tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56320618851375295422024-03-13T09:43:53.564-07:00The importance of not being importantAbdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-84353848382212625932010-11-23T10:17:00.000-08:002010-11-23T10:18:15.727-08:00The country that wasThe news has increasingly become a biting reminder of the abyss that the land of the pure has become entrapped in. The trial of destruction left by the American invasion of Afghanistan is very much visible in its neighbor. Pakistan has been left with the indelible mark of a terrorist nation, a mark that does not bode well for the social and economic advancement of the 160 million souls that inhabit the country. As the war on terror lingers on, Pakistan is coming under fire from all sides. The West asserts that Pakistan should do more, a demand that has gained an iconic status among the many caricatures that depict the complicated situation of the nation. Likewise, India holds Pakistan responsible for fueling the independence movement in Kashmir by supplying training and arms to the militants. It comes as a surprise that Afghanistan, under the leadership of Karzai, castigates Pakistan for giving safe refuge to the militants, the same ones responsible for the present state of the country.<br />When foreigners tell me that Pakistan was the only country founded on the basis of religion, a sinking feeling envelops me. I bury my head in shame as I realize the extent to which the citizens of a nation that was born of sweat and blood, are defiling the very state that gives them an identity in the world. If one were to peruse through the history of the Pakistan movement, it becomes clear that this nation was made by inspiration and devotion, by a man who perhaps was the greatest statesmen of the 20th century. The senseless slaughter brought about by the greatest migration witnessed in human history will always stand as a reminder to all Pakistanis of the sacrifices made by their ancestors. And yet what one sees on television today makes one weep from the innermost corner of the heart. Never has this nation experienced such turbulence. The common man who is now devoid of electricity, water, sugar, wheat and jobs now resembles a frail creature on the verge of death.<br />Amidst such troubled times, our nation deserves better leadership. Zardari is a name that brings into mind corruption, ineptitude and that brute smile that has robbed the happiness of millions in the impoverished nation. Having become president by the virtue of a bullet, the man will go down in history as the most despicable figure in our short history, even undercutting the nefarious reputation built by Zia. It is ostensible that the PPPP survives on the brand name of Bhutto, a man so charismatic that his family has successfully traded his name to win 3 elections. Even the late Benazir Bhutto emerged as the leading figure in Pakistani politics as a direct result of her father’s popularity among the masses. It comes as no surprise that her son, Bilawal, is touted to be the next president.<br />When does a nation accept doom and passively works to make best use of whatever little in hand? At what point does hope give way to acceptance of the harsh reality? These questions serve to showcase the immense psychological trauma endured by the people and how the resolution to this comes from swallowing the bitter pill of reality.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-26899182085052875112010-11-23T09:50:00.000-08:002010-11-23T10:15:56.155-08:00Death: Nature of the BeastThe world keeps on moving at an inexorable pace, seemingly indifferent to the fact that some people forever part ways with their loved ones as they embrace the certainty of death. Even the less liked ones gain an iconic status upon death, with any castigation of the dead soul considered an act that borders debauchery. Although death is never a pleasurable experience, it can be said that life retains its value due to the very existence of its anti- thesis. This follows that one can only fully appreciate the value of human life by realizing the great loss that accompanies death. And if religions are to serve as a guide, death is not the end of life, but rather is a stepping stone into eternity. Albus Dumbeldore's observation that death is but the next great adventure rebuts the conventional notion, a notion that assumes that death is the end of the human organism. That we know so little about afterlife adds to the complexity of such an important realm. Science has, till yet, not been able to venture into human afterlife and therefore the best explanations we have rest on religious dogmas. Considering the proclivity of science to endorse rationality over belief, it becomes rather easy to understand why science does not concur with the multifarious theories that seek to shed light on what happens after death. In a rather ironic way, death serves a useful purpose in that it awakens the goodness embedded in all humanity. The very fact that life is short and is merely a transient stage aids us in our collective understanding of the importance of forgiveness and mercy.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-57238688597105364572010-11-18T06:08:00.001-08:002010-11-18T06:08:46.879-08:00InemInem is a short story that introduces to us the despicable act of marrying out girls at a tender age. The idea of child brides is inextricably linked with poverty, a practice that literally means that girls are sold for cash. The story also lays bare the social norms and values that govern the lives of countless women. Trapped in roles already prescribed for them, girls find no alternative but to succumb to parental pressure to marry someone who often times is much mature than her. This notion gets credence from the words of Muk’s mother who goes about convincing Inem of her duty to her husband. Inem’s role as a wife is paramount as any minor transgression can result in eternal damnation. This is a testament to the constraining factors that ensure that women lay entrapped in marriage, a male dominant institution that gives women anything but respect. Although Muk’s mother does recognize the vulnerable position the little girl is in, all she does is to convince Inem that she should find redemption in a man who beats her up each day. That Inem has no other option speaks to the conservative nature of the Indonesian society in which the story is set. Poverty is the epicenter of all the reasons that result in child brides. Impoverished parents, in the illusion that girls are a burden better be dealt with, are inexorable in their pursuit to find a compatible match. Something truly ironic about the story is the contrasting emotional states of Inem before and after her marriage. Inem is excited and thrilled at the outset, only to become the desolate and lifeless character we see her to be in the end. The story is told through the eyes of Muk, who is not so different from us in his ignorance of the social norms and values that govern Indonesian life. Muk therefore serves an important role as he unravels the position of women in the society. Consider the child’s naïve perspective along with the more mature voice of his mother which in turn is pivotal to our understanding of the story. It is also worthwhile to unmask the conflict that exists even within the same culture. Consider the differing conceptions of the two mothers of what constitutes the best interests of Inem. This visible difference is largely the culmination of their disparate economic backgrounds.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-26102342081820933902010-11-18T05:58:00.000-08:002010-11-18T05:59:03.776-08:00The Asian world orderThe advent of a new world order is the consequence of tectonic power shifts across the globe. Given its profusion of resources, Asia, spearheaded by China, is staring at a period of unprecedented economic growth. China’s fairly tale has made it the centre of the world’s new centre. Something more striking than how a country has pulled 400 million people out of the menace of poverty is the fact that this is just the start of China using its mind boggling potential. . The fall of the West commensurate with the overwhelming ascent of Asia into the corridors of power, a phenomenon largely inconceivable a few decades ago. Many would contend against this, arguing that it is inconceivable that Chinese will become the language of the future or that we will witness an upsurge in Chinese rock music. While it is difficult to accept that within a lifetime, the Western customs that are so deeply ingrained in our lifestyle will be replaced by Chinese ones, our very refusal to accept this is in itself a reflection of the Western ideological lens that we use to make sense of the world. Martin Jacques endorses the view that China’s economic power will translate into cultural influence, as the economic powerhouse spreads it wings with the passage of time.<br /> It is interesting to note how the framing of the question leads us to unconsciously believe that world domination rests on economic progress. This notion is implicit in the claim of Western loss of hegemony as a direct result of economic stagnation .Power encompasses a wider meaning and cannot only be restricted to economic advancement. The cultural appeal of a country and its soft power are pivotal in gaining the recognition and acceptance paramount to any great power. That said, economic power is a stepping stone for a country to expand its sphere of influence.<br />The claim that the West has been usurped by the rising Asia raises the broader question of how power is defined. As outlined by Paul Kennedy in the ‘Rise and Fall of the Great Powers,’ a nation’s capability to exercise global hegemony rests directly on its productive capacity. Europe, by virtue of the overwhelming economic lead it gained by being the first to embrace the Industrial Revolution, was able to control and maintain its hegemonic position. Economic power has a strong correlation with military influence as the newly found wealth can be used to bolster the country’s defense. China’s growing economic clout will transmute it into next global hegemonic power. The United States is already feeling the pinch of the war against terror, manifested through the huge amounts of defense spending that the country cannot sustain in the long run. This imperial overstretch is among the many signs emerging that the once seemingly invincible hyper power is now in decline. <br /> In the West, one of the misguided notions of conventional wisdom is that as China modernizes, it will become a Western style country. Nothing could be further from the truth. Martin Jacques points out that there are many paths to modernity, a fact intricately linked with the concept of contested modernity. He asserts that Chinese modernity will be shaped by its own culture and history. There is a strong element of national pride and sense of identity among the Chinese, a feeling compounded by the recent financial meltdown and the subsequent resilience of the Chinese economy. This pride also originates from being a part of what Jacques defines as a ‘civilization state’ with a 5000 year old history.