December 2020- Edition

1
 *Fair Use Disclaimer
Nearpeer takes copyright infringement very seriously. Please do not involve in any piracy. Likewise, we take
all measures to avoid piracy at our end too. If you have a complain about something or find infringement of
your copyrights, please contact us right away so that we rectify any mishap to all parties' satisfaction.

nearpeer.org
2
3
4
Content

International 7
1 Strategic Competition in the Indo-Pacific Region with 8
Special Reference to Pakistan
2 Future of Kashmir 14
3 Arab World Post US Elections 17

National 21
1 Promoting Tax Culture in Pakistan 22
2 Women Empowerment 25
3 Dams & Pakistan 29
4 Single National Curriculum and National Integration 36

5
CSS_Josh_Talks 40
1 Chapter 2015-2020 of Awais Irshad’s life 40

Essay Special 44
1 Covid-19: Is globalization in retreat? 45
2 Essay 47

Monthly Press Review 52

Past Paper MCQs Compilation 68

6
 CSS Magazine edition 5

International

7
Strategic Competition
in the Indo-Pacific
Region with Special
Reference to Pakistan
Sheryar Ali Khan

8
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Strategic
Competition
in the
Indo-Pacific
Region with
Special
Reference to
Pakistan
Sheryar Ali Khan

“The Indo-Pacific Region is the

Central stage for 21st century global
politics”.

9
CSS Magazine Edition 5

1. A Journey through the Historic and Conceptual Lens of the Indo-Pacific

RegionS
Ever since surfacing in the German Geopolitician Karl Haushofer’s academic work "Indo Pazifischen Raum" in
the 1920s, the term of ‘Indo-Pacific’ has been increasingly used in the geo-political discourse by analysts,
global leaders and apex government officials to describe the geo-economic and strategic linkage coupling
between the Indian and Pacific Ocean. More than a decade ago, Gurpreet S. Khurana, who used the word
‘Indo Pacific Strategy’, wrote in the Washington Post that the new term has changed the strategic mind map
since China's reform and opening up in the 1980s. However, the spirit of the term was picked up by Japan's
Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, as reflected in his speech to the Indian Parliament in August 2007 that talked
about the "Confluence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans" as "the dynamic coupling as seas of freedom and of
prosperity" in the "broader Asia". After the Obama administration's rebalancing efforts to sustain US
leadership in the Asia Pacific by strengthening political, security and economic ties with regional countries,
the Trump administration has put much emphasis on the security aspect of its Indo Pacific strategy. This
strategy means that India, US, Japan and Australia, through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (also known
as the QUAD) which aims to ensure freedom of navigation, over flights and the peaceful settlement of
disputes in accordance with international law, to promote a “rules based order” in the region, ensured
through partnership between democratic countries on the basis of shared values and interests will eventually
join in curbing the influence of China in the new framework of the growing “Cold War” influence. On the
contrary, China is actively working on strengthening win-win cooperation and inter connectivity through its
colossal Belt and Road Initiative. From this geopolitical perspective, the United States has perceived growing
challenges from China and is determined to maintain global supremacy by continuing to increase its military
presence in the region and enhancing its Quadrilateral cooperation strategically. Nevertheless, it would be in
the mutual benefit of all the involved powers on making this pivotal region peaceful through efforts of
coordinated cooperation.

2. Strategic Competition vis-à-vis the Indo-Pacific: US’ Indo Pacific Strategy

vs China’s OBOR

2.1) US’ Indo-Pacific Strategy

On 2nd June 2018, the US renamed its Pacific Command, the oldest and largest American military setup in the
Asia-Pacific, as the US ‘Indo-Pacific Command’. This was a manifest of the Trump administration’s elevation
of the Indo-Pacific to a top-level regional priority, as suggested by its placement in the 2017 National Security
Strategy (NSS). The strategy describes the Indo-Pacific as a region in which a geopolitical competition
between free and repressive visions of world order is taking place and where China is using economic
inducements and penalties, influencing operations and implied military threats to persuade other states to
heed its political and security agenda. Although the shift in US policy toward China – from one balancing the
cooperative and competitive elements toward one viewing Beijing predominantly as a strategic competitor –
has occurred gradually. Under the Trump administration, Indo-Pacific, beyond a geographic and maritime
reality, was persuaded zealously.

www.nearpeer.org 10
CSS Magazine Edition 5

On 2nd June 2018, the US renamed its Pacific Command, the oldest and largest American military setup in the
Asia-Pacific, as the US ‘Indo-Pacific Command’. This was a manifest of the Trump administration’s elevation
of the Indo-Pacific to a top-level regional priority, as suggested by its placement in the 2017 National Security
Strategy (NSS). The strategy describes the Indo-Pacific as a region in which a geopolitical competition between
free and repressive visions of world order is taking place and where China is using economic inducements and
penalties, influencing operations and implied military threats to persuade other states to heed its political and
security agenda. Although the shift in US policy toward China – from one balancing the cooperative and
competitive elements toward one viewing Beijing predominantly as a strategic competitor – has occurred
gradually. Under the Trump administration, Indo-Pacific, beyond a geographic and maritime reality, was
persuaded zealously.
Former US Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis

2.2) China’s OBOR

One Belt One Road (OBOR), the brainchild of Chinese President Xi Jinping, is an ambitious economic
development and commercial project that focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among
multiple countries spread across the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Launched in 2013, the gigantic
OBOR has been dubbed as the “Project of the Century” by the Chinese authorities, spanning about 78
countries and costing between 4-8 trillion dollars.

“The Belt and Road Initiative serves as a solution for China to participate in global opening-up, promote
common development and prosperity, and build a community with a shared future for humanity”.

Xi Jinping

3. Interests of Nations Under the Aegis of US in the Indo-Pacific

3.1) Emergence of QUAD and the Dream for an ‘Asian NATO’?

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is an informal strategic forum between the United States, Japan,
Australia and India that is maintained by semi-regular summits, information exchanges and military drills
between member countries. The forum was initiated as a dialogue in 2007 by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of
Japan, with the support of Vice President Dick Cheney of the US, Prime Minister John Howard of Australia
and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India. The dialogue was paralleled by joint military exercises of an
unprecedented scale, titled Exercise Malabar. The diplomatic and military arrangement was widely viewed as
a response to increased Chinese economic and military power, and the Chinese government responded to
the QUAD by issuing formal diplomatic protests to its members. In addition, The Washington Times reported
in October 2020 that the Trump administration recently floated the idea of developing Quad into an 'Asian
NATO’.

www.nearpeer.org 11
CSS Magazine Edition 5

3.2) India’s Theater of Opportunity in the Indo-Pacific

“Indo-Pacific Region is our lifeline”

Narendra Modi
The Modi government has found favourable regional and international environment where India is perceived
as an important factor in the future trajectory of power play in the Indo-Pacific. The US and India’s mutual
interest vis-a-vis ‘China’ has reinforced India’s ambitious maritime strategy with deals such as the BECA,
LEMOA and COMCASA. Washington’s ‘Indo-Pacific’ strategy provided India the space and legitimacy to
increase its presence in the region. With the support of the most powerful navy of the world, the US, India is
expanding its footprints in the region. Over the last couple of years, India is rigorously acquiring advance
weaponry to establish itself as a first-class Navy. It will also help India to bolster its ambition of becoming a
leading power in the region. Moreover, India’s ‘Act East’ policy has not only economically strengthened Indian
position but has also given the much-needed diplomatic recognition of a major power to India in East Asia.

