The Place of the Emperor Asoka in Ancient Indian Political Thought

Albinski, Henry S.

doi:10.2307/2109166

Cited by 4 publications

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“…Kings have also been active in trying to control the Sangha, who are influential in society irrespective of their role in politics (Smith, 1966;Taylor, 2009: 50-51). [AQ: 7] The ideal philosophy of King Asoka has been particularly influential in Southeast Asia and continues to an extent in the politics of Myanmar and Sri Lanka (Albinski, 1958;Cummiskey, 2013;Smith, 1966). Asoka began a trend toward centralization and away from elected kings (Everett, 1997).…”

Section: Differentiation Between Religion and State Powermentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Covenant Connection Reexamined: The Nexus between Religions and Federalism in Asia

Allison-Reumann

Breen

2017

Political Studies

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The covenant connection thesis forms an important basis from which to understand the religious source of federalism. Yet with its Judeo-Christian roots, to what extent does it apply to Asian countries that have different religious traditions? In this article, we explore whether the covenant connection thesis is relevant to Asian federalism in the context of Muslim-, Hindu-, and Buddhistmajority countries. We find that while the presence or absence of a covenantal tradition within a religion can partially explain acceptance of, or resistance to, federalism, there are other religious features that also play a role. These include the extent to which traditional religious organizations are internally centralized, the extent to which religion and state governance are intertwined or separate from each other, and the extent to which a religion that constitutes the core national identity is threatened by other religions that are or may be empowered by federal arrangements.

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Section: Differentiation Between Religion and State Powermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ideal philosophy of King Asoka has been particularly influential in Southeast Asia and continues to an extent in the politics of Myanmar and Sri Lanka (Albinski, 1958; Cummiskey, 2013; Smith, 1966). Asoka began a trend toward centralization and away from elected kings (Everett, 1997).…”

Section: Buddhism the State And National Identitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Covenant Connection Reexamined: The Nexus between Religions and Federalism in Asia

Allison-Reumann

Breen

2017

Political Studies

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“…39 As recently as March 2015 its legislature passed a package of 'race and religion' Bills allegedly designed in part to "stop the Bengalis" (Muslim Rohingyas) and preserve the majority Bamar Buddhist identity (N. Zaw 2015). 40 While Asoka himself was tolerant of other religions and provided for local autonomy (which was a practical necessity given the size of his kingdom), this has manifested over time into an authoritarian and highly centralized tradition still practiced in the Theravada Buddhist countries of Southeast Asia (Albinski 1958;Cummiskey 2013;Wijeyeratne 2007).…”

Section: Religion and Culturementioning

confidence: 99%

The road to federalism : finding the middle ground in Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka

Breen¹

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Following the establishment of post-World War II modern nation-states, many Asian countries including Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka sought to nation-build on the basis of their dominant ethnic group's identity, to the exclusion of smaller ethnic groups. There was substantial resistance, leading to civil war and poor development. Minority ethnic groups have demanded federalism and the recognition of their political equality, lest they pursue a secessionist agenda. It is not known why Asian states have been reluctant to institutionalize federalism, nor what causes it to be established in these holding together situations, let alone what type of federalism is more likely to be conducive to establishing political equality and bringing an end to conflict and authoritarianism. This thesis addresses these questions and dissects the lessons and innovations of the institutional responses of Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka to their diversity based challenges.Using a historical institutional methodology and analyzing the critical junctures and intervening path dependencies, I demonstrate the importance of secession risk and infrastructural capacity variables to the establishment of holding together federalism, building on the theories of Riker (1964) and Ziblatt ( , 2006. I show how the initial nation-building mechanism, as a tool of power reproduction by the dominant ethnic group, kick started a simultaneous reactive sequence leading to centralization, concession and ultimately, a federal compromise. In particular, when the secession risk is moderate, and when minority ethnic groups have a demonstrable infrastructural capacity, there are incentives for regime change agents from the dominant ethnic group to align with minority ethnic groups to pursue mutual goals of federalism and democratic reform.Further, although federalism may be agreed as part of such a constitutional settlement, there remain many issues to resolve, primarily the demarcation of units, the division of powers, power-sharing and proportionality. An ethnic federal system is likely to have a narrower and less secure set of powers for units with any shortcomings in ethnic autonomy addressed by inclusion, non-territorial arrangements, local government and personal laws.Accommodation of diversity is a just goal, but without moderation, accommodation can lead to extremism and undermine political equality. Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka are finding a middle ground whereby deliberative and moderating institutions are combined with accommodating ones to balance centrifugal and centripetal forces. Based on their experiences, I hypothesize that a federal system that encourages, if not requires, multiethnic political parties at the center, and ethnic parties in the units and sub-units provides a range With accommodation, should come moderation, lest the worst effects of intra-ethnic competition come to play. Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka are finding a middle ground, where the rights of minority ethnic groups are affirmed and given institutional substance, and the risks of f...

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Socialism Within Monarchy: Kautilya in Arthashastra

Basu

Miroshnik

2020

Imperialism and Capitalism, Volume II

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The Place of the Emperor Asoka in Ancient Indian Political Thought

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

The Covenant Connection Reexamined: The Nexus between Religions and Federalism in Asia

The Covenant Connection Reexamined: The Nexus between Religions and Federalism in Asia

The road to federalism : finding the middle ground in Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka

Socialism Within Monarchy: Kautilya in Arthashastra

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