<br />That the Chinese considered themselves the centre of the world is a reflection of this mindset. It is rather difficult to see how a country with such a rich culture and distinctive past can merge and blend into an international system dominated by countries that represent only a small slice of humanity. This serves to justify why a Chinese world order will be very different from that of the West. Therefore, one can dispel the notion that China will become the cornerstone of the Western international order, for it is the very system that it seeks to replace.<br />It is tempting to dismiss all talk of the changing balance of power as pure hogwash. The United States is still the most powerful nation in the world capable of destroying the world many times over. The level of development in Asia pales in comparison with that of Europe. That said, the winds of change are blowing and it is not sagacious to condone the torrent of changes taking place. Asia’s economic edge is very much palpable and as the years roll forward, even the most ardent supporter of the West will have to concede to the increasing dominance of Asia. If history is to serve as a guide, Britain and USA were able to build their cultural influence and ideological appeal after they had industrialized. There is no reason to believe that Asia will be any different. Beyond doubt, this century belongs to Asia and although we are still at an early stage of the continent’s rise, any astute eye can discern with alacrity that the ‘Age of the West’ is coming to a rapid conclusion.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-17976978644565084752010-11-18T05:56:00.000-08:002010-11-18T05:57:58.184-08:00A reading of Ahmed Essop’s “The Hajji”‘The Hajji’ by Ahmed Essop is a gripping story based on the internal moral conflict of a man called Hajji Hassen. This inner conflict can only be understood in the wider social and political context which forms the background of this compelling narrative. The story is set in South Africa and the writer, himself born in India, provides a commentary on racial injustice which is intricately linked with the concept of apartheid. This racial bifurcation is a central motif of ‘The Hajji’ as it aids the reader in his understanding of the moral conflict inside Hassen. Due to these racial divisions, Karim’s decision to cohobate with a white women results in his social isolation from the Muslim community. This very racial division breeds loathing in the heart of Hassen, a hatred so great that it transcends religion and fraternity.<br /> In the story, racial separation is palpable, manifested when Hassen goes to Hillbrow to see his brother. The three white youths that mock Hassen in the lift serve an important purpose as they lay bare the social reality of apartheid. The ridicule directed at Hassen cause him to react and in doing so, Hassen exposes the racial mistrust and revulsion present in a country plagued by apartheid. Hassen’s own thoughts are a reflection of social mindsets,” He remained immobile, his dignity clawed, Was there anything so vile in him that the youths found it necessary to maul the last recess of his self respect? ‘They are white’, he said to himself in bitter justification of their attitude.” (Essop, p. 165, 1988). That Hassen mitigates his insult by reminding himself that these were white people is a showcase of the racial hatred that forms the backdrop of the story. This insult has severe ramifications as Hassen is once again reminded of his brother’s decision, one that has tainted his moral integrity.<br />Hassen is torn between the need to salvage his dignity and self respect with a desire to embrace a brother on the verge of dying. The mercurial nature of Hassen stands as a testament to the inexorable conflict that goes on inside him. Hassen is conscious of the way his behavior is seen by others. This derives in part from the fact that he has been crowned with the consecrated title of a Hajji, which is a constant reminder that he has visited the house of God in Mecca. Such a title symbolizes purity of spirit and nobility of character, a standard with which his behavior is gauged by others and one through which he sees himself. The very title of the story is pivotal to our understanding of Hassen as it magnifies the gap between a man of God and an individual consumed by his need to protect his dignity. This is exemplified by the debate that goes on unabated inside Hassen, ‘Was it for this that he had made the pilgrimage- to cleanse his soul in order to return to the penumbra of sin?’ (Essop, p. 168, 1988). The interplay of religion and culture exacerbate the bitter moral conflict inside Hassen. Hassen himself explains his quandary’ He had recently sought God’s pardon for his sins in Mecca, and now this business of his brothers final earthly wish and his own intransigence was in some way staining his spirit.’ (Essop, p. 162, 1988). It is rather ironic that Hassen professes to be a Hajji, yet he does not have the capacity to grant the last wish of a dying brother. How can a man seek the mercy of God when he is not willing to extend the same to his brother? Such an intriguing question is put by Mr. Mia to Hassen, ‘Hajji, what sort of a man are you? Have you no feeling for your brother?’ (Essop, p. 167, 1988). <br />Although the brothers have parted ways for ten years and Karim has caused overwhelming humiliation to Hassen by defiling the color line, it would be wrong to imply that Hassen does not love his brother. Hassen displays affection for his brother by remembering the past, ‘O Karim The thought of the youth he had loved so much during the days they had been together at the Islamic Institute, brought tears to his eyes and he stopped against a shop window and wept.’ The fact that Karim can be loved and hated at the same time is a conspicuous signal of the internal struggle inside Hassen. This very behavior of Hassen provides the story the emotional richness that one usually associates with the writing of Ahmed Essop. The climax of the story pertains to a transformation in Hassen, a change accompanied by the sudden resurgence of love for his brother. In this great state of emotion, Hassen is stripped of all worldly consciousness as he strives to embrace his brother for the last time. Such a powerful emotion is captured in plain words by the writer, ‘He would return to Karim. A fervent longing to embrace his brother came over him, to touch that dear form before the soil claimed him. His whole existence precipitated itself into one motive, one desire, to embrace his brother in a final act of love’. (Essop, p. 171, 1988). <br />It becomes difficult to account for the erratic behavior of Hassen as the story progresses as the initial hesitation gives way to obduracy. Hassen is a man captive to the social definition of what constitutes integrity and manhood. In his attempt to¬ retain his dignity, Hassen paves the way for his humiliation at the hands of the very society that he seeks redemption from. Hassen’s tension is compounded when Karim arrives in the Muslim community, for this leaves Hassen in a very awkward position. Hassen is trapped in the prison of his own making, and although he wants to go back to his brother, his inner sense of moral worth prevents him from doing so. This is the internal moral conflict that resonates throughout the story, one that paves the way to a very tragic ending. Taken together, it is the interplay of culture and racial segregation that overpowered Hassen to behave in such an eccentric way. This beautiful story is ironic in its recognition of Hassen being a religious man and yet not being able to exercise one of the central principles of Islam: forgiveness. The bitter internal struggle of the protagonist shows a man who is bound by forces that make him rebel against his own nature. Although Karim has been painted as a rebel throughout the story, in essence, it is Hassen who deviates from the path enjoined by his religion.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-92211853061223559022010-11-18T05:55:00.000-08:002010-11-18T05:56:15.259-08:00Surprising elements and the value of using statistical data for armed violence.My initial understanding of armed violence was limited in scope to just acts of aggression committed in war. However, armed violence encompasses a much broader meaning and one cannot condone deaths and injuries in non- conflict and non- war settings. It is rather surprising that the number of deaths in non-war settings actually outweighs the ones in war settings. That 490,000 deaths occurred due to homicide in 2004 alone stands a testament to this. (Chapter 4, Global Burden of Armed Violence, 2008, p. 67). Armed violence also includes social and predatory violence like extrajudicial killings, kidnappings and gang violence. These are the forms of violence that are less conspicuous, although this does not mean that they are any less significant. The fact that these can be present in ‘peaceful’ societies makes it all the more important for them to be studied closely. An appreciation of the breadth of this subject only came to me as I progressed through the semester.<br />Owing to the multifaceted nature of armed violence, one cannot attribute its cause to any one given factor. Consider how armed gangs are formed as a means of ensuring mutual security in a time of disorder and chaos. In many cases, it is ironic that in the absence of any form of security formed by the state, armed gangs represent the only source of protection for the citizens. It is striking, perhaps even shocking, that there are at as many gang members in Central America as there are military personnel (Chapter 7, Global Burden of Armed Violence, 2008, p.129). Likewise, kidnappings are in large measure the culmination of economic conditions. Most of such incidents are ones that demand ransom, a clear sign of the economic incentive of the act. Extra judicial killings can also be used to corroborate that armed conflicts have diverse causes. Such incidents are most conspicuous in China where the state frowns upon any criticism leveled against the authoritarian rule. This form of political violence goes largely unreported as it is difficult to see how data is collected when the state, which is itself entrusted to be the provider of security, becomes the perpetrator of aggression. In this case, political oppression born out of the need to suppress freedom of speech and stifle opposition explains the acts of violence.<br />Given the conventional gender roles that relegate women to domestic roles, I found it surprising that women have actively participated in armed conflicts in at least 57 countries since 1990. Also, more than 30 percent of the fighters in different non-state armed groups like the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Communist Party of Nepal were women (Chapter 6, Global Burden of Armed Violence, 2008, p.113). Although women are usually the victims of armed conflict, this does not mean that they themselves cannot be among the transgressors.