3.3) Revision of Australia’s Strategy in the Region

Australia is embarking on the most significant reorientation of its strategic policy settings in more than a
generation and it’s all about assuming a more active role in defending a stable regional order in the
Indo-Pacific. This is the key message in Canberra’s newly minted 2020 Defense Strategic Update and Force
Structure Plan. Motivated by intensifying strategic competition across the Indo-Pacific and the geopolitical
fallout from COVID-19, the update provides a blueprint for how Australia will navigate what Prime Minister
Scott Morrison says will be a “poorer, more dangerous and more disorderly” future.

3.4) Japan in the Indo-Pacific

In his Policy Speech to the Diet in January 2019, Prime Minister Abe emphasized “Free and Open Indo Pacific
(FOIP)” as the aim of Japan’s foreign policy. Many observers inside and outside Japan have regarded FOIP as
Tokyo’s efforts to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, the Japanese government recently
called FOIP a “vision” instead of a “strategy” as it was defined originally, and Japan also seeks to collaborate
with BRI through private sector initiatives in third countries. This change of emphasis has confused Japan
watchers about Japan’s true intentions.

4. China Strikes Back in the Indo-Pacific

4.1) Implementation of ‘Dual Use’ Strategy
Beijing's economic decade-long rise has paved the way for the establishment of the so called first and second
“island chains”, which are conceived as means to contain China's territorial and military expansion in the
region. Therefore, China is trying to establish its presence, both military and otherwise, in various posts
along the Indian Ocean in order to protect its maritime corridors. This has been called the dual use strategy
as Chinese using the ports for both civilian and military purposes.

4.2) China’s Military Strategy White Paper

The white paper illustrates Beijing’s plan to develop ‘Blue Water Navy fleet’ that is able to carry out
operations for offshore protection. This creation also highlights the importance of moving from one maritime
theater of operation; the Pacific Ocean to two; the Pacific and Indian Ocean.

4.3) China’s ‘1.5 War’ Doctrine

This doctrine calls for the development of Chinese naval capabilities able to fight one major war while being
able to contain a second military conflict. In other words, China is trying to find a way to be able to fight in
the East or South China Sea , for instance, the US, while also facing the possibility of an Indian attack on its
land frontier or vice versa.

12
CSS Magazine Edition 5

South China Sea East China Sea

4.4) Pearl Chain Strategy

China is creating in the Indian Ocean, with countries such as Sri Lanka, Maldives, Pakistan and Bangladesh, a
Pearl Chain strategy, not to be mistaken with the “String of Pearls” that simply envisages the creation of
logistical support points in the Indian Ocean. The Pearl Chain, instead, entails the policy to connect the main
strategic ports of the Indian Ocean, even through the physical control of strategic islands, in order to form a
combat-oriented containment line of India.

5. Pakistan in the Indo-Pacific: Caught in the Geo-Political Crossfire

Pakistan by virtue of its pivotal geographic and geostrategic position has opted for being part of BRI’s
lynchpin, CPEC, to further capitalize on its position as the Zipper of Eurasia, Asia, and South Asia, therefore,
an important stakeholder in the present geopolitical environment. The present strategic competition, the US
Indo-Pacific vision and strategic cooperation through BRI, wherein, India and Pakistan are positioned
respectively, has led to a two-bloc scenario in the region: the US-India bloc and the China-Pakistan bloc are
suggestive of yet another ‘Great Game’ ensuing in the region. To add on, the strategy that aims to counter
Beijing’s growing influence by bolstering India in the region will strain ties between Pakistan and the United
States in two ways. First, Pakistan could deem Indo-U.S. joint opposition and concern about the BRI to be
punishing Pakistan’s closest strategic partner, China. But most importantly, the trust deficit between the two
countries will increase due to U.S’ growing defense relations and deals with India, something that would have
implications for Washington’s credibility as a crisis manager in the region and causing a security dilemma for
Pakistan.
6. Future of the Indo-Pacific: A Point of Convergence for the ‘New Cold War’
and the Thucydides Trap?
The Sino-US strategic competition via the Indo-Pacific Strategy and BRI respectively have heightened
tensions by paving the ground for yet another cold-war scenario embedded in containment mentality.
Graham Allison, a political scientist at John F. Kennedy School of Government coined the term ‘Thucydides
Trap’ in his book Destined for War (2017) taking his cue from The Peloponnesian War, suggests that ‘‘In 12 of
16 past cases in which a rising power has confronted a ruling power, the result has been bloodshed’’. For
Allison ‘The defining question about global order for this generation is whether China and the United States
can escape Thucydides’ Trap.’ In view of this, the Indo-Pacific Strategic Competition poses a grim picture, but
the US-China economic inter-dependence renders unlikely war between them any time soon. However,
volatility and intensification in world politics and complexities and instabilities are to impact the overall
security of the Indo-Pacific and South Asian regions.
The writer is a graduate of NUST CEME

www.nearpeer.org 13
Future of
Kashmir
By Mariam Khan

www.nearpeer.org 14
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Future of
Kashmir
By Mariam Khan

India, the world's largest democracy

is working on its colonial settler
project in the disputed Indian
Occupied Jammu and Kashmir
(IOJK) territory that has been
disputed for more than seven
decades. When the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP)-led Narendra Modi's
government revoked Articles 370
and 35A of the Indian Constitution,
it violated the United Nations (UN)
Security Council Resolutions, the
UN Charter and the Simla
Agreement of 1972.

15
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Prior to August 5, 2019, the Indian Constitution granted IOJK partial autonomy. However, post revoking the
two articles, IOJK was converted into a union territory, the reigns of which were granted from the Indian
capital of New Delhi. India, with its intentions to change the demographics of the territory, under the
Akhand Bharat umbrella, is blowing full steam into the disputed territory, first by annexing the region, and
then issuing domiciles to non-resident Hindus. By doing so, the structure of the region which has 65%
Muslim population, will be demographically altered. According to special residence rules that go back to
1927, permanent residents of the Jammu and Kashmir state could secure government jobs, and own property.
However, with the Hindutva ideology at play, the demographic flooding is reshaping the ethnic make-up of
the land. According to the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan, IOJK is at Stage 8
(that is the stage of persecution) out of the 10 stages of genocide, as defined by Dr. Gregory Stanton of
Genocide Watch (an international entity that works towards the prevention of genocide), and aiming for the
last stage of denial, where it will 'deny' all the atrocities carried out against the Kashmiris and showcase
them as efforts for their betterment.

