About Us
South Asian Regional Cooperation Academic Network (SARCAN) is jointly initiated by McGill University— Université de Montreal Centre for International Peace and Security Studies (CIPSS) and Asian Study Center for Peace & Conflict Transformation (ASPECT).
It is sponsored by the projects on “Globalization and the National Security State,”
and “When Regions Transform: From Conflict to Cooperation,” both funded by the
Fonds québécois de recherche sur la société et la culture
(FQRSC) Quebec
( http://gnss.mcgill.ca ).
CIPSS - McGill University— Université de Montreal Centre for International Peace and Security Studies:
Established in October 2009, the Centre for International Peace and Security Studies(CIPSS) constitutes a unique academic forum dedicated to the promotion of security and strategic studies in Montreal. CIPSS succeeds the Research Group in International Security (REGIS) which was established in 1996. The creation of CIPSS formalized academic collaboration between Université de Montréal and McGill University, with the aim of integrating the activities of a growing number of faculty, students and specialists. The CIPSS mission is first and foremost to promote excellence in academic research and teaching on contemporary security and defense issues that concern Canada.
For more Information - http://www.gersi.umontreal.ca
ASPECT - Asian Study Center for Peace & Conflict Transformation
Asian Study Center for Peace & Conflict Transformation – ASPECT is an academic and policy-oriented non-government, non-partisan and non-profit making autonomous institution registered with the Government of Nepal committed towards peace building and conflict transformation. Aspect is constituent institution of Mountain Resources Management Group (MRMG) and is governed by the MRMG's Charter and its Board of Directors. It is being established with the vision of building a peaceful, democratic society in order to fully realize and respect peace, justice and human rights. ASPECT envisaged a need of an action-oriented movement for peaceful neighborhood, equitable social system and respectful life in South Asia.
For more Information - http://www.aspect.org.np
Coordinator– Prof. T. V. Paul - James McGill Professor of International Relations, Director, CIPSS.
T.V. PAUL is Director (Founding) of the McGill University—Université de Montreal Centre for International Peace and Security Studies (CIPSS) and James McGill Professor of International Relations in the Department of Peace Science at McGill University, Montreal, Canada, where he has been teaching since 1991. Paul specializes in International Relations, especially international security, regional security and South Asia. He received his undergraduate education from Kerala University, India; M.Phil in International Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; and Ph.D. in Peace Science from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Paul is the author or editor of 12 books. He has also published over 40 journal articles and book chapters and has lectured at universities and research institutions internationally. His authored books are: Globalization and the National Security State (with Norrin Ripsman), (Oxford University Press, 2010); The Tradition of Non-use of Nuclear Weapons (Stanford University Press, 2009); India in the World Order: Searching for Major Power Status (Cambridge University Press, 2002, with Baldev Nayar); Power versus Prudence: Why Nations Forgo Nuclear Weapons (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2000); and Asymmetric Conflicts: War Initiation by Weaker Powers (Cambridge University Press, 1994). Paul is the editor or co-editor of the volumes: South Asia’s Weak States: Understanding the Regional Insecurity Predicament (Stanford University Press, forthcoming, 2010); Complex Deterrence: Strategy In the Global Age (with Patrick M. Morgan and James J. Wirtz, University of Chicago Press, 2009); The India-Pakistan Conflict: An Enduring Rivalry (Cambridge University Press, 2005); Balance of Power: Theory and Practice in the 21st Century (with James Wirtz and Michel Fortmann, Stanford University Press, 2004); The Nation-State in Question (with G. John Ikenberry and John A. Hall, Princeton University Press, 2003); International Order and the Future of World Politics (with John A. Hall, Cambridge University Press, 1999, 2000 (twice), 2001, 2002 & 2003); and The Absolute Weapon Revisited: Nuclear Arms and the Emerging International Order (with Richard Harknett and James Wirtz, University of Michigan Press, 1998 & 2000).