<br />The indirect effect of armed conflict was a topic that I only became cognizant of during the course of the semester. I could never have realized that the consequences of war can be as bad as or even worse than the terrible act of war itself. The fact that the number of deaths in a post conflict setting can overshadow the ones in war took me completely by surprise. Evidence for this is provided in the International Rescue Committee’s series of mortality surveys in the Democratic Republic of Congo which found that 5.4 million excess deaths occurred between August 1998 and April 2007. Ninety percent of the deaths (4.8 million) were indirect deaths. (Chapter 2, Global Burden of Armed Violence, 2008, p.31). It needs to be stated that the indirect effects are more severe in underdeveloped nations as the already crippled infrastructure completely breaks down when violence ensues. The high amount of ‘preventable deaths’ are in large measure due to the worsened social, economic and health conditions in the conflict affected area. In the short run, disease and malnutrition account for a high proportion of deaths. In the long run, the cumulative effects of war on the economy and the infrastructure are responsible for the loss of lives. The loss of precious lives that could be saved in a post conflict society awoke me to the need to aid countries that have recently experienced armed conflict. One can do little to prevent war but it is possible to mitigate the effects by providing aid immediately after the termination of the conflict. This becomes all the more important in light of the fact that the burden of indirect deaths was between three and 15 times the number of direct deaths in the majority of conflicts since the early 1990s (Chapter 2, Global Burden of Armed Violence, 2008, p.32). The whole course was littered with violence and was devoid of any semblance of hope. I found reassurance and hope in this way, thus ensuring that I preserve my sanity after having encountered such a torrent of bloodshed and senseless slaughter.<br /> One of the most important feature of conflicts is the high likelihood of their recurrence. The chance of previously terminated conflicts reemerging presents a frightening scenario. Consider how the year 2005 witnessed an upsurge in the number of armed conflicts, largely due to the increased conflict recurrences (Hewitt, Wilkenfeld, Gurr, p.30).This was also the largest annual jump since the end of World War 2, a clear indication of the severity of conflict recurrences. This statistic does not bode well for the future, given the high number of recently terminated conflicts that have a fairly good chance of igniting once again<br /><br /><br /> Part 2<br />Although not devoid of blemishes, statistics are a very useful tool in the analysis of deaths arising from armed conflict. Statistics about armed conflicts can help us understand the severity of the issue at hand. By providing easy to understand numbers, one can discern the extent of the bloodshed in any armed conflict. Statistics can be easily understood by a wide audience, making them a potent research method. The fact that the results can be replicated give it more validity and reliability. This is particularly relevant to the realm of armed conflict where statistics can provide hard numbers on the number of deaths.<br />The pro seminar class has revealed how often statistics that we take for granted are incomplete or simply lacking the data that can help us reach a valid assumption. My initial propensity to accept data at face value has given way to a mild suspicion of how the data has been collected. This has resulted in my double checking of the facts stated in any report to find any packaging or measurement errors. The course has broadened my understanding of statistics which although by definition is an exact science, yet there is almost in all cases a room for doubt. In all the readings assigned for this course, one can pinpoint methodological flaws that render the research less valid. What is most striking is how the researchers themselves have a lucid understanding of the way the data is incomplete, yet this is followed by overarching theories that claim to accurately depict the social phenomenon under discussion. Statistics are never perfect which means that it is always sagacious to accept them with a grain of salt.<br />Statistical data mostly employ a definition that is used as a benchmark. This is intricately linked to the concept of ‘measurement errors’ where different results are gathered due to the particular choices made by the researcher. This is particularly evident in the study conducted by Uppsala Conflict Data program and the International Peace Research Institute, which includes only those conflicts that have accumulated at least 1000 battle related fatalities over the entire course of the conflict and at least 25 in the given year (Hewitt et al, p.27).This results in some conflicts not being included, a blatant example of how statistical data employed to measure armed conflict falls short of the exacting standards we normally associate with it. It really does not make sense that an intense conflict that has claimed 900 lives over a period of 6 months not be classified as an ‘active’ conflict. <br />The event databases collected on terrorism consider only transnational attacks, attacks in which nationals or groups from one country cross into another to commit acts of terrorism (Hewitt et al, p.51). This is a serious flaw as the number of domestic terrorist attacks outnumbers the transnational ones by as much as seven to one. Therefore, in limiting the scope of terrorist activities to just transnational ones, these data bases have not given a valid picture of the threat posed by terrorism. <br />Statistics concerning indirect deaths are naturally more difficult to quantify. Given the average ratio of 4 indirect deaths to one direct death, statistics lose their effectiveness as a means of measuring the global burden of armed violence (Chapter 2, Global Burden of Armed Violence, 2008, p.32). It is inconceivable to account for all the deaths that result in a post conflict setting due to the outbreak or malaria and malnutrition. This follows that statistics, are at best, merely estimates that cannot give us any amount of certainty. Also, attributing indirect deaths to the impact of conflict is problematic. How can we assume that the deaths that have occurred in a post conflict setting could have been averted without the incidence of war, given the fact that in poor countries there is already a high risk of deaths associated with malnutrition and other preventable diseases? This greatly diminishes the value of using statistics to measure armed conflict and war. Therefore, it is imperative to employ tactics other than statistics in our attempt to obtain a valid picture of the extent of the global burden of armed violence. Qualitative data can complement our knowledge by providing detailed data on how armed conflict happens in the first place. Direct interviews with the victims of war and the general population can reveal the underlying trend that can be easily missed by statistics. The detailed qualitative data gathered can enrich the researcher’s understanding of the subject, allowing him to arrive at a more valid estimate. In stark contrast to quantitative data, qualitative data such as interviews provides an explanation for the emergence of armed conflict, increasing our understanding the subject in a way that can help us avoid it in the future. <br />Qualitative data can also aid in the discovery of any latent aspects of any social phenomenon. This is particularly relevant when measuring armed violence against women as some cases of Intimate partner violence and rape go unreported. The strength of qualitative methods derives from the ability to obtain a detailed account from a diverse group of people. This broadens the vision of the researcher as he comes to appreciate various perspectives on the subject matter. Consider how honor killings, mainly prevalent in the Muslim world, tend to be covert in nature (Chapter 6, Global Burden of Armed Violence, 2008, p.120). This can also be extended to acts of rape, where the family, in an attempt to salvage their honor and dignity, do not report the incident. While quantitative data can wholly overlook this factor, qualitative data will appreciate the constraining factors on the victims that prevent reporting of such crimes. In essence, it is a combination of both qualitative and quantitative data methods that have the ability to provide the bigger picture. <br /><br />Bibliography <br />Secretariat, Geneva Declaration, (2008). Armed Violence against Women. Global Burden of Armed Violence, 109-120.<br /> Secretariat, Geneva Declaration, (2008). Lethal encounters: Non- conflict Armed violence. Global Burden of Armed Violence, 67-79.<br />Secretariat, Geneva Declaration, (2008). Other Forms of Armed Violence: Making the Invisible Visible. Global Burden of Armed Violence, 125-136.<br />Secretariat, Geneva Declaration, (2008).The Many Victims of War: Indirect Conflict Deaths. Global Burden of Armed Violence, 31-39.<br />Hewitt, Joe Joseph, Jonathan Wlikenfeld, and Ted Robert Gurr, (2010).Trends In Global Conflict. Peace and Conflict 2010, 27-31.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-2889833288467584412010-11-18T05:48:00.000-08:002010-11-18T05:54:10.559-08:00Intervention: Blessing or CurseThe debate around military intervention for the purpose of human protection rests mainly on the infringement of state sovereignty that results from the act of intervention. The examples of Rwanda, Kosovo, Bosnia and Somalia help to explain the intervention dilemma. Even when intervention was used by the world community, there were questions asked about the legitimacy and intention of the actors involved. Rwanda stands as a blatant example of the dangers of inaction where the UN virtually stood and watched while wide scale genocide was taking place (Chapter1, The Responsibility to Protect, 2001, p.1). The fact that intervention in an armed conflict can actually exacerbate the scale of the problem is somewhat ironic as the intended purpose was to mitigate human suffering, not to augment it.<br /> The very formation of the Commission was an effort to achieve some form of political consensus, given the millions of lives at stake. The Commission has used diversity of opinions including people directly affected by armed conflict and views of intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations. The Commission highlights the importance of developing credible and consistent measures that can serve to guide states in their collective action to prevent loss of human lives.<br />The Commission considers the traditional language used in the intervention debate as obstructive, as the phrase ‘right to intervene’ has negative connotations. It sidelines the human suffering and highlights the transgression of national sovereignty by using the word’ right’. Therefore, it only makes sense to change the wording to ‘the responsibility to protect’, a term that bridges the divide between intervention and sovereignty. This concept implies that the world community can only intervene when the state directly affected has failed to alleviate human suffering. This acts like a lifeguard for millions of otherwise helpless individuals stranded in the midst of violence. The responsibility for intervention can be traced to specific legal obligations under human rights and international humanitarian law. The responsibility to protect does not only involve reaction but it also encompasses the responsibly to prevent and the responsibility to rebuild.