The definition of genocide, as per Article 2 of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide defines, is "acts committed with intent to destroy in whole or in part, a national, ethnical,
racial or religious group". It is imperative for Pakistan to raise the Kashmir issue on each and every global
platform possible for the world to understand the horrors that the denizens of the valley have to face.
Recently, at a forum, Dr. Stanton highlighted the heinous crimes committed by the Indian forces on the
occupied territory. "It (genocide) is also causing serious physical and mental harm to members of the group.
That is intended to destroy the group. Driving them out. Not to let them have food or water and lot of other
basics. Taking away children of the group. Preventing births within the group. We see all these things already
happening in Kashmir. These types of killings going on in Kashmir are genocide in nature." Even though India
does not get penalized as it should be by the global powers on its grave acts, yet Pakistan's stance on
Kashmir has gained prominence on the world stage.

With the assistance of China, one of the five permanent members on the UN Security Council, Pakistan was
able to get the attention of the UNSC, which conducted three informal sessions on the Kashmir cause in
2020 alone. Way forward for Pakistan Pakistan needs to rev up support on the Kashmir issue internationally,
for that is where the solution lies, rather than getting it resolved with a belligerent Eastern neighbor who
continues harping for war. That will require much effort by Pakistan to make itself heard, for the world sees
Pakistan through India's lens. Furthermore, with a soaring China, that has strong ties with Pakistan, the
world continues to keep India as its popularly favored ally. With that in place, Pakistan needs to continue its
diplomatic channels open, to garner support through multilateral statecraft. It can do so by electing a special
representative for Kashmir whose focus will solely be on the resolution of this subject. Kashmir is a national
security concern for Pakistan as well as the region as this is the region where the source of the River Indus
lies. With Pakistan's economy majorly agrarian, it needs the water source for its population bulge and keep
the economy growing. So the Kashmir cause holds immense geopolitical importance to the country. Glaciers
which are bodies of freshwater sources in the Himalayas, are an important source for Pakistan which it
cannot afford to lose.

Another important game changer for Pakistan is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of
China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that has India's attention fixed on the region, as a number of projects
under CPEC are being developed in the Gilgit Baltistan region, again a region India has its eyes on. Under the
UNSC Resolutions that demands a free and fair plebiscite in the region, Pakistan needs to build up pressure
on the international community to set a deadline for the plebiscite to take place, for that can decide the fate
of the Kashmiris. Being elected on the UN Human Rights Council for the sixth time, Pakistan can continue to
highlight the statistics through dossiers and international reports with the global community to make its
stance heard on the global stage. It is high time for the world powers to continue leaving the Kashmir issue
unresolved. International organizations cannot simply turn a blind eye to the valley that has experienced
bloodshed and bullying for more than seven decades. There needs to be a solution, one that is founded in
peace, mutual respect and betterment for the people of the valley. The demography of the region can simply
not be altered by a South Asian democracy who wants to set up its hegemony in the region. There are two
nuclear armed states that are involved here, the sooner the world realizes the need for a resolution to this
brewing crisis, the better.

www.nearpeer.org 16
Arab World
Post US
Elections
Atika Khalid

www.nearpeer.org 17
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Arab World
Post US
Elections
Atika Khalid
With the election of Joe Biden as the
46th American president, hopes of a
rule-based world are high. The Arab
world that was already rife with
burning issues of protracted wars,
unending rivalries and flagrant abuse
of human rights saw yet another loss-
the erstwhile staunch supporters of
Palestinian resistance reneging on the
promise. Thus, despite the hopes
attached with president-elect Biden,
Trumpism has done an enormous
damage and limiting it would be an
uphill task. Many analysts think that
the wars of supremacy in the region
being covertly played with the help of
new alliances and weaponry are
making it extremely volatile situation.
The recent Accords reached at reflect,
as per them, a strategic realignment
against the two non-Arab powers, Iran
and Turkey. Amidst this scenario
handling this foreign policy issue is
going to be a make or break challenge
for Biden administration to reclaim
American position of the world
leadership.

18
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Curtailing the Proliferation Cascade:

The recent signing of Abraham Accords by two Arab countries- United Arab Emirates and Bahrain- with
Israel is seen from the angle of weaponisation. The countries like Egypt and Jordan had already recognized
Israel and Trump knew how to play on insecurities of the rulers that are strongly attached to their thrones
than any humanitarian cause. Therefore, these accords are dubbed as “arms sale accords”. These countries
are vying for F-35s to counter threat from Iran and assertive Turkey. This will surely increase an
unprecedented arms race in the Arab world because Israel is not ready to part with its qualitative military
edge. Lately, the west is also worried about Turkish president’s acquiring S-440s from Russia. Hence, Joe
Biden would have to tread carefully as far his foreign policy dealings with Arab countries in particular and
Muslim world in general are considered. Many even speculate that he might impose the CAATSA sanctions
(Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) on Turkey though that seems unlikely because of
its being a NATO- member. However, the region is a typical “proliferation cascade” as Justin Bronk, a
Research Fellow at RUSI, calls it.

Dealing with Violators of Human Rights Head-on:

It is a known fact that silencing dissenters is rampant in the Arab world as a whole. Under Donald Trump, the
authoritarian regimes had a field day. However, Biden has clearly made it known that he is going to be tough
on violators and perpetrators of crimes against humanity. In this regard, chances are high that the murder of
journalist Jamal Khashoggi will be pursued anew. Therefore, the recent efforts of engagement between
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Turkey can be seen as convergence of interests, you scratch my back and I’ll
scratch yours, as both are tough on any dissent.

Reengaging Iran:
The importance of America’s relations with Iran is not lost on President-elect unlike Trump. The former’s
eight years’ experience as Vice President has made him aware of the need for stabilizing Iran to deal with the
other countries like Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and Syria and above-all for the Palestinian cause where the
country exerts considerable influence. The west rightly considers Iran’s nuclear program as number one
threat to security , says Ellie Geranmayeh, a senior policy fellow and deputy head of the Middle East and
North Africa program at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Thus, prospects are high of Biden
administration’s rejoining the Iran Nuclear Deal.

Obama administration’s foreign policy achievement through the carrot and the stick approach resulted in
this deal. However, Trump’s political gimmicks lost the hard earned deal. He has made it quite difficult for
the next president to rejoin it since Trump’s military action against their most revered General Qassem
Soleimani along with stringent economic sanctions has alienated Iranians to an extent that they would seek
guarantee for the deal’s sustainability even after Biden’s term.

www.nearpeer.org 19
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Handling Hegemonic wars among

Muslim Countries:
The Arab world is at loggerheads with each state
over the leadership of the Muslim world. Each
vying to take over the role, results in policies of
containment and balance of power. With lackluster
representation of Muslim issues by the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia at the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC), Turkey held the reins that irked
the former. The latter with its strong leadership
and gripping narratives of its culture is proving
itself a viable alternative for the representation of
the Muslim world. However, between their rivalries
along with Iranian claim to hegemony the Middle
East is rapidly reaching flashpoint with each side
backing their allies.