In December 2009, Paul’s Book, The Tradition of Non-use of Nuclear Weapons was selected for inclusion in the Peace Prize Laureate Exhibition honoring President Barack Obama by the Nobel Peace Center, Oslo. Another book, Power versus Prudence was selected as an ‘Outstanding Academic Title for 2001’ by the Choice Magazine and as a “Book for Understanding’ by the American Association of University Presses. In March 2005 Maclean Magazine’s Guide to Canadian Universities rated Paul as one of the “most popular professors” at McGill University and in May 2005 Paul became the recipient of High Distinction in Research Award by McGill’s Faculty of Arts. He has been a Professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California (2002-03), Visiting Scholar at Harvard University's Center for International Affairs (CFIA) and the Olin Institute for Strategic Studies (1997-98), and a Visiting Affiliate at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey (2002-2003). He currently serves as the Chair of the International Security Section (ISSS) of the International Studies Association (ISA).
Regional Coordinator – Manish Thapa – PhD. Candidate – University of Tokyo, Director – Asian Study Center for Peace & Conflict Transformation.
MANISH THAPA is currently a Doctoral Research Candidate in International Studies at the University of Tokyo working on his research project titled: From Bullet to Ballot: The Politics of Peacemaking in Nepal. He is recipient of prestigious Robert McNamara Fellowship (2009-2010) from the World Bank & prestigious RONPAKU Fellowship (2008-2011) from Japan Society for Promotion of Sciences (JSPS). He is also associated as Robert McNamara Visiting Research Fellow at Department of Peace & Conflict Research at Uppsala University - Sweden. He was Visiting Research Fellow at Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at University of Notre Dame – USA (2008-2009) & Sauvé Research Fellow at McGill University in Canada (2006-2007). He received his Bachelors degree in Development Studies from Kathmandu University, and Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies from Austria’s European University – Centre for Peace Studies. He was Founding Executive Director (2006-2008) of the Asian Study Centre for Peace & Conflict Transformation (ASPECT). In 2005, Manish founded the Nepal Peace Initiative Alliance, which was instrumental in the establishment of the Ministry of Peace & Reconstruction in Nepal. He also played a key role in establishing the Department Conflict, Peace & Development Studies Program at Tribhuvan University, where he is now associated as a core faculty member. He is also Visiting Faculty at Nepal Army Command and Staff College where he teaches courses on Peace & Security. He is co-chair of the Internal Conflicts Commission at the International Peace Research Association (IPRA) and Council Member of the Asia-Pacific Peace Research Association (APPRA). He is on the Research Committee on Centre for Global Non-killing (CGNK). Currently he is leading a team of international peace builders in institutionalizing South Asian Peace Academy (SAPA) which will be state-of-art Peace Academy in South Asia.
His recent publications include "Role of Civil Society & Peace Party in Current Nation/State Building Process in Nepal" in The New Dynamics of Conflict in Nepal edited by Bishnu Poudel and Hari Bansh Jha (2009); "From Conflict to Peace: The Role of Young People in Creating New Nepal" in Young People, Education, and Sustainable Development: Exploring Principles, Perspectives, and Praxis, edited by Philip Osano & Peter Blaze Corcoran (2009); Nepal Climate Change and Security Factsheet, co-authored with Dr. Christian Webersik for United Nations University (UNU), Tokyo (2008); "Maoists Insurgency in Nepal: Context, Cost & Consequences" in Afro-Asian Conflicts: Changing Contours, Costs and Consequences, edited by Dr. Seema Shekhawat and Dr. Debidatta Aurobinda Mahapatra (2008); "Ministry of Peace & Reconstruction in Nepal: A Foundation for Peace" in Joint Action for Prevention: Civil Society & Government Cooperation on Conflict Prevention & Peacebuilding, edited by Paul Van Tongeren & Christine van Empel (2007); Institutional Approaches to Gender Policies in Post Conflict Reconstruction – A Case Study of World Bank (2006); “Back to Negotiations: Diagnosis & Prognosis of Future Negotiation Process of Nepal” in EPU Research Paper Series (2006) and Understanding Maoists Insurgency from Wider Perspective in GDN Research Paper Series (2005).