18 Jun 96 12:15:10 +1200 From: "Che Tibby" Organization: Human Science Lab To: revs@csf.colorado.edu Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 12:14:59 GMT+1200 Subject: (Fwd) Thesis Contributions Forwarded message: From: Self To: peace@csf.colorado.edu Subject: Thesis Contributions Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 12:13:44 Greetings! My name is Che Tibby and I'm currently completing a Masters thesis at Auckland University. The major topic is conflict resolution and provention, with a focus on identity politics and social conflict. I'll outline some points and if I could get some dialogue going it would be much appreciated, likewise, any personal contributions in the form of references or overlooked points won't be badly received. The major component of the issue is the formation of political identity and the manner in which it is handled by the state. -How does the state "control" political identity? -Is the nation a socio-political reality, or merely a construct of modern societies? -Is "nation" really the highest stage in a political organisation heirarchy? Or are other forms equally valid but lacking power/authority. These and other questions are the core of the thesis. The theme of the thesis is the construction of a truly bicultural state in New Zealand. The expectation is that if the deep-rooted conceptual basis of the nation-state is sufficiently deconstructed that a more appropriate form of government can be reconstructed to form an actual bicultural nation(s)-state. -But is constitutionalism a solution? -Can more than one nation be adequately represented in a state without failing to majoritarianism? -Do all nations need full/equal shares in power/authority, or will a species of corporatism be adequate? Any contributions to these problems will be greatly appreciated. What I hope to achieve is to demonstrate that identity is as valid as economics or security in the generation of long-term domestic policy, and therefore requiring proventative politics. Regards Che Tibby