Tackling the Power Politics among Titans:

It is rightly said that when elephants fight it is the grass that is trampled upon. In this whole scenario the big
powers have embroiled themselves too. For winning over allies they- USA, China and Russia, are arming their
respective sides thus further complicating the Arab world. Look at the recent deal between Iran and China
titled as Iran-China 25-year Cooperation Program. One cannot ignore the real motive of strategic
partnership. Keeping Thucydides’ Trap in view it can be gauged that Biden would make sure that USA lingers
on in the region unlike the stated proposal of withdrawal from the region by Trump.

Critical Analysis:
At long last the world heaved a sigh of relief with the election of Joe Biden as against Donald Trump yet
again. The US President undoubtedly holds great power on the world stage and reelecting a whimsical man
would have made the world an Orwellian reality with no chance of return to normalcy. The world has already
endured enough in these four years when its peace has been in jeopardy. Indeed, Trumpism, a novel strain of
right-wing populism, was a licence for other like-minded heads of state such as Narendra Modi, Benjamin
Nethanyahu, to pursue isolationist and illegal unilateral actions with impunity. It was not only George Floyd
who was strangled to death but also many marginalized others like Kashmiris, Palestinians, and Rohingyas
who have been wailing with pain “I CAN’T BREATHE”.

Conclusion:
To sum up, with Joe Biden’s election the Arab world
is seen rejoicing and despairing alike. For countries
such as Iran and causes like Palestinian hopes are
attached with his presidency. Whereas, for
countries with nefarious activities Biden in
ascendency tantamount to D-Day of accountability.

www.nearpeer.org 20
 CSS Magazine edition 5

International

21
Promoting Tax
Culture in
Pakistan
Kamal Ali

22
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Promoting
Tax Culture
in Pakistan
Kamal Ali
Having sailed through monstrous
storms with stubborn resilience, the
nation of Pakistan stood test of time
well. Despite being immensely capable
and full of resources, Pakistan is still
entrenched with all the malaises there
could ever have been: rule without
law, sham democracy, political
instability to name a few. However,
perpetual economic stagnation is one
appalling ailment that is more
pronounced in its manifestation and
influences almost all socio-economic
and political walks of society. Though
the crisis stems from multiple
reasons, ranging from inefficient
economic policies of government to
irresponsible behavior of citizens, yet
flawed taxation system can still be
termed as the main driving force
which fuels the predicament.

23
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Taxation system of any country is responsible for major portion of revenue collection, thus more efficient
the taxation system is, more revenue will be generated which can eventually be utilized for service delivery
and uplift of the masses. Unfortunately, ours’ is marred with innumerable ills: cumbersome tax laws and
filing procedure, poor amnesty schemes, lack of incentives, incompetence of relevant authorities, rampant
corruption and the list goes on. The dismal state of our system can be gauged from the fact that our tax to
GDP ratio doesn’t fall in the double digits even, 9.5% to be exact, despite an array of reforms and certain
desperate measures. Although the number of tax returns increased from 1.96 to 2.51 million in the previous
fiscal year, a lot still remains to be desired in terms of targets achievement. When the shortcomings in the
revenue collection are of such egregious state, it does not take any second guess as to why the successive
governments fail to repay foreign loans and incurred debts in time, not to forget spending and funds alloca-
tions in the areas which require utmost attention: education, health, and infrastructural development etc. No
matter how dismal the situation may look for now, it can still be ameliorated through prudent reforms

To begin with, it is pertinent to increase the access of federal tax collecting bodies like FBR etc. to maximum
number of cities. Currently, there are 19 regional and 4 large tax paying units under operation across the
country with the population of over 21 million, no wonder why it fails to get any closer to set targets every
year. Not only access to majority of cities is desired but also there’s severe need to enhance its autonomy
and competency; merit based appointments should be made culture for that purpose. Noteworthy is to
mention that the collection done by FBR accounts for over 90% of gross collection; therefore, it becomes
utmost necessary that the provincial bodies like up their game so that the burden on FBR might somewhat
be reduced, and it can function more efficently. Besides this, simplifying cumbersome tax laws and regimes
would benefit a lot. Tax filing mechanism needs to be simplified; currently, it is done through a software
named IRIS which usually remains overburdened during season. On the contrary, one can simply file tax
returns by downloading form and sending it via post in countries like UK which eventually results into more
no. of filers and hence, more collection.

To say that reformation of FBR and simplification of tax procedures and regulations would get Pakistan any
closer to its set targets will be an understatement, for the menace isn’t single-folded; there is a dire need to
provide adequate incentives for the tax filers. These incentives can be in the form of rewards, lucky draw
schemes, or preferably efficient service delivery which the state promises its citizens. In addition to that,
there is a need to shift burden from filers to non-filers, and the concept of graduated taxation based on the
notion of equal but differentiated responsibilities must be introduced, so as to ensure that the wrath of duty
collection doesn’t fall merely on the sector already living below poverty line.

Besides provision of incentives, the incumbent government should prioritize cracking down the smuggling
mafias and the private money exchequers indulged in money transfer practices assisting tax evasion. Paki-
stan is already placed on the grey list of FATF and narrowly evaded being blacklisted, an outcome which
would have exacerbated the predicament not only in terms of economic level but also on diplomatic and
foreign fronts. The documentation of economy has been time and again stressed upon by Khan’s regime;
however, there remains a wide gap between theory and practice. It is, thus, of paramount significance that
the action rather than dialogue is taken to curb the menace of smuggling and such other white collar crimes.

In a nutshell, the policy makers need to introduce reforms of multiple forms and magnitude to tackle the
problem of poor revenue generation through taxation. The consequences of such inefficient tax machinery
are detrimental for the national economic growth. Failure to lay adequate emphasis on the severity of the
predicament would mean that the nation would continue to face the onslaught of perpetual economic
stagnation in future as well.

24
Women
Empowerment
Rimsha Shakir Jan

www.nearpeer.org 25
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Women
Empower-
ment
Rimsha Shakir Jan
Nelson Mandela said, “Freedom cannot
be achieved unless women have been
emancipated from all forms of
oppression”. Or when Muhammad Ali
Jinnah said “No nation can rise to the
height of glory unless your women are
side by side with you”, depicts how
leaders portrayed women and
essentialized their importance for the
society. Empowerment and
disempowerment is relative to other at
a previous time; therefore,
empowerment is a process, not a
product. The idea of empowerment
manifests itself at all levels of societal
interaction. It is found in giving a voice
to the weak and marginalized. It
requires having an access to the needed
tools and materials for the expansion of
capacities. And this is how our society
will progress, by getting equal academic
and professional opportunities to their
women and teaching boys to view
opposite gender equal and capable in
every walk of life.

26
CSS Magazine Edition 5

From an economic perspective, women account to 51% of the

Pakistani population, and why our country continues to lack
behind is because women and their rights, are not exercised
properly. This leads to a huge percentage of the population not
being educated, and does not enter the workforce, leading to
overall adverse impacts on the Pakistani economy.