<br />The world today is very different from that of 1945, with the birth of new states and the rise of transnational actors like terrorism increasing the complexity of the international society (Chapter1, The Responsibility to Protect, 2001, p.3). This increased diversity of opinions has made it all the more difficult to reach a consensus. The end of the Cold war has resulted in the birth of new internal conflicts which coupled with modern technology, have made the war more prone to armed violence. <br /> In light of the growing incidence of armed conflict, prevention of a conflict is perhaps the most feasible result the world community can accomplish through collective action. Military intervention should be used as the last resort, employed only when all other peaceful methods to diffuse the conflict have failed. Intervention only makes sense when there is the threat of a large scale loss of human life and when the intervention does not aggravate the extent of human suffering. Also, Security Council authorization of the intervention provides the legitimacy deemed crucial in an increasingly globalized world. <br />Membership in the UN itself was a seal of recognition for sovereign states as it meant that it was now the obligation of the organization to protect the territorial integrity of its member states. The conception of state sovereignty fosters international peace and order as the sense of fairness engendered by the concept of each state, irrespective of size and power, as exercising complete domination in its territory, gives an equal footing to all states. These founding principles led to a dilemma, as the increasing intra- state violence meant that international peace was jeopardized at the cost of national sovereignty. An organization that was formed to protect the sovereignty of its members now found out that doing so led to the undermining of its other fundamental goal- maintaining international security. The solution to the clash of these two fundamental principles comes from an understanding of the fact that sovereignty involves a degree of responsibility. State sovereignty does imply a dual responsibility which includes respecting the rights of citizens in addition to respecting the sovereignty of other states. By signing the UN charter, the member states have effectively agreed to protect and safeguard the lives of citizens. The changing of the definition of sovereignty is a central element of the Commission’s work.<br />The definition of human security has become broader with the passage of time, allowing for not only the physical safety of the citizens but also for their economic and social well being. The traditional definition of security does not fully capture the true magnitude of human suffering. Increasing expectations about human rights can be traced to evolving international standards of conduct for nations in their treatment of citizens. This is intricately linked to the emergence of international institutions with the sole purpose of monitoring human right violations. It is worth noting the influence of the information revolution and global mass media which have made it difficult for governments to condone cases of ethnic cleansing or genocide in even remote areas of the world.<br />The emerging guiding principle that military intervention is warranted when the state is unable or unwilling to stop conflict involving significant human loss is supported by an array of legal sources. This is, in essence, the growing realization in the world community of the responsibility to protect citizens when in danger. The commission believes that the increasing evidence points out that the Charter’s disinclination to endorse military intervention is no longer so acute as to completely rule out intervention as an option.<br /><br /><br /><br />Edward N. Luttwak makes a strong case against inconclusive intervention which he advocates prolongs the scale of human suffering by allowing both sides to recuperate after the initial outburst. He argues that there is a natural course of war which ultimately leads to peace after both sides exhaust all of their resources and have no other option but to disengage fighting. This self destroying characteristic of war is not all that bad as it allows for emergence of lasting peace and stability.<br />Luttwak provides examples of countries like Sri Lanka and Sudan where the conflict is confined to a particular region, allowing for the perpetuation of the war as the unaffected areas can provide much needed supplies (The Curse of Inconclusive Intervention, Turbulent Peace, 2001, p.265). This results in protraction of the war which in turn increases the human death toll. Luttwak makes the point that the ultimate destruction wreaked by any conflict is in some ways crucial to its very termination and the subsequent surfacing of peace and stability. <br />Luttwak also provides two exceptions to the general rule and goes on to show explain them. In these cases, internal wars have continued without the self effacing feature of conflict coming into play. The first reason that Luttwak provides for this eccentricity pertains to the fact that in most African conflicts, two sided armed fighting is rare. Instead, in most cases, we see one armed group attacking unarmed civilians incapable of defending themselves. This, by definition, does not constitute armed conflict and it also means that there is no weakening of any of the warring factions. His second explanation centers on the natural resources that are used by the perpetuators of aggression to finance the conflict. The fact that these resources can be extracted even with the absolute destruction of infrastructure aids in our understanding of why wars in Africa persist. <br />A war normally involves a goal so magnificent that the sacrifices of blood, sweat and money are not considered a waste in the process of achieving the desired result. In many cases, the great sacrifices of the war can only be tolerated if the aim used to justify war in the first place is grand enough. This provides an incentive for the group to extend conflict in the hope of finally achieving the aim. Such behavior is intricately linked to human psychology as the human desire to reach out for all that symbolizes splendor is a reflection of the rapacious side of human nature, despite the tremendous physical and economic cost that accompanies such a course of action. Luttwak defines this desire as the strengthening of the political commitment to continue fighting.<br />That said, if the war goes on without traces of any sign of victory, then humans resort to their rational side. As rationality reigns supreme, the emphasis shifts to minimizing the losses and ending the conflict as nothing rewarding can be possibly achieved. It may seem ironic that this is the stage where conditions needed for lasting and durable peace are engendered. Luttwak asserts that untimely intervention can disrupt the process that culminates in peace.<br />Luttwak is highly critical of the United Nations; an organization which he believes impedes peace and prolongs war by arranging ceasefires and armistices. He provides us with the example of the Arab Israeli war of 1948-1949 where the ceasefire merely served as a breathing space for the combatants, allowing them to rearm and resume the bloody conflict after the momentary respite (The Curse of Inconclusive Intervention, Turbulent Peace, 2001, p.267). Luttwak likens an armistice to a ‘frozen war’ owing to its ability to prolong armed conflicts. In the absence of great power wars, these two are mainly used to end wars between lesser powers. It is somewhat tragic that the only reason why these great powers feel compelled to take some sort of action is because of the increasing power of the global media which lays bare the terrible inhumanity of war on television. He also castigates the UN peacekeeping contingents for choosing to safeguard their own lives over those of the defenseless civilians. Instead of providing protection to the civilians, their very presence leads to a false sense of security, thus deterring the civilians from escaping their inevitable deaths. The already bleak picture is further dimmed by the inclusion of multilateral organizations that increasingly intervene in armed conflicts around the world. Humanitarian relief agencies are also culpable for exacerbating the scale of human suffering. Consider how the higher living standards in the camps established by UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) paved the way for the camps becoming into permanent homes as opposed to a transitory residence for the Palestinian refugees. (The Curse of Inconclusive Intervention, Turbulent Peace, 2001, p.270). These camps keep afresh the memory of the 1948 Arab – Israeli war, thus prolonging the conflict. Perhaps the most egregious of all is the work of some NGOs who feed the very conflict they aim to alleviate. In order to attract attention that ultimately leads to more and more donations, these NGOs protract war for their narrow minded interests by providing material aid to the combatants.<br /><br /> <br />Luttwak’s approach is rather eccentric as he allows for innocent lives to be lost until the mutual exhaustion begins to weigh in to terminate the conflict. In an increasingly globalized world where the media is very powerful, such an approach is rendered impotent as the global outcry at the merciless slaughter will be too loud for any country to ignore. The exhaustion of resources may take years, even decades to ensue and it is inconceivable to allow all the bloodshed in the hope of achieving peace after millions have been wiped out of the face of the Earth.<br /> For me, the ICISS's Report on the Responsibility to Protect gives a better understanding of intervention; although it too is not bereft of conspicuous flaws. In its appreciation of the real world difficulty of intervention over national sovereignty, the ICISS report tries to seek solutions to what is perhaps the most important issue in the realm of intervention. Its wide base and diversity of opinions give it the credibility deemed imperative in a world of varying and often contrasting opinions. The responsibility to prevent is a central theme of the report and which I feel is the real answer to the burgeoning armed conflict in the world. If we were to understand the root causes of the conflict and work on them, then speedy resolution becomes a possibility. That this happens without the loss of precious human lives makes prevention the best tool in our armory to counter armed conflict. Also, the effective changing of wording from ‘right to intervene’ to ‘the responsibility to protect’ is very astute as it shifts the focus to the millions of people under imminent danger from the outbreak of war. By aligning sovereignty with responsibility, states are themselves made the primary guardian of their citizens. <br /> The ICISS report also has some blemishes. The responsibility to react, prevent and rebuild amounts to a serious amount of work and given the plethora of armed conflicts around the world at any given time, it becomes difficult to see how the world community can possibly commit itself on such a large scale. The idea of moral force and collective conscience as causing nations to help distant countries is overblown and hardly applicable to the real world where national interest reigns supreme. <br /><br />Bibliography <br />Intervention and State Sovereignty, International Commission on, (2001). The Policy Challenge. The Responsibility to Protect, 1-8<br />Intervention and State Sovereignty, International Commission on, (2001). A new Approach: “The Responsibility to Protect”. The Responsibility to Protect, 11-16<br />Intervention and State Sovereignty, International Commission on, (2001). The Responsibility to Prevent. The Responsibility to Protect, 19-23<br /> Luttwak, Edward Nicolae, (2001). The Curse of Inconclusive Intervention. Turbulent peace: The Challenges of Managing International Conflict, 265-272.