. By analyzing the capacity analyses it shows that the authorities’ adaptation work for the local islands Maavah and Maamendhoo are similar compared to the resort island Six Senses Laamu. Compared to the investigated local islands authorities have taken fewer adaptation measures on the resort island. This may be because resort islands have to undertake and pay for their own protection measures. The authorities lack economic resources to prevent beach erosion on the two local islands. In general all authority levels need to improve their risk reduction work against beach erosion because they are now mostly focusing on hazard reduction and avoidance measures.Item Adaptive capacity of islands of the Maldives to climate change(James Cook University, 2018-11) ޢިބްރާހިމް މުހައްމަދު; Mohamed, IbrahimIn today’s world, small islands are exposed to unprecedented impacts of global climate change. The ability of small islands to adjust and cope with these impacts is based on a number of socio-ecological parameters. Research on adaptive capacity has gained momentum within the last decade, and opted assets-based theories, correlating adaptive capacity to utilisation of available opportunities and resources. While such methodologies have major limitations, there is a dearth of studies on adaptive capacity of small islands at the frontier of global climate change. The small island nations are threatened with loss of culture and disruptions to livelihoods, as well as ability to support human habitation from the predicted future effects of climate change. This thesis provides information on this life and cultural threatening issues by identifying the potential for, and limits to, climate change adaptive capacity in the islands of the Maldives through a lens of islandness. This thesis employed a multidisciplinary theoretical framework and contributed to a holistic understanding of adaptive capacity of small islands. The study utilised theory of islandness from an epistemological perspective of pragmatism. The concurrent mixed methods approach, based on analogue comparative case study methodology, involved both constructivist and positivist approaches. The study examined five case study islands from the Maldives and triangulated data obtained from document analysis, participatory climate change adaptation appraisal, stakeholder interviews, surveys, and spatial analysis of biogeophysical characteristics. The results of this study demonstrated that adaptive capacity of islands is a predicament of the biogeophysical characteristics, socio-politics and governance, socio-cultural, and socio economic factors. The analyses revealed that: (1) the most critical influence on adaptive capacity is from biogeophysical characteristics of islands, followed by socio-cognitive aspects related to belief efficacy of islanders; (2) at a household level, assets, social organisation and flexibility contributed significantly to adaptive capacity; (3) the islands are currently approaching their adaptive capacity thresholds, owing to non-linearity of responses of biogeophysical features of islands to ongoing climate change impacts, especially increases in temperature, sea level rise and changes in rainfall; (4) islands at the edge of crossing the adaptive capacity thresholds require engineered transformative adaptation; and (5) transformation of adaptive capacity into adaptive actions requires empowerment of islanders, democratisation of institutions, and strategic planning of hard and soft adaptation measures within an island context and scale. Consequently, encoding and decoding of adaptive capacity from an island epistemological view defines what socioecological aspects, and by which strategies, adaptation can be mobilised and enhanced. Emergent findings indicative of future research includes incorporating ethnography with phenomenology in the study of adaptive capacity and refining the methods used in data collection. Additionally, the present research confirmed that an adaptive capacity index does not translate how the adaptive capacity can be mobilised in to action in islands, and is not significant. The results of this thesis offer significant contribution for policy makers and adaptation practitioners on how climate change policies and strategies need to commensurate with the context of the dynamic socio-ecological system of the islands. The present study also offers an insight of strengths, limitations and challenges on islands in adapting to future climate change.Item Investigating active learning reform in the small state of the Maldives: what works and under what circumstances?(Melbourne Graduate School of Education, 2016-04) Biase, Rhonda DiGlobally, national governments and donor organisations have endorsed pedagogical reform in their efforts to improve the quality of education, yet disparity between policy and practice is well-documented. In the small state of the Maldives, the UNICEF supported Child Friendly School’s project and the new National Curriculum both endorse active learning pedagogy, but implementation challenges have been widely acknowledged. The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate how teachers can enact active learning pedagogy in the Maldivian education system. It was conceived using design-based research, an interventionist methodology, which examines the conditions that influence how educational innovations work in real-life practice. The study was situated in an island school selected for offering optimum conditions for implementation of the pedagogical intervention, and was conducted over two phases: a contextual analysis phase; and an intervention phase. Using an adaptation of the World Café (J. Brown & Isaacs, 2005), a participatory approach to data collection, the contextual analysis was undertaken with members of the school community — parents, teachers and school leadership — to identify local priorities and perspectives of active learning. The results from this phase revealed features of active learning considered important in the school community: the active participation of students; the use of group work to aid learning; emphasis on the role of teacher as facilitator; the necessity for a friendly classroom environment; and the potential of active learning to cater more equally for all students. Embracing these features of active learning, a pedagogical intervention was developed in collaboration with teachers and school management, to support teachers’ enactment of active learning in the school. The intervention, an instructional model, was then enacted in the island school with two groups of primary teachers and studied over eight months. Data on the teachers’ use of the instructional model were collected through multiple sources that included, teacher recording booklets, questionnaires, interviews and classroom observations. The data revealed the factors that both supported and inhibited teachers’ use of the intervention. These were converted into design principles; an anticipated outcome of design-based research, highlighting three broad areas that revealed what worked in what circumstances, and represented the study’s key findings identifying the need to:develop a contextually relevant model of active learning that respects local priorities, fits with the circumstances of teachers’ work, and takes into account the available resources; and moves from conceptual ambiguity to operational clarity; support teachers’ knowledge-practice refinement by creating space for reform, providing on-going classroom-based support and drawing on available resources; and foster a change-welcoming school reform approach through an inclusive process that mobilises community participation. The conceptual framework of design principles that evolved from the study can potentially guide like schools and communities engaging with reform around active learning pedagogy. It is recommended that future research explores the transferability of these design principles to other contexts.