Gender differences in laws affect both developing and developed

economies, and women in all regions. Globally, over 2.7 billion
women are legally restricted from having the same choice of jobs
as men. Of 189 economies assessed in 2018, 104 economies still
have laws preventing women from working in specific jobs, 59
economies have no laws on sexual harassment in the workplace,
and in 18 economies, husbands can legally prevent their wives
from working.

Talking about barriers to women's empowerment and equity,

majorly lie ingrained in cultural norms. Many women feel these
pressures, while others have become accustomed to being
treated inferior to men. Even if legislators, NGOs, etc. are aware
of the benefits women's empowerment and participation can
have, many are scared of disrupting the status of the women and
continue to let societal norms get in the way of development.
Whereas, empowerment of women is a necessity for the very
development of a society, since it enhances both the quality and
the quantity of human resources available for development. Empowerment is one of the main procedural
concerns when addressing human rights and development. Entire nations, businesses, communities and
groups can benefit from the implementation of programs and policies that adopt the notion of women
empowerment.
Further, women empowerment lies on the base of women making their own decisions and life choices. It’s
not about ‘allowing’ women to do all this, after all who are men to allow women to do anything. It is their own
free will which pushes them forward to do something. As the ideology represented in the 4th wave of
feminism, whether a woman covers herself or does not, as long as it is as per her free will, then that is all
women empowerment is about. Whether a woman wishes to stay at home and become a stay-at-home mom,
or does not wish to have a family and focus on her career, it is ultimately her choice to do as she wills.

Society needs to understand this perception, to stop controlling women and determining what is best for
them. It is a slow and gradual process, where the media is playing its part and is more open to show women
and girls in dominating positions in different circumstances. It’s the 2nd generation of women, who have seen
their mothers and grandmothers suffer in the name of giving in, just to survive in the society.

Hence, an ideal civilized society will be such, where a woman standing alone on the roadside is not viewed as
a “scrumptious opportunity” but “heavy responsibility”. A society where women are not hushed up the
moment they claim their inheritance rights or their right to choose their life partner. Where the basic criteria
of a life partner should be to clearly accept a woman for who she is and support her, rather than how well she
earns or which background she belongs to.

27
As seen from the example of, 1988 Benazir Bhutto, who emerged as the most powerful symbol in
contemporary politics for women, as she became the first elected female head of state in the Muslim world.
Her presence as a political leader in a patriarchal society appeared both as a paradox and as denotative of a
psychological revolution, where she represented democracy to the people of Pakistan and appeared to
reverse the masculinisation of public space brought about by military regimes. By the end of July 1989
Bhutto’s government had allocated Rs100 million towards the establishment of a women’s bank that has been
hailed as “the first tangible and meaningful step towards recognising the Pakistani woman as an independent
economic entity.”

Another vivid example is of “The Iron-lady of Pakistan” who unable to walk again or give birth, was led by her
optimism to emerge as a talented artist and model. 10 years later and the courageous Pakistani woman is now
a motivational speaker, activist and the National Ambassador for UN Women Pakistan. Delivering a TED Talk,
Muniba Mazari describes how despite her tragic circumstances, she has been able to carve out a positive
future for herself. Notably, she calls out the stigma of disability in Pakistani society, where many are forced to
stay indoors and away from the public eye. “They call it adversity, I call it opportunity. They call it weakness, I
call it strength. They call me disabled, I call myself differently abled. They see my disability, I see my ability.”
It’s her will and smile, that despite all this, she puts up a happy face and gives strength to women around her.
Her example clarifies that a divorce does not define you, neither does ending up in a wheel chair. “There are
some incidents that happen in your life and those incidents are so strong that they change your DNA. They
break you physically, they deform your body, but they transform your soul. They mould you into the best
version of you and the same thing happened to me.”

If the above two are not enough to enlighten you, we move to the film industry. An industry that is not
appreciated in the society. But when one reaches excellence, they are bound for success. Which is why
women must not be restricted to certain professions delimited by the society and its perceptions. Two-time
Oscar-winning filmmaker, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has long been a supporter of women empowerment. Born
in Karachi, Sharmeen travelled to the USA where she studied journalism. It was here that a passion for
documentaries and filmmaking began to develop.

Chinoy became particularly interested in highlighting, through her powerful short films, some of the deeper
issues that lay in the fabric of Pakistani society, including refugees, acid attacks and honour killings. In 2012,
she won an Academy Award for her documentary, Saving Face. The film followed a Pakistani plastic-surgeon
as he performed reconstructive surgery on the survivors of acid attacks. She won yet another Academy
Award, for her 2015 short film, A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness. It recalls the real-life story of a
19-year-old girl, Saba, who escaped an honour killing by her father and uncle after she fell in love with a boy
of her own choosing. Through her on-the-ground style of story-telling, Sharmeen has opened up debates
about the status of women in Pakistan. “I am a woman. I am successful. And I am not afraid to speak my mind.
It is very hard to be a woman in Pakistan and speak your mind. And that doesn’t sit well with a lot of men –
and women. You know there will be an attempt to silence you. And the more people do that with me, the
more I know I am being successful.”

Here’s to a more empowered and equally favourable Pakistani society, where “collaboration” outsmarts the
unnecessary “competition” between the two genders.

So, my final word to the all the females reading this; No power on earth can stop you. If you have the will, the
world is yours to conquer!

*The data in the article has been gathered from multiple sources on the internet.

www.nearpeer.org 28
DAMS &
PAKISTAN
DAWOOD KHAN TAREEN

29
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Single Na�onal Curriculum and Na�onal Integra�on

Dams &
Pakistan
Dawood Khan Tareen
1. Implications of not
constructing dams in
Pakistan
Pakistan is located in South Asia. One of
its border is shared with India; an arch
rival-since day one. Both countries had
certain blames over each other on the
topic of crisis. Resultantly, both
countries, under the United Nations,
signed Indus water treaty in 1960. The
eastern and western rivers came into
the part of India and Pakistan
respectively. However, India has not
been sticking to this treaty due to
which Pakistan suffers. As a result,
country like Pakistan --having lesser
number of dams than required-- is
being badly implicated by this situation.
It will have several implications in the
coming days, if the dams are not
constructed.

www.nearpeer.org 30
CSS Magazine Edition 5

We know the value of water as it is considered as blue gold. Pakistan is the fourth highest consuming country
in the region. According to IMF report few years back, Pakistan is the third country in the list of mostly
affected countries due to water scarcity. Similarly, water pressure is staggering 74% which is 34% in India and
31% in Afghanistan. It shall be noted that stresses are considered high if (TRWR) is more than 25%. Similarly,
other consequences too are alarming.

The implications of non construction of dams are categorized as under:

1. Water Scarcity:
The foremost issue arising is the scarcity of water. According to report, Pakistan will be water scant i.e. less
than 500 cubic meter water per capita by 2035. Due to lesser number of dams and reservoirs, we can save
water for 30 days only whereas, India has the capability of 190 days, and US can save for 900 days.

Pakistan receives 145 MAF annually but 13-7 MAF water can be saved. It is notable that 40 MAF quantity of
water is sufficient. But, we waste 29MAF water every year because we have no dams, therefore, scarcity of
water will hit us more badly if not handled within time.