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-4409907772694879482010-09-08T05:38:00.000-07:002010-09-08T05:39:02.850-07:00CRIME TRENDS IN WESTERN EUROPE FROM 1990 TO 2000The article traces the level of crime using a wide base, one that encompasses nine offenses and 16 Western European countries. Despite the recognition that police stats are lacking efficacy in relation to cross national differences in crime, the researcher goes on to use them. That said, he does underscore the fact that if the legal definition and reporting of crimes do not vary, police statistics can be a potent research method. Something central to the study is the inexorable search for anomalies, countries that do not fit in the general pattern of crime statistics. Such a divergence points to the existence of extraneous variables.<br /> The primary sources are the first and second editions of the European Source book of Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics. The first European Source book project started in 1996.This journal is the culmination of the work of a committee that prepared a compendium of crime and criminal justice data for member European countries. Detailed statistical information was collected from 36 countries between 1990 and 1996. This included a multitude of areas like convictions, sentences, survey data and the manpower and budgets of police forces.<br /> To circumvent the issue of changes in recording practices in one country over time, Western Europe has been taken as a single entity as this allows for more precision and reliability in the research findings. Also, countries with a population of less than a million have not been included as their low base can distort the research findings. In line with the multifarious attempts to augment the validity of the study, the researcher uses the median as opposed to the mean. The rationale for this decision lies in the susceptibility of the mean to extreme values and outliers.<br />Property offences show an eccentric trend, one that defies all logic as made conspicuous by the contrasting movements depicted graphically. They increased in the period 1990-1993 only to fall to a level where the median rates were lower than in 1990. In stark contrast, rape and assault crimes show a linear increase which points to an alarming trend. The median rates for rape was 36 percent higher than the 1990 rate with assault rates standing at a staggering 85 percent. Despite some vacillation, the median rate for robbery was 22 higher than in 1990. A somewhat comforting fact is that the rates for intentional homicide have remained largely constant during the given time frame. This merits attention as this is the only type of violent offence that has not shown an upward trend. It is worthwhile to unmask the reasons behind this irregularity. This could be the culmination of the stable rates of firearms possessed in Western European households coupled with a medical system that aspires nothing but the best. The phenomenal growth in mobile phone theft of 190 percent from 1995-2000 can be linked to the mounting trend in the stealing of small electronic devices. Another glaring epitome of mushrooming crime rates is the increased availability and use of drugs. The 2.6 times increase in the 10 year period attests to this statement.<br />It could be the case that all the talk of increasing crime is a hyperbole that feeds on human fear. The data could be flawed owing to the increased sensitivity to crime, a factor that means that any minor transgression is leapt upon with glee by the police. This follows that the statistics are to some extent fallacious as they do not allow for increased crime being reporting and changes in the definition of some crimes like rape. While making room for this possibility, it is clearly stated that the rise mirrored real increases in the level of violence seen in Western Europe.<br />The burgeoning crime rates should be considered against the backdrop of the changing political, social and economic landscape of Western Europe. The fall of the Berlin wall paved the way for a metamorphosis, one that resulted in interaction between people from distinct economic backgrounds. The resulting increase in crime seems only natural as Eastern Europe opened itself to a world economy very different from its own. This explains the large number of criminals in Western European prisons, people who engaged in crime as a direct consequence of their lower social and economic status. The opening of European markets provided for the emergence of a large black market for stolen goods. This is used to corroborate the opportunity based theories and refute the ones that base their argument on the subculture of particular deviants. While endorsing the notion that no one theory can explain the complex realm of crime, an attempt has been made to elucidate the trends in Western Europe in light of the economic and historic perspective. Thus, most of the explanations stem from the transformation that came about as a consequence of the fall of the Berlin Wall.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-81428964699949732912010-09-08T05:36:00.000-07:002010-09-08T05:37:36.899-07:00Evidence for Elite Convergence in Cross National Homicide Victimization Trends, 1956 to 2000The paper introduces us to the two main perspectives in cross national comparative criminology and in doing so, lays the foundation for the unmasking of a central question in this realm. It is worthwhile to explore the contrasting views espoused by modernization and conflict, the two dominant schools of thought in cross national criminology. While the modernization perspective endorses convergence of crime rates for all nations, the conflict perspective goes a bit further by providing us with a demarcation between developing and developed countries. The researcher finds it eccentric, perhaps even shocking that this debate has not been given the scrutiny that it merits. He also presents us with a third plausible explanation: the elite convergence model, one that predicts the inevitable convergence of crime rates in developed countries.<br />The civilizing process in Western Europe culminated in lower crime rates, a historical fact that corroborates the notion of convergence argued by the modernization school of thought. That said, exceptions abound and such an aberration is pointed out by Fukuyama. The Europe in the 1960s was plagued with turbulence but it is worth bearing in mind that such an increase in crime rates still comes under the umbrella of convergence.<br />The conflict perspective holds the inequality fostered by globalization as culpable for the emergence of developing countries as crime hubs. Given the exploitative global economic order, developing nations sink deeper into the abyss of poverty which explains the burgeoning levels of crime. Although this thesis suffers from an acute shortage of statistical material, it does provide a potent explanation that vividly captures the ground reality.<br />The three major sources of cross national data are the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO).Interpol has the distinction of being the world’s largest international police organization. Interpol manages a range of databases with information on names and photographs of known criminals, wanted persons and DNA profiles. Likewise, the World Health Organization collects statistical data which can be used in relation to cross national homicides.<br /><br />The study uses econometric time series methods to work on 23 developed and 11 developing countries over a period of 44 years (1956 to 2000). Homicide data has been selected owing to its greater presumed validity. Data availability determined the countries included and the length of the series, a constraining factor that meant that some countries could not be studied with full detail. Countries with missing data like Iceland and Bulgaria (before 1960) were excluded from the analysis. The 34 countries in the study are dominated heavily by North America and Western Europe and they comprise less than 18 percent of the world’s population. The World Development Report is used to identify high and low income countries.<br /><br />If the convergence rates for a developed country and Bulgaria are to be compared, the following formula is used:<br /><br />Log (industrialized nation homicide rate) t- (Bulgarian homicide rate) t<br /><br />The application of this formula generates a separate series of logged and differenced scores for each. Convergence is checked by subtracting the smaller from the larger of the two rates. The resulting scores are divided into three categories: stationary, trend stationery and difference stationery. Given that the stationery time thesis has a mean that remains constant over time, it goes on to represent the null hypotheses which depicts neither convergence not divergence. The slope becomes paramount as a negative slope symbolizes that the homicide rates are converging while a positive one illustrates diverging homicide rates. For the difference stationary series, the intercept helps us discern the trend in homicide rates. <br /><br />The research findings go on to show that the mean homicide rates for low income countries are a staggering three and a half times greater than the mean of high income nations. Regional differences are also visible in the shape of the lower rates for Western Europe as opposed to Latin America. The evidence refutes both the conflict and modernization perspectives in their claim that the homicide rates for high and low income nations will diverge or converge respectively. The elite convergence model gets credence from the fact that 17 of the 23 high income countries have homicide rates that closely match the high income homicide mean. (Exceptions are Japan and Australia).<br /><br />The researcher does identify some blemishes in his study, the most notable of which is the under representation of developing countries in the study sample. This is followed by his recognition of the constraining influence of dearth of time and the paucity of useful data. Although a strong case can be made for the elite convergence model, it would not hurt to have more research conducted. The paper ends with a rather ironic tone, one that elucidates how the ‘Industrial Man’ only lives in a selected group of developed nations.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-5289777211298608062010-09-06T05:36:00.000-07:002010-09-06T05:37:17.123-07:00Money VS MeritTo say that Pakistan is devoid of talent is to massively underestimate the denizens of this country. The recent example of a student, Ali Moeen getting 22 As serves to exemplify the quality of talent present in this nation. There are countless students who wish to further their careers by pursuing foreign education but financial considerations hamper their progress towards a bright future. <br /><br /> The real strength of any nation lies in its education system. Even if the importance of education is promulgated many times over, it would still not do justice to utility in the modern society. Illiteracy breeds crime and poverty and is the epicenter of multifarious problems that threaten the very integrity of the nation.