BOOK: Javaid HAYAT, Azad Jammu & Kashmir : Polity, Politics and Power-Sharing (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020). ISBN 9780199408054, 20.00 USD

 

(Source: OUP)

Oxford University Press has published a book on the status and sovereignty of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) by using a historical and constitutional perspective.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Azad Jammu & Kashmir: Polity, Politics, and Power-Sharing explores the opportunities and pitfalls of establishing democracy and legitimate governance in territories with disputed status, especially where governance systems are fragile and the process of democratization is hindered due to socio-political fault-lines. Apart from probing the decolonisation process in the Indian subcontinent and its subsequent implications, the analyses in this study, adds clarity to our understanding of the status and sovereignty of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) by using a historical and constitutional perspective; for this purpose, it investigates political and constitutional evolution since 1947. It examines contemporary power-sharing theories and alternatives for the establishment of an autonomous governance structure in order to proceed towards meaningful conflict-management and hence a stable democracy in deeply divided societies, with particular focus on AJK. Javaid Hayat has identified innovative pathways amongst nexuses of sovereignty, autonomy, and democratic governance and has persuasively argued for an alternative model through recognition of internal right to self-determination for building veritable autonomous democratic governance structure in the disputed territory of AJK until an opportunity presents itself for an external right to self-determination as provided to the people of the erstwhile state of J&K, which was promised by the UN and agreed to, by both India and Pakistan.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr Javaid Hayat is a 'Pracademic' whose career journey has taken him from public to non-profit sector in Asia, Europe, and North America where he has worked with national and international NGOs in various capacities. He is a peace researcher and political scientist. He earned his PhD in Political Science from Freie Universitate, Germany in 2014. He holds two Masters degrees in Peace, Conflict, and Development Studies from Universitate Jaume-I, Spain, and Mass Communication from University of the Punjab, Pakistan. He has graduated in Non-profit Management from Mount Royal University and Career and Academic Advising from University of Calgary, Canada. He received the prestigious George Zundel fellowship from the Berghof Foundation, Germany (20092013). Born in Peshawar and raised in Punjab, Pakistan, Dr Hayat originally hails from Azad Jammu & Kashmir. He has in-depth understanding of the regions history, people, and politics.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Author's Disclaimer

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

1. Setting the Context

2. Emergence, Status, and Legitimacy of AJK: Does Democracy Need Sovereignty

3. Azad Jammu & Kashmir: Historical, Constitutional, and Political Perspectives

4. Power-Sharing: A Conceptual and Theoretical Reflection

5. Building Autonomous and Democratic Governance in AJK: Recognition of Internal Self-determination

6. Conclusion

Notes

References

Annexures

A. Text of Treaty of Amritsar, 16 March 1846

B. Text of State Subject Definition, 1927

C. Text of Declaration of Independence, 24 October 1947

D. Text of UNCIP Resolution, 1948

E. Text of UNCIP Resolution, 1949

F. Karachi Agreement, 1949 between AJK and Pakistan

G. Text of Ceasefire Agreement, 1949 00

H. Text of Instrument of Accession, 26 October 1947

Index

 

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