2. Hydel Power Generation hurdles:

Pakistan produces electricity which is lesser than the required target in MW. The gap affects the country in
one or the other way. Several zones in the country are industrial which needs electricity. For example
industrial area of Faisalabad. That’s why this is another unwanted implication of not having dams.

3. Effect on Agriculture sector:

Pakistan is an agriculture country. The annual revenue mainly depends on it. 80% of its land is irrigated by
water in which 33% is affected by water logging and salinity resulting in 25% decline of crop field. Even today,
the minimum requirement is not met for this sector which can worsen in the coming years.

4. Climate change:
The glaciers are melting rapidly due to global warming. The winter is contracting from 4 to 2 months. The
cities settled near the sea level surface will be compelled to migrate to other zones, if not mitigated properly.
The recent flood in Karachi is live example.

As a result of the above stated points the economy of the country will be indirectly hit. We are already in the

www.nearpeer.org 31
CSS Magazine Edition 5

quagmire of crippling economy. So, the need of hour is to come out of political differences and construct
dams to avoid the red signals that have already signaled us.

2. To what extent can dams help Pakistan to ensure the life and water in
this part of the world for humans and living beings?
After the comprehensive explanation of the cons above, now it is so easy to weigh the outcomes of the dams
if they are not constructed. The statement does not require in depth answer. Similarly, if the dams are being
constructed it will influence the country meeting the needs i.e ensuring life and water in the contemporary
world both for all living beings and human in particular. Once the dams are constructed, the daily needs of
the citizens regarding fresh and drinkable water shall be fulfilled. In this case, the example of Gwadar is so
vivid. It is so common that water is stolen in that port which is going to be the busiest hub after CPEC is
finished successfully. So this is really tragic. However, if dams are being constructed such issues will certainly
be decreased. Likewise, the electricity production will give another ease to the people; specifically the indus-
trial cities like Karachi and Faisalabad that have been mostly affected due to power shortage.

To cut long story short, it is so safe to mention that the construction of dams will ensure the lives of the
citizens to a greater extent and that will result in the prosperity of the country.

3. Executed, on-going and future project plans of WAPDA

There are many constructed projects by WAPDA which have been benifitting the country. Howerver, they
have not be sufficient enough to meet even the necessary requiremnts. In relation to these, WAPDA has
several projects under construction and many other as future plans projects to meet the needs. Out of those
many, several are extracted and displayed in the tables below.
Tables 1 and 2 consist of already constructed projects. Tables 3 and 4 show the on-going projects and Table 5
shows the future projects.

www.nearpeer.org 32
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Built or constructed dams are displyed in tables 1 and 2.

The tables contain the name of the dam in the 1st column, station in the 2nd column, the location on the
globe i.e. longitutude and latitiude in the 3rd column, electricity generation in the 4th column and the com-
pletion year is displayed in the final column.

Table 1

Table 2

www.nearpeer.org 33
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Built or constructed dams are displyed in tables 1 and 2.

The 1st column displays the name of the project, 2nd column signifies the location, the 3rd shows the location
on a particular river and the final, as usual, displays the generation.

Table 3

Table 4

www.nearpeer.org 34
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Table 5 displayed below shows the propsed projects under WAPDA.

The project name is cited in the 1st column, the location or province in the 2nd, The 3rd column shows the
geographical location for Mahl Hydropower project only and the final coloumn shows the proposed electrici-
ty genreration expected.

Table 5

www.nearpeer.org 35
Single
National
Curriculum
and National
Integration
Shafaq Khan

36
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Single
National
Single Na�onal Curriculum and Na�onal Integra�on

Curriculum
and National
Integration
Shafaq Khan
Introduction
The ruling party, PTI, came to power by
inspiring the masses to dream of Naya
Pakistan - a Pakistan free of ethnic and
linguistic divide where all children are
allowed to claim their right to
education. In line with this vision, the
current government introduced the
Single National Curriculum (SNC) as an
effort to end educational apartheid in
Pakistan. The proposed curriculum is
based on the slogan of One Nation –
One Curriculum. Aimed at granting
right to education as promised by the
Article 25 (A) of Pakistan constitution,
the SNC is a product of research based
collaborative effort of 400 experts from
all over the country. The SNC has some
flaws and is faced with a myriad of
challenges including financial
constraints and alienation of minorities
because of overly religious
characteristics of the curriculum.
However, it will promote national
integration by providing equal
educational opportunities to all and
decreasing religious and secular divide
while also preserving cultural values of
all provinces.

37
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Characteristics of the SNC

The SNC was introduced in August 2020 with a goal of improving four essential components of the education
system of Pakistan – curriculum, books, teachers, and assessment. The curriculum is also planned to develop
analytical skills, critical thinking and creativity in students, and move away from rote memorisation by
focusing on technology. Under the new curriculum, major changes have been introduced in the Islamiat
curriculum. The new Islamiat curriculum is more rich in content as compared to previous curricula. More-
over, the SNC aims at producing employment opportunities for madrassah graduates in mainstream educa-
tional institutions. For primary classes, it is required by the SNC to employ a qari whose sole task would be to
teach Nazra to students. These characteristics reflect the intentions of government to establish a uniform
education system in Pakistan.

How does Single National

Curriculum Promise National
Integration?
After highlighting the characteristics of the
SNC, this section will dwell upon the extent
to which the SNC can promote national
integration in Pakistan. First, the SNC will
remove social and economic disparities
from the society. Currently, class-based
education system is one of the leading
causes of many social ills including
polarization, lack of tolerance, and
persistent status quo. The SNC aims to
treat these ills by inspiring a sense of
national consciousness among students
from a very young age. According to Nelson
Mandela, “Education is the most powerful
weapon which you can use to change the
world.” To change the world, one needs to
start with their own self or in case of
governments, their own country. In short,
the SNC will socially empower citizens to
bring about economic change in their lives
and society.

Second, there exists a sharp contrast between curriculum of private institutions, public schools, and
madrassahs. Curriculum of private schools is overwhelmingly secular and madrassahs are focusing more on
religious education whereas public sector schools lie somewhere in between the two. Introducing a uniform
curriculum for all three tiers of educational institutions is an effort to strike a balance between religious and
secular ideals imparted to young minds through education. Moreover, it is required under SNC to employ a
madrassah graduate as a qari to teach Nazra on primary level in all schools. This effort will evidently
integrate alienated madrassah graduates into mainstream educational institutes.

Third, the SNC addresses the drawbacks of existing methods of teaching and learning. Author of the book
Why Can’t Pakistani Children Read while commenting on the existing education system has said, “In poor
schools, teaching is by rote. You are not taught to take ownership.” By including activities that encourage
students to employ their critical faculties, the SNC has theoretically discouraged rote learning and put a
spotlight on conceptual development. Technology based activities of the curriculum will play the central part
in driving students from rote learning to critical thinking.

