Thesis & Dissertations - ތީސީސް އަދި ޑެޒަޓޭޝަން
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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 Population human capital and development in the Maldives(The University of Waikato, 2000) Hussain Niyaaz; ނިޔާޒް ހުސައިންItem Government budget in statistics financial year 2007(Ministry of Finance and Treasury, 2007)Item An exploratory study of the interplay between teachers, beliefs, instructional practices & professional development(The University of Auckland, 2006) Mohamed, Naashia; ނާސިހާ މުހައްމަދުPrevious research has revealed the influential role of teachers’ beliefs in determining their professional behaviour. Teachers’ beliefs affect not only their teaching, but also filter new input, suggesting significant implications for the implementation of educational innovations and teacher development. This study explores the interconnections between teachers’ beliefs, their instructional practices and professional development, examining the extent to which the introduction of an innovative teaching approach impacts teachers’ beliefs and behaviour. It focuses particularly on grammar instruction in the context of English teaching in secondary schools of the Maldives. Combining descriptive ethnography with a quasi-experimental design, the study was implemented in two phases. Phase One, based on questionnaire data from 197 teachers from 51 schools, explored teachers’ beliefs and their self reported practices. Findings indicated that teachers placed great emphasis on grammar and that they were unfamiliar with inductive approaches to grammar instruction. In Phase Two, inductive grammar teaching methods were introduced to 14 teachers from two schools, in a 12 week professional development programme. Drawing largely on data from observations and interviews, the results from this phase showed that although teachers were observed to generally follow their pedagogic beliefs, several points of difference between their beliefs and practices existed. While the professional development may have increased their understanding of inductive approaches to grammar instruction at the level of awareness, only limited changes to beliefs and practices were observed. Changing instructional practice appeared to be a difficult task with only two teachers uptaking the innovation. Some subsidiary changes were however observed in the practices of several other teachers. Various impediments constrained change efforts, including teachers’ lack of openness to change, their low professional motivation and the lack of a supportive school culture. Contextual factors such as large classes and difficult working conditions also negatively affected the change process. Findings indicate that development activities which provided regular one-on-one support for the teachers were more likely to lead to uptake than those involving mainly workshops. The individual nature of the uptake process, its lack of uniformity and the challenges faced by the teachers are discussed, as are the implications for the provision of professional development.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 Security problems of small island developing states (SIDS) : with particular reference to the Indian Ocean(The University of Hull, 1996-02) Faizal, Farahanaz; ފަރަހަނާޒު ފައިސަލްItem Civil service in an emerging democracy : the case of the Maldives(Victoria University of Wellington, 2013) Faizal, Mohamed; މުހައްމަދު ފައިޒަލްItem Teaching economics at secondary school level in the Maldives a cooperative learning model(The University of Waikato, 2006) Nazeer, AbdullahThe dominant approach to the study of economics at secondary school level in the Maldives is teacher-centred methods based on behaviourist views of teaching and learning. Despite considerable research on the benefits of cooperative learning in economic education at the post-secondary level, very limited research has been conducted in secondary school classrooms in order to find ways of improving teaching and learning of economics. The purpose of this study was to enhance the teaching and learning of economics at secondary schools in the Maldives by trialing a cooperative learning model to enhance economics teachers’ awareness of the impact that cooperative learning might have on student learning. This study explored a cooperative learning approach to teaching and learning economics in secondary schools and investigated teachers’ and students’ perceptions of cooperative learning. Some elements of both ethnographic and grounded theory methodologies were employed and specific data collection methods included workshops, classroom observations, interviews, video tapes and student questionnaires. Nine teachers and 232 students were involved in this study. The research was conducted in three stages (pre-intervention, workshops to train the participants, and post-intervention) over a period of three months in three selected schools in Male’, the Maldives. Four research themes were derived from the analysis of both pre and post intervention data. These themes were teaching issues, learning issues, cooperative learning implementing issues, and students’ and teachers’ reactions to cooperative learning. In the pre-intervention phase, the teachers taught in a traditional manner, but after the intervention they incorporated elements of cooperative learning method to teach economics in their selected classes. The overall findings showed a considerable change in teachers’ and students’ attitudes and perceptions about traditional teacher-centred methods towards more student-centred methods of T Teaching and Learning of Economics in the Maldives: A cooperative Learning Model ii cooperative learning. It was evident that both teachers and students perceived cooperative learning to be an effective method of teaching. For example, the findings revealed that both teachers and students understood and could see the benefits that cooperative learning offered to the teaching and learning of economics. The students indicated that they liked working in groups and appreciated getting help from other students. In addition, the results revealed that students’ interactions and involvement in classroom activities, as well as interest and motivation to learn economics, increased during the implementation of the cooperative learning model. Furthermore, this study found a mismatch between home and the traditional teacher-centred school culture in the Maldives. In contrast, the findings suggest that the principles of cooperative learning match well with the cultural values of Maldivian society. Consequently, a revised model of cooperative learning is presented that includes the aspects of culture. Jordan (1985) argued that “educational practices must match with the children’s culture” (p. 110) and thus culturally responsive teaching can help to minimise confusion and promote an academic community of learners that enables students to be more successful learners (Gay, 2000). This study suggests that training teachers and students for cooperative learning is salient for effective implementation of cooperative learning for a positive influence on students’ learning and teachers’ pedagogy. However, further research should be conducted to examine other aspects of teaching and learning which may also enhance this relationship.Item A Study of the Cluster Schools Policy in the Maldives(University of London, 2006-05) Ali, AamaalIn the Maldives, despite everyone having access to primary education, there are wide disparities in the quality of education provided by schools in the capital and schools on the rural islands. In an attempt to address the ongoing concern of the rural communities to improve their schools, the Ministry of Education introduced a new policy in July 1999. This policy led to the formation of clusters of schools which consisted of a 'lead' government school intended to serve as a resource and support to a number of nearby community schools. Each cluster is usually made up of 6 to 11 schools. The cluster policy has not been studied since its introduction six years ago. This research study aims to investigate the cluster policy - its rationale, processes of implementation and impact on the schools, through the perceptions of key stakeholders, with a broader view to improve schools in the Maldives. For the research, I travelled to four regions to carry out four case studies. Each case study is based on a full cluster of schools of an atoll and a selection of schools in neighbouring clusters within the same atoll. Fifty schools were targeted in fourteen clusters. Data were collected from interviews with key stakeholders - the cluster heads, lead teachers, island chiefs and officials of Ministry of Education. The conceptual framework of antecedents, processes and impact, developed by Lunt et al. (1988) in their study of clusters in the UK, was used to structure the inquiry. The interview data were analysed thematically. This study found that the cluster policy was not sufficiently resourced and comprehensively conceptualised to engender the intended school improvement. Set within a context of small developing islands, the policy lacked the essential ingredients for a collaborative venture of this kind to succeed. However, among the stakeholders there is an acceptance of the potential good such a policy can bring about. The problems identified in this research go some way to explain why the cluster policy was short-lived and has now effectively ceased to exist.