<br /><br /> The major problem with our educational system is dearth of primary schools in the country. Without a proper base, the children are rendered incapable of progressing in their pursuit of self enlightenment. Another area of worry is the bigotry towards higher education in our country. Although HEC does provide some scholarships, they are limited to master students. In line with our population, these scholarships are paltry and when juxtaposed with the Indians, it reveals why this nation is lagging behind in all walks of life.<br /><br /> The quality of public institutions is deplorable to say the least. The children devoid of a quality education are left without any tool to counter the challenges that are awaiting them in the practical world. In stark contrast, graduates of private colleges and universities have a conspicuous edge over their counterparts. This is an irony considering the multitude of talented individuals who cannot prosper due to financial considerations. <br /> <br /> One of the most blatant demonstrations of the pathetic plight of educational institutes is the existence of ghost schools that are adding to the burden of an already crippled economy. It is so convenient for the teachers to come to school once a month, a formality to collect the monthly wages. What these sanctimonious teachers don’t understand is the amount of damage that their actions cause to our nation. Of the few children who get the luxury of going to school, most belong to affluent families, a fact that adds to the frustrations of the working class. One can only understand poverty if you have received its grinding treatment. <br /><br /> One plausible reason for this discrimination is the mechanisms of the free market system itself. The capitalist obsessive compulsion with profits tends to remove all those qualities that mark us as humans. Individuals start to behave like businessmen even in their personal life and this hurts the social norms that epitomize altruism and magnanimity as the cornerstone of the society. <br /><br /> It is important to have a general overlook of the opportunities that arise for our students in foreign lands. The high tuition fee in foreign universities is accompanied by living expenses that are also adding to the student’s financial burden. With most families in Pakistan not being able to afford the education, the children are left to rely on scholarships that are becoming increasingly competitive. Some students do manage to receive admission offers from top universities in Europe and the United States but their financial plight does not allow them to pursue this path .Something that makes the whole system seem unjust is the advantage rich children have over less privileged ones. If a child asks for financial aid, he limits his chances of admission to a great extent. It would surely become ironic when these children are not able to reach their full potential which limits their future contribution toward their countries.<br /> Institutions in the United Kingdom are notorious for marking the distinction between wealthy and impoverished. The tuition fees are so high that sometimes, the only reaction that a person can come up with is laughter. The United States does mitigate the burden by giving financial aid to international students. This, however, is not to imply, that the admission process is free of bias. Coupled with the visa issues and the indelible mark of a terrorist state, even the United States has not remained the pristine option it once was. Universities in Pakistan are not of an international standard which means that diligent students are trapped in the middle of nowhere.<br /> It is no secret that competition is a stark reality in our century with the rising world population ensuring that matters get worse as time marches on. All this means that jobs and resources, and even scholarships will become daunting to get, as if they were easy at present. That being said, the window of opportunity will always remain open remain for a multitude of people unless bias and discrimination creep into the admission process. It really is a shame that money should get in the way of aspiring individuals, especially when money becomes an irrelevant factor after you graduate and get a job. Just when it matters most, money is lacking and this is where it hurts the most. This, however, does not apply to the affluent children who are able to take tuitions, buy expensive books, and finally, to render the final blow, send their children on the basis of their financial stability when in stark reality; they do not have an iota of intelligence or motivation. The cycle of poverty is a flagrant feature of a capitalist society in which greed and self interest reign supreme.<br /> My argument maybe be castigated by ardent supporters of a certain breed of nationalism, but this does not sway me from my proclivity towards a foreign education. The truth cannot be erased; neither can it be bended to suit your needs, which in turn means that a cogent course of action is to stop denying its existence. Despite the brain drain that is a pervasive feature of foreign education, the benefits outweigh the conspicuous flaws. The amount of benefit that this educated lot can provide is staggering. <br /> The way forward for the establishment is clear. We need to take responsibility for our actions as opposed to stockpiling the blame on other people. The whole point of education is enlightenment which can only be achieved if students develop the capacity to think out of the box. We should strive to be part of the solution as opposed to being the problem itself. The onus thus falls on the government authorities who have to salvage a nation that is destined to greatness. Therefore, a pragmatic solution to this issue should be proposed by the government which allows for the payment of expenses for worthy students who would return to their country after their education. Education is the passport to the future and spending on this vital sector will pay future dividends through the presence of a skilled workforce that is capable of handling the workings of the economy. The government should seek the assistance of foreign governments in this regard and by direct bonds can allow for a certain number of students to go to a specific country for higher education. This is more effective than the loans that we normally receive from foreign governments which are on a high rate of interest and just help to entangle us further in the debt trap. The problems that the country finds itself in can be alleviated in the long run through this line of action. The government think tank should re-model its policy towards education to cater for future growth.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-54657472760633205612010-09-06T05:35:00.000-07:002010-09-06T05:36:17.484-07:00China: Opportunity or threatChina’s epic rise as a military and an economic powerhouse over the last few decades is more like a fairy tale. This unprecedented metamorphosis has led to China’s pre-mature coronation as the next big thing. Analysts, excited by the Chinese inexorable advance in the last decade, have based their arguments on conjecture. Careful scrutiny reveals that the newly crowned superpower is lagging behind in a multitude of areas ranging from living standards to infrastructure development. The American economy is more than twice its counterpart, a fact that serves to epitomize why reports that the world is no longer uni-polar are premature .That being said, the prediction could well have a dose of veracity if China continues to grow at its current rate. Give China 30-40 more years of peace and growth and you have a superpower in the making, ready to usurp the title of the world’s economic powerhouse from the Americans. <br /> Such a metamorphosis could have wide reaching implications for Pakistan’s economy. That such a big economy is present in the vicinity poses a threat as well as an opportunity. The threat comes in the form of increased competition, a word that is likened to the very definition of a Chinese citizen. China’s policy of dumping, which decimates competition from the domestic market, has been largely effective despite widespread protests by countries that cannot match China’s low wages. The staggering Chinese budget surplus stands to testify why China poses a significant economic threat to any nation. This argument is epitomized by the American trade deficit, which is a culmination of the low cost of production in China. On the brighter side, this opens up avenues of investment in a cash starved country like Pakistan. This lack of funds sheds light on the difficulty of breaking the debt cycle amongst developing countries, an abyss which leads to the middle of nowhere. China may well provide the answer to this quagmire. The growing relations between the United States and India will ultimately prompt Pakistan to push for even closer ties with its longtime strategic security partner, China. India, in its own right, has transmuted itself into an economic juggernaut which underlines why it is imperative for Pakistan to foster a climate of harmony and understanding with China. <br /> Presently, Pakistan and China are cooperating closely in the development of Gwadar Port, which would bolster economic activity in Pakistan and provide an important access route for the landlocked countries of Central Asia. China’s burgeoning presence can be gauged from the increase in development of infrastructure and setting up of basic industries in Pakistan. Names like, ZTE, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, China National Machinery Imp/Exp Corporation, Metallurgical Construction Corporation of China are the notable firms that have set production processes in Pakistan. In the last few years, investment of more than 1.3 billion USD was made by China in Pakistan. <br />. China has opened up its Western region adjoining Pakistan for trade and investment. The rationale behind this move is to reduce the economic disparity between its developed coastal regions and other underdeveloped areas. Once developed, this region would be a hub for economic activity between China, Central Asia and South Asia. <br /> Considering that, in the past, America has left Pakistan high and dry on a multitude of occasions; a sagacious course of action would be to not put all the eggs in one basket. It is an irony that the interests of a capitalist superpower supplant the well being of a region that may very hold the key to the recovery of the tarnished world economy. Coupled with the high cost the economy has to pay for the Afghan war in the form of reduced foreign investment, it’s always wiser to have a friend that may not equal America, but at least be good enough to fit neatly in the picture of a competitor.<br /> For decades China’s constant increase in exports to Pakistan resulted in a persistent and growing trade imbalance. The main items of Pakistan’s imports from China are machinery and parts, iron and steel manufactures, sugar, chemical materials. The main items of Pakistan’s exports to China are cotton fabrics, cotton yarn, petroleum and its products. A comprehensive free trade agreement was signed in 2008, giving each country unprecedented market access to the other. Bilateral trade had reached around dollar 7 billion in 2008. The trade gap is in China’s favor owing to our narrow trade base. Almost around 80% of its exports consist of cotton yarn and fabric. This is a pervasive feature of our trade which serves to exemplify why the country has been mired in trade deficits.