Last, the SNC shows a resolve of the incumbent government to bring about educational reforms in
Pakistan. While government officials have received blatant criticism for this effort, they have also garnered
immense support from notable educationists of the country. Dr Faisal Bari, Senior Research Fellow at
Institute of Development and Economic Alternatives, and Assistant Professor of Economics at LUMS, while
expressing his views about a uniform curriculum said, “Our education system is divided because our society

38
CSS Magazine Edition 5

is divided. We cannot control for factors like geography, class and cultural background of a child but what we
can control for is the opportunity set for every child.” Providing every child the opportunity to access quality
education is a means to end educational apartheid as proposed by the SNC.

What are the Challenges in

Implementation of the SNC?
After having delineated the potential of the SNC to
promote national integration in Pakistan, it is
important to highlight challenges faced by the
incumbent government in implementing the new
curriculum. According to UNICEF data,
approximately 22.6 million children aged between
5-16 are out of school. This statistic is in sharp
contrast with the constitutional provision Article 25
(A) which ensures right to education for all children.
To achieve their target of institutionalizing all
children, government would need to build schools,
employ teaching and administrative staff, and
allocate resources required to furnish these new
schools. Currently, government has not specified
ways in which this financial burden will be handled.

In addition to financial constraints, another gigantic challenge threatening implementation of the SNC is
diverse cognitive, linguistic, and cultural ground realities of Pakistan. Critiques have pointed out that the
SNC does not take into account these ground realities hence defeating the purpose of uniform curriculum.
Mr. Shafqat Mehmood, Federal Minister of Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, said,
“Urdu and English will be compulsory subjects in places where mother tongue is the main medium of
instruction in primary classes.” Policymakers need to critically analyze criticism and adapt their strategy
accordingly.

Another challenge that the SNC is facing has emerged from the proposed Islamiat curriculum. The new
Islamiat curriculum is more rich in content as compared to previous curricula. If this curriculum is
implemented, minorities in primary schools will be forced to learn another religion in great detail. Doing so
will also violate the constitutional safeguard granted by Article 22 (1) according to which, minorities can opt
out of learning extensively about another religion. It is imperative for the policymakers to note that such an
elaborate curriculum for Islamiat will likely alienate minorities and crush their national spirit.

Conclusion
The SNC introduced by the incumbent government fosters national integration by producing equal
educational opportunities to all sectors of society and creating a balance between religious and secular
sentiments taught to young minds all over the country. While the intention behind the new curriculum is
commendable, the incumbent government needs to address concerns about financial challenges and
training of teachers so that quality of education can be ensured. Fruits of the SNC will only be reaped if
government continues to devise and implement policies aimed at undoing the harm inflicted by years of
neglect on education system of Pakistan.

www.nearpeer.org 39
waid

40
“Assalam o Alaikum, my name is Mohammed Awaid Irshad Bhatti
and I'm CSS topper 2017. Today, I want to share my CSS story
with you all, and above all the difficulties I faced throughout this
process and the factors that kept me motivated. So I'll start from
the very beginning.”

Academic Journey
“I studied at Atchison College. After that, I went abroad to
Utrecht University in the Netherlands and the University of
California Berkeley to do my bachelors in Economics
and Business Economics. After that, I went to Cambridge
University to do my M. Phil in Development Studies. Throughout
this process, I was working and focused on writing papers and
researching on how to have policy interventions in developing
countries that can lead to sustainable solutions, so I've always
wanted to work in the public sector”. 

Motivational Factors
and Challenges
“One main reason why I wanted to do CSS is that a public sector
is a place where you matter; a public sector is a place where you
can create an impact in people's lives, and doing research is
something thatI still hold to this date, even as an Assistant
Commissioner, posted in Balochistan. So, after I graduated from
my university, I started working in Ernst and Young as a
Chartered Accountant and I worked there for a year and that
was primarily to understand the workings of the professional
life as well as to have a back up if CSS doesn't work out.
However, it is all about taking risks and it is all about doing
what you want to do in life. I've always said that if you want
to rise, you have to take the risk; and you have to take leap
of faith, so that is what I did. I left the UK; I came back to
Pakistan in March 2016, exactly 3/10/2016. From then onwards,
I did not know about any academy, I did not know about any
place where I can study.

41
I had the motivation; I had the passion to pursue the CSS exam;
however, I did not know how to go about it. So, at that stage,
I went to JWT Academy and I started pursuing CSS. Above all,
other than any academy, it is your motivation, your resolve to
do something, to land something and that is how you structure
your CSS preparation. At that time, we did not have online
resources like Nearpeer; we did not have plethora of those
CSS books. However, we did have a group of good friends and
foresight to structure our exam preparation.”

CSS Journey
“There are a few steps that are very important for CSS exam
preparation. First is to make deadlines for yourself. It is not
about time alone; it is about making deadlines regarding
different subjects; it is about what subjects and chapters to
do every single day. So that in over 9 months, I can complete
all the preparation for all the syllabus, and have sufficient
time for revision. I attended all the mock sessions and got
my papers evaluated by different teachers during the process.
I used to read Dawn every single day so that I can add
contemporary aspects to my preparation. I tried to experiment
and looked for new ways to express myself like different
flowcharts, diagrams and tried to improve my presentation
as well as my writing speed for the exam. I limited my books
so that I do not delve into so many books that I can not
complete my syllabus within the required time. I had a few
great mentors, friends, seniors, teachers who helped me
throughout the process. The difficulties that I faced were a lot.
I did not know a lot about the local dynamics; I did not know
a lot about how the government of Pakistan is working because
I had been abroad for quite some time. The other aspect was
that our writing style was usually in soft form rather than
writing in the handwritten script so, I had to work on my speed
as well as presentation. Another problem was that I had limited
time to prepare for my CSS exam so, that is why I had to
structure everything accordingly.

Certain factors kept me motivated throughout the process.

42
The first was that I wanted to do something; I wanted to get
into CSS; I was enjoying learning about the society so, I stopped
thinking about CSS as an exam and started thinking about it like
a Masters program where I'm learning about the society; the
people and about the different dynamics of the world,
something that I never had a chance to do.
One thing that keeps me motivated is that every step that
I take which makes life easier for people or makes a difference
in the lives of the people, that is the biggest source of
satisfaction. Monetary aspects and everything come second
for me. The self realization of the fact that you're doing
something for the society is a commendable job in itself. Also,
the prestige and the respect that you get from society is worth
living for. You become an inspiration for the people as well.
That is why I was thinking about something bigger than myself,
and CSS is bigger than yourself.

Advice for Young Aspirants

I would say the CSS is indeed a noble task; this is something
that opens your horizons; you tend to think about the society;
you tend to think and analyze what is happening around
you. So, when you take CSS, there will be a lot of issues
that come in your way, a lot of people who tend to demotivate
you as well; however, you need to keep yourself motivated;
you need to power through this process. Don't look at the
people who couldn’t do it; look at the ones who did and did well.
If they can do it, you can do it as well, and I believe that if you
work in a structured and passionate manner, CSS is doable, you
can come into service, and there's a lot that you can do for the
society, for the people and yourself.”

