© InternationalJournal.org Institutionalizing Linkages between ASEAN and Bangladesh: Challenges and Prospects

Abstract: Bangladesh’s moderate economic growth intertwined with economic liberalization and trade linkages with ASEAN countries are expected to strengthen the ASEAN-Bangladesh Relations. Dynamic shift of ASEAN in its structure and relations enables neighboring countries like Bangladesh to seek institutionalization of linkages with ASEAN. Institutionalization of this relationship between ASEAN and Bangladesh fosters investment and trade flows, social and cultural exchanges as well as technical cooperation to cope with the challenges of 21 st century stemming from global economic recession and other transnational forces worldwide. This paper explores the recent trends and future prospect of ASEAN- Bangladesh relations taking into consideration the policy options within a trans-regional context evolving under the framework of economic realism

Myanmar: Religion, Identity, and Conflict in a Democratic Transition

Farrelly provides an in-depth assessment of identity-based conflict dynamics within Myanmar’s gradual shift to a more democratic system of government. Civil conflicts, that long raged in the country’s ethnically distinct corners, encourage the fortification of political discourses about identity, unity, and non-disintegration. With its difficult history of bloodshed and trauma, social cohesion is a goal worth pursuing. Myanmar’s transition to an increasingly open, inclusive, prosperous, and peaceful society requires new capacity to be built at every level of government, and across the broad range of ethnic and religious identities. Farrelly argues that working cooperatively and effectively with different identity-based factions in Myanmar is a profound test of the concepts of peacebuilding and conflict resolution