<br /> In terms of economic policy, Pakistan has many lessons to learn from China. When the economic meltdown had enveloped the world economy in gloom, China was the only ray of hope. In light of these stark differences between China and the developed world, the ease with which China has been able to progress in the realm of economic development never ceases to amaze the world community. <br /> China has proved that a large supply of labor is not always an economic burden. Even the large amount of unskilled labor attracts multinational companies who set up plants in developing countries owing to the reduced cost of production and increased profit margins. This, in turn, means that Pakistan can capitalize on its vast human resources. Education holds the key to a productive labor force, one that is capable of changing the fate of nations. It is an irony that developed countries lack an abundant labor supply and have to rely on foreign workers to bridge the gap in the labor market. In the past, this factor has been condoned at our own peril. But this time, the price of not being able to act will be exorbitant and maybe more than the tarnished economy can bear.<br /> A big hurdle in the way of increased trade relations with China is the present security condition of Pakistan. In these turbulent times, one cannot blame the Chinese investors for condoning our country. Trade has a strong correlation with business confidence and every time a bomb explodes, this feeling of insecurity takes hold. It is noteworthy that Chinese workers have been targeted by these radical elements. Another problem is that Pakistan’s most imports from China are value added; while more than 85 percent exports to China are raw materials, such as cotton yarn and fabric, chrome and copper ores. This serves to elucidate why the country has been mired in trade deficit for such a length of time.<br /> It goes without saying that China is a crucial trading partner of Pakistan. Rapid economic development in China has caused increased demand for raw materials, components and development of cross-country production networks/processes. China is keen to improve the living standard of its rural denizens which culminates in increasing purchasing power in the form of increased demand for basic needs as well as luxury items. This presents an opportunity for the Pakistani exporters to reduce the trade deficit with our neighbor. The low priced imports however do help the local consumers and this even stands in the way of rising inflation. That being said, the low cost of Chinese goods virtually kills domestic competition as consumers act according to the law of demand. For many Pakistani manufacturers, competing with China is an exercise in futility. This is especially true in the manufacturing sector where China is the king. This means that Pakistan need to respond with alacrity if it is to harbor any hopes of survival in a world with the likes of China and India engendering a situation in which cost cutting becomes the blueprint for success in the trade market.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-87307068782161488252010-09-06T05:33:00.000-07:002010-09-06T05:34:11.764-07:00NU-Q essayThere is no power in the world that can stop an aspiring man from dreaming. You can lock a man in a room, deprive him of any social interaction, but you cannot stop him concocting a mirage in which he is the king. I am no different as my belief in human fate is interlinked with the incontrovertible notion that hard work culminates in success. The essence is to bridge the gap between where I stand at present and where I would like to envision myself. It is an irony that this may even take a lifetime to accomplish.<br /> This may sound like the opinion of a braggart but I have no qualms in admitting that my academic record before my AS level was one devoid of any blemishes. In fact, by my 11 grade securing good grades held no real meaning for me. The acid test came in the form of my AS level result. Financial considerations meant that I could not enroll in my preferred high school. Instead, I had to go somewhere I had been offered a scholarship for my first year of study. What happened next was something that would leave an indelible mark on my academic record. The result did not commensurate with my expectations as anguish and grief enveloped me like a snake. Although I earned a 50 percent scholarship, our financial plight culminated in my leaving school. It is worth mentioning that this decision was entirely mine as becoming a burden on my parents was something that my conscience would never allow me to do. <br /> As the maxim goes’ We become stronger by learning how to lose gracefully’. If there was ever a period in my life when I was desperate to prove myself to my family, friends and most importantly to myself, it was then. The metamorphosis occurred as I redefined myself as an individual. With newly found inspiration, I appeared for 6 subjects in the October session and this time around, I proved my worth. That I was able to rise from the ashes is a testament to the unique quality of the human spirit. In retrospect, I feel that my real strength lay in making best use of the available resources, a quality that has allowed me to prosper in the most daunting of situations.<br /> In my AS level, the selection of subjects like sociology, psychology and history has given me a broader view of the world. Among other things, these subjects inspire individuals to think about their lives. Their utility is most evident during social interaction as it gives the individual an unmatched insight into human behavior. It is worth mentioning that in my country, children tend to stick with conventional subjects and if memory serves, I stood out as an anomaly owing to my subject choices. The fact that I was giving sat 2 in US and World history was enough to raise eyebrows in a society in which conformity is the order of the day. My eccentric choice did not come without its share of difficulties as the dearth of books and the virtual non-existence of academic help ensured that I had a rough ride.<br /> To envision myself 10 years from now is an exercise that is rooted in conjecture and presumption. That said, I would like to become a writer if life ever presents me the opportunity. A writer has the power of the pen, a power that allows him to raise his voice against the injustice that plagues a rapacious society governed by self interest and greed. An otherwise powerless individual can use the power of the pen to ensure that the rights of the impoverished are not condoned during the decision making process. Among other things, becoming a writer has always been like a dream as it symbolizes the height of achievement.<br /> <br />My friends subject me to scrutiny when I reveal my penchant to enroll in journalism. Considering the social norms that govern our particular society, I cannot hold them culpable for their ignorance of a realm that is imperative to the working of any society. The realm of sociology underscores the disparity between different cultures and the relegation of journalism, fit for only the misfits, in developing nations is the epitome of ignorance.<br />I tend to write at home in my free time and some of my work has been printed in a research journal. This serves to embolden my belief that I have a bright future in this area. My father has always touted my abilities as a writer and for now remains my one and only passionate follower. <br />Add to this my burgeoning liking for this subject and NU-Q proved to be the infallible option. Although conventional choices are more rewarding in term of career prospects, I could not risk giving up my passion for a few extra dollars. Considering my proclivity for writing, the decision to apply to NU-Q was one rooted in optimism and conviction.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-38730158072098739342010-09-06T03:07:00.001-07:002010-09-06T03:07:42.018-07:00Northwestern University testThe invention of the computer has culminated in a metamorphosis. Scrutiny reveals that this machine has eclipsed all other inventions in terms of utility and scope of use. In fact, the advent of computers is in itself a hallmark of the modern age, an epoch in which technology reigns supreme.<br /><br />It is no secret that computers have made our lives easier. The extent to which our lives have been simplified can be gauged from the fact that a single click of the button renders itself worthy of multifarious tasks. If you have any doubts on the veracity of this statement, just ask your parents on how life was before these computers transmuted the world forever. Small wonder then that these machines are such a pervasive feature of the modern century.<br /><br />As time marches on, human reliance on computers is likely to increase. They will be used for all industries in which the use of technology gives the firm an edge in the area of production costs. Considering China’s cheap exports, an astute eye can discern with alacrity that mechanization will become the cornerstone of any economy.<br /><br />Despite the multifarious uses of this modern device, it would not be a sagacious course of action to condone the agreements that have been underlined against it. Among other things, complacency, indolence and debauchery render themselves worthy themselves of being labeled as the possible effects of mass mechanization. To say that computers are innocuous to the physical and mental well being of the younger generations is like stretching the truth to the breaking point. The torrent of extraneous information available on the internet can have corrupting influences on young minds, beings that can be easily manipulated by egregious people for whom self interest is the moral order of the day.<br /><br />The burgeoning dominance of machines has engendered a situation in which the computers can emerge as a potent threat to the very survival of the human race. While reports that computers will take over the world are premature, they may have a dose of veracity. This lends credence to the notion that a cogent course of action is to check the ascendancy of these inventions, an act that will ensure that mankind is not overshadowed by his own creationAbdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-46215932047606267502010-09-05T06:20:00.000-07:002010-09-05T06:22:52.659-07:00PakistanIf nothing else, the devastating floods in Pakistan serve to warrant the notion that the country is a failed state. The very fact that our president did not merit considering coming back from his personal adventures at a time of unprecedented difficulty serves to exemplify why Zardari embodies the kind of leader that you hope your enemy is blessed with. Something more shocking than his blatant sense of indifference is his promulgation of his importance in line with the outburst at his absence from his country. It is ironic that the president had to make such a statement and this is even a new low for a man who has transgressed the fine line that marks a bad leader from a contemptible one. To be frank, I find it increasingly difficult to castigate the president owing to the fact that for the first time in living history, he has elevated himself to the point where one can only smile at the mention of his multifarious ventures. This partly explains the lackluster response from the world community to the worst natural disaster in living memory. Another factor could be donor fatigue or could possibly be the fear that the money could be used to refurbish the Taliban, a force that has found difficult to squash despite the billions spent on doing so. All in all, what we have before us is a very sad picture of a country that is being pushed into a very black hole by the establishment that is corrupt to the bone. The post flood era has strengthened the voices of those who adjoin that the country will cease to exist as a single entity. As a response to these claims, the Pakistani ambassador to the United States has espoused that the country is resilient and will muddle through this quagmire as well. The mindset of no less a man than the ambassador himself speaks to the sense of defeatism that has enveloped the hearts and minds of countless countrymen. The day when people stop fighting for their principles is the day when degeneration spreads in the system like some deadly disease, removing us of the distinction that makes us what we are. The long term prognosis is far from clear but what I do know is that a metamorphosis is just around the corner. We find ourselves at an inflection point, beyond which lies either doom or boom.