Mahinda Rajapaksa elected as a fifth executive president of Sri Lanka on 19th November 2005. Rajapaksa government terminated thirty years-long civil war in Sri Lanka under the pressure of various internal and external dynamics. Mainly, the military concerns of the country directed Rajapaksa regime to formulate a strategic foreign policy to maintain the foreign relations. The government subjected to many foreign accusations including war crimes and human rights violations. Rajapaksa government exercised several foreign policy tactics to reach the world including the western world. This sporadic feature of the foreign policy shaped by the civil war influence of Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa foreign policy since 2005 to 2015 was a critical juncture of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy decision-making process. With these concerns, the research paper opens the flow of analysis on Mahinda Rajapaksa foreign and the civil war influence to Rajapaksa foreign policy formulations.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Comparative Foreign Policy Decision Making And Civil War Factor: 2005-2015
3. Foreign Policy Towards SAARC Region
4. Foreign Policy Toward The Western And Eastern World
5. Foreign Policy Toward China
6. Foreign Policy Toward The Middle East And African Region
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines how the protracted civil war in Sri Lanka significantly influenced the foreign policy decision-making process under the administration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa between 2005 and 2015, specifically exploring how military and security concerns shaped diplomatic strategies and international relations.
- Analysis of the correlation between domestic civil war dynamics and foreign policy shifts.
- Strategic deployment of summit and forum diplomacy to secure international political and military support.
- The divergence in diplomatic relations between Western powers and alternative regional partners.
- The utilization of foreign policy as a tool for national security and the defense of sovereignty against international pressure.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
President Mahinda Rajapaksa sealed the presidential victory in 2005 with the massive promise over the political arena. During the election campaign, Mahinda Rajapaksa had being assurance that he will terminate the Peace Agreement which signed by, Ranil Wickramasinghe government with the LTTE in 2002. Though he promised to abolish the peace agreement, during the Geneva summit in 2006 President Mahinda Rajapaksa provided a written assurance to the international community to ensure the commitments of the regime to continue the peace process in Sri Lanka. The Rajapaksa government signed a memorandum of understanding with United National Party (UNP) to ensure the infallible commitments to pursue a political solution, according to Peace agreement of 2002.
With concern of all these primary factors, President Mahinda Rajapaksa instantly decided to terminate from the Peace agreement. (National Peace Council, 2010: 721)
The decision of the government directly influenced to the foreign policy behaviour of the country and highlighted that how domestic political factors and the personality of the leadership shaped the foreign policy decision-making process. The sudden shift of the foreign policy was able to gain the world attention toward Sri Lanka and it was scratch the critical juncture in Sri Lankan foreign policy roadmap. Expressly, civil war stimulus the foreign policy in Sri Lanka since the establishment of executive presidentship. Thus, the researcher identified the civil war or else the protracted internal conflict as a primary and necessary concern of the foreign policy process since 1978 to 2009.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the political landscape of 2005 and the pivotal shift in government stance regarding the peace agreement with the LTTE.
2. Comparative Foreign Policy Decision Making And Civil War Factor: 2005-2015: Examines the ministerial framework and the geopolitical pressures that dictated Sri Lanka's foreign policy approach during the war years.
3. Foreign Policy Towards SAARC Region: Details the use of summit diplomacy to maintain regional support and leverage collective stances against terrorism.
4. Foreign Policy Toward The Western And Eastern World: Analyzes the strained relations with Western nations due to human rights concerns and the resulting diplomatic fragmentation.
5. Foreign Policy Toward China: Explores the pragmatic, China-oriented foreign policy adopted to secure financial, military, and diplomatic backing at the UN.
6. Foreign Policy Toward The Middle East And African Region: Discusses the strategic pivot toward non-traditional partners to counter Western resolutions and secure alternative aid.
7. Conclusion: Synthesizes how the civil war served as a primary driver for the dynamic, pragmatic, and often reactive foreign policy of the Rajapaksa regime.
Keywords
Comparative Analysis, Foreign Policy, Mahinda Rajapaksa, National Interests, Civil War, Strategic study, Diplomacy, Sovereignty, LTTE, Terrorism, International Relations, Geopolitics, Military Aid, UN Resolutions, South Asia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research?
The research explores how the internal conflict (civil war) in Sri Lanka served as the primary catalyst for shaping the country's foreign policy decisions under President Mahinda Rajapaksa from 2005 to 2015.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The work covers foreign relations with the SAARC region, Western and Eastern nations, China, and the Middle East/African region, all through the lens of national security and military necessity.
What is the core research goal?
The goal is to analyze the shift in foreign policy decision-making and how the Rajapaksa administration strategically engaged different global powers to preserve the military effort against the LTTE.
Which scientific methods are employed in this study?
The researcher utilizes a comparative analysis approach, drawing on primary and secondary data, academic discussions, and official government records to evaluate the rationale behind policy changes.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body investigates the transition from Western-oriented relations to regional-centric partnerships, detailing how the regime navigated international human rights pressures and UN resolutions.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key terms include Comparative Analysis, Foreign Policy, Mahinda Rajapaksa, National Interests, Civil War, and Strategic Study.
How did the war influence relations with India?
The administration leveraged geopolitical realities to maintain Indian support, balancing the domestic "Tamilnadu factor" with the need for security cooperation to combat terrorism.
Why was the pivot toward China significant?
The pivot was a tactical move to secure a Veto-wielding ally in the UN Security Council and to obtain military aid when Western nations imposed restrictions on the Sri Lankan government.
What role did the Tamil diaspora play in the research?
The diaspora is identified as a significant factor that influenced the decision-making process, specifically causing the government to seek alternative diplomatic "protective umbrellas" to counter diaspora-led propaganda in the West.
- Citar trabajo
- Dilan Prasad Harsha Senanayake (Autor), 2016, The Influence of the Civil War on Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Foreign Policy in Sri Lanka during 2005- 2015, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/389043