<br /><br /><br />Pakistan is a country that has needlessly suffered in the last decade after being labeled with the indelible mark of a terrorist sate. I feel qualified to speak on a matter as contentious as this owing to the fact that I have lived in Islamabad for 14 years and have personally witnessed the city descending into religious extremism. I have visited countless times the mosque that was unfortunately to become the place blood flowed like a river. In the Lal masjid event, I have undergone the ordeal of having to survive in a curfew for about a fortnight, which compounds my hatred for extremism. Such a hated for extremism is to be found in most educated Pakistanis who cannot see their country being torn by a handful of terrorist elements. In line with the class discussion today, I feel it imperative to underscore a few points. Recent reports have divulged that the Taliban have now shifted their operations to the all important province of Punjab, a frightening possibility given the population and economic worth of Pakistan’s most fertile area. This also undermines the efficacy of the drone attacks as I find it inconceivable that the United States can use drones in highly dense populations even if a suspect is found to be present. All this means is that as time drags by, the war against terror will become all the more complex. Force has never been the solution to any conflict and history bears witness to this statement. A nation living under the stigma of being the’ bad guys’ amid the constant sense of humiliation deserves betterAbdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-7126621116832911472010-09-05T06:19:00.000-07:002010-09-05T06:20:25.789-07:00Humanities classThe Spider’s thread is a compelling story that bases itself on human deeds and the afterlife. The story is carefully construed in order to serve as a paragon for all those transcend the laws set by Mother Nature. It depicts a robber, a man who has committed egregious acts in his time on earth, who is thrown into hell as punishment for his wicked ways. The fact that one good deed supersedes all the ills committed by the robber speaks to the all forgiving quality of Nature and the multifarious chances available to humans for atonement. That said, the very fact that the robber was able to squander his only chance due to his rapacious nature warrants the notion that some people have an innate proclivity to contravene the law. This story presents us with a few a morals, the first of which castigates self interest by laying bare its ghastly implications. Secondly, this fable delineates the fine line between the world of good and evil leaving us with a very lucid idea of the overriding value of righteousness in the mortal world.<br /><br />Just lather is a story that presents to us in the most lucid way all the hesitation that results from us exercising our morality. The story depicts a barber who finds himself in a most inviting yet daunting position, one that provides him the opportunity to transmute his lowly entity into a hero all the while running the risk of being labeled with the indelible mark of a coward. The great internal struggle that happens inside the barber provides the backdrop for this story. How can he reconcile the urge to kill with his overriding belief in the nobility of a profession that he so vociferously endorses? This last question rings out like an accusation and is one that ultimately leads him to the conclusion that he cannot contravene the unwritten laws of a profession that he has helped to elevate to the status of an art. That said, Captain Torres is himself a very vivid character despite his propensity to commit acts of unspeakable horror, acts that relegate him to the status of a despicable man worthy of hatred. Misinformation is a theme that resonates throughout the story making way for some very exciting turn of events. The very fact that Torres knew the identity of the barber all along the way provides the story with a dramatic and jaw dropping ending. The beauty of the compelling narrative lies in the blatant acknowledgment by Torres in the very end of the difficulty of killing a man. This simple statement changes the very complexity of the story leaving us admiring the ingenuity of the author.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-62859352146397914522010-09-05T06:17:00.000-07:002010-09-05T06:18:39.114-07:00International relationsInternational relations renders itself divided into three main paradigms that seek to elucidate the complex nature of relations among states. The more pessimistic tone is espoused by the paradigm called realism. In line with the human propensity to engage in behavior that aligns with self-interest, the model goes on to provide a rationale for states working in their own national interest. Conflict and competition are overriding features of a world based on a model in which the struggle for power is a pervasive feature of international relations. States, more like humans, have the innate desire to become hegemonic entities, a factor that transgresses the sacrosanct principle of balance of power that this realm so vociferously endorses. By underlining that conflict is the natural condition of international relations, realism has provided an epitome of the gloom that is embedded in it.<br /><br />Liberalism, in stark contrast to realism, goes about finding reasons for cooperation among nation states. It outlines how the burgeoning importance of international trade can be taken to refute the notion that war and conflict are the norm, rather than the exception in the real world. To salvage their economies, nations eschew war as an instrument of foreign policy. It is worth nothing the traces of self interest that are conspicuous even in this stratagem. This model advocates the spread of democracy as a tool to engender peace and foster harmony, given the irrefutable fact that democracies never fight with one another. It also highlights the increasingly important role of international institutions like the World Bank in a globalized world where nations can be can be encouraged to work for the common good. If nothing else, liberalism seeks ways that can support the founding of common areas of interest, culminating in an ideal world bereft of war and conflict.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5632061885137529542.post-43930293081474124952010-06-30T21:43:00.000-07:002010-06-30T21:45:07.818-07:00Georgetown writing testThe realm of sociology underscores the importance of shared<br />norms that are used as a guiding principle in any society. This<br />concept is more pronounced in the realm of functionalism which<br />places special significance on conformity produced by common<br />goals. The article mentions how consumerism has become a<br />culture in its own right which refers to its identification as an<br />acceptable norm. The gist of the solution is to alter this ingrained<br />belief in the mind of the masses. Various institutions that<br />encompass the media and the education can make a difference if<br />they work in collusion. The article underlines the blatant increase<br />in consumerism in the last 50 years, a phenomenon that means<br />that consuming goods is increasingly linked with satisfaction.<br />Some staggering statistics reveal the extent to which the present<br />trend can lead us to an abyss that knows no depth. This unbridled<br />consumption puts a strain on the earth’s depleting natural<br />resources, engendering a situation in which we are all losers in<br />the long run. Among other things, an effect of this flagrant trend<br />is the damage that we are causing to our environment. The<br />examples of India and China serve to epitomize why efforts to<br />reverse this trend are imperative. That the consumption has<br />tripled is a stark reflection of the conspicuous change in spending<br />habits. Policy implementation has its limits in its efforts to<br />circumvent environmental degradation and the need of the hour is<br />to change people’s mindset about consumerism. The example of<br />Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus serves to justify<br />that changing cultural concepts is not impossible. The article ends<br />with a prediction that consumerism will die of its own accord,<br />owing to the fact that in the long term the rational side of a society will overshadow the part that enjoins profligacy.<br /><br /><br />The role of societal institutions is paramount to say the least. As<br />the whole purpose is to instill a different mindset in the common<br />man, the media can play a role that lends itself worthy of being<br />gauged as important. Considering media’s mass coverage and its<br />ability to directly reach the people, warnings about the quagmire<br />we are beset in can serve to remind people that their ignorance<br />will lead them to the middle of nowhere. It is worth mentioning that<br />many people pay heed to what they hear in the news, a fact that<br />emboldens the notion that massive awareness will slowly root out<br />opulence and consumerism. The essence is to project the<br />looming danger of the present trend and to instill fear in the<br />masses of the egregious effects of ignorance. Needless to say, an<br />individual will respond with alacrity when he becomes cognizant<br />of the ground reality.<br /><br />Education is part of a person’s secondary socialization and the<br />norms and values learnt in this phase remain embedded<br />throughout an individual’s life. This gives us all the more reason to<br />use education as another tool to achieve mass awareness.<br />Reports can be sent to multifarious schools that underline the<br />environmental quandary that has enveloped us. That the only<br />solution is a change in spending habits and an end to<br />consumerism will be a potent message to the future working<br />population. This mode is more efficacious owing to the fact that it<br />reaches the target population, a group that will have the power of<br />the purse in the coming years.Abdul Samadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02647096148605917842noreply@blogger.com0