43
 CSS Magazine edition 5

Essay Special

44
Covid-19: Is
globalization
in retreat?
Danial Khan

45
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Covid-19: Is globalization in retreat?

1) Introduction
Although it is argued that globalization is here to stay despite the havoc caused by Covid-19; the changing
shifts in international financial systems, changing social-structure dynamics, and the reinforcement of the
populist wave would cause a major retreat to globalization.

2)Understanding globalization: The world of interdependence

3)Why is globalization facing retreat in the wake of Covid-19?

a) The failure of global health infrastructure to uphold the promises of globalization
b) The world nations have failed to devise a common strategy in combatting against the novel Covid-19
pandemic.
c) Capitalism-based liberal economic order is facing gut-wrenching sight in the wake of the pandemic, and
remained unable to provide social security across the globe.
d) Questions on the performance of multilateral organizations such as the WHO or the United Nations given
the perceived lack of a coordinated, global response to an unprecedented health crisis.
e) Global economies are facing devastating impacts due to stagnant economic activities
f) The Chinese model of authoritarianism has proved successful so far against the contagious virus.
g) The pandemic has spawned conspiracy theories, which is a major challenge for globalization.
h) The crisis has compelled nations to rely on their resources rather than looking for aid and assistance.
i) Globalization rest on the "just-in-time" mantra, which has been unable to cater to the needs of global health
systems.
j) Specialization of labor, the hallmark of globalized economic order, has failed miserably to sustain production
rates.
k) The underlying anarchy of global governance is being exposed

4) Globalization is here to stay: How globalization would be able to cut through the veil of
Covid-19 successfully?
a) The world of digitalization and technology has increased the importance of Cooperation and coordination
manifold.
b) The nation-states of the world have had highly uneven success in their response to COVID-19, and that is
primarily because of the architecture of the system of nation-states and not the failure of globalisation.

5) Case study of South Korea: neither democracy nor authoritarianism can help combat a
crisis, rather the effective policy measures.

6)Recommendations to promote global solidarity instead of nationalist isolation

a) Global governance, economic and financial systems are required to be made more inclusive.
b) Restructuring of Global institutions is important to make them more efficient and proactive.
c)Incorporating the ethical values in global system to make it more humane and sensitize it towards
unprecedented global challenges

7)Conclusion

www.nearpeer.org 46
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Essay:
The Coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to a standstill,
and the activities of global institutions to a grinding halt. States
across the globe have closed their borders to protect themselves
from the contagious virus, which has taken thousands of lives
and has severely affected hundreds of thousands of people. The
raging contagion has conspicuously exposed the world’s
uneasiness to cope with the global health crisis. The
international institutions, which claim to be the harbingers of
global security and regulators of globalization, have miserably
failed to caution about the coming catastrophe. Currently, not
only the developing world but also the developed countries are
on their knees before the unforgiving virus. Nations are
compelled to do self-help despite being members of the
powerful regional and international organizations. The
containment measures taken so far have virtually isolated
countries from one another. Big Powers, like the US, China, the
UK and France, have been adapting un-identical strategies to
cope with the contagion but are failing miserably despite
world-class state-of-the-art health infrastructure. Undoubtedly,
globalization has a big hand in the spread of the disease all
across the world. The failure of global health infrastructure,
inability of capitalism based liberal economic order to break
through the shackles of this menace, and failure of multilateral
organization, which had previously promised to uphold global
cooperation, highlight the retreat in globalization. Conversely, it
is also argued that the solution to the world problems lie in
globalization; this hold true, however, currently the pandemic
has only put a halt to this processes. Thus, only through global
cooperation and assuming the global responsibility to help fund
the affected nations, globalization can flourish. Although it is
argued that globalization is here to stay despite the havoc
caused by Covid-19; however, the changing shifts in
international financial systems, changing social-structure
dynamics, and the reinforcement of the populist wave would
cause a major retreat to globalization.

In order to dwell upon the dynamics of globalization is

post-Covid world, it is essential to conceptualize the concept of
globalization. Put simply, globalization is the word used to
describe the growing interdependence of the world’s economies,
cultures, and populations, brought about by cross-border trade
in goods and services, technology, and flows of investment,
people, and information. But the term gained popularity after
the Cold War in the early 1990s, as these cooperative
arrangements shaped modern everyday life. World Health
Organization (WHO) , however, has put forward a
comprehensive definition of globalization, which is all
encompassing. As per the WHO, it is the increased
interconnectedness and interdependence of peoples and
countries. It is generally understood to include two inter-related
elements: the opening of international borders to increasingly
fast flows of goods, services, finance, people and ideas; and the
changes in institutions and policies at national and international
levels that facilitate or promote such flows. The following
paragraphs would now expound upon that how globalization is
in retreat in wake of Covid-19.

www.nearpeer.org 47
CSS Magazine Edition 5

First, the global health infrastructure has failed to uphold the

promises of globalization. Lack of the safe manufacturing
alternatives can cause supply chains to break down, as they
have in some medical and health-related sectors as a result of
the new coronavirus. Producers of vital medical supplies have
been overwhelmed by a surge in global demand, pitting
countries against one another in a competition for resources.
The outcome has been a shift in power dynamics among major
world economies, with those that are well prepared to combat
the new virus either hoarding resources for themselves or
assisting those that are not—and expanding their influence on
the global stage as a result. Critical medical supplies such as
reagents, a key component of the test kits that laboratories use
to detect viral RNA, are either running low or out of stock in
many countries. Two companies dominate the production of
the necessary reagents. One of them is the Dutch company
Qiagenand Roche . Both have been unable to keep up with the
extraordinary surge in demand for their products. The shortfall
has delayed the production of test kits in the United States.
Thus the failure of global health crisis ascertain the retreat of
globalization.

Second, the world nations have failed to devise a common

strategy in combatting against the novel Covid-19 pandemic.
For instance, Germany adopted a vigorous testing and tracing
approach. Britain, first relying on complete shutdown, went for
vaccinations later on , which backfired and the death toll in the
UK surged to second highest in Europe. The United States of
America, seduced by its creation manifesto, is oscillating
between maintaining a complete lockdown and allowing the
freedom of the individual to decide their fate. In this entire
scenario, the authoritarian regimes of the Gulf and China have
emerged successful in stopping the spread of this virus. By
implementation of draconian laws, these states have set a new
paradigm for those looking for an alternative to democracy to
deal with the 21st-century challenges. In short, the highly
integrated world is in complete disparity to devise a common
approach against a common threat.

Third, Capitalism-based liberal economic order is facing

gut-wrenching sight in the wake of the pandemic, and
remained unable to provide social security across the globe.
The world’s wealthiest powers enjoy a cushion that will allow
them to keep the economy ticking over during the crisis, to
compensate workers laid off, and to resume economic activity
quickly afterwards. But in poorer countries with no such
protections, the resulting deprivation risks driving people onto
the street. According to Joshua Geltzer, visiting professor of
law at Georgetown University: The potential for widespread
social unrest in countries that have not provided a social safety
net for those losing their jobs during this crisis strikes me as
very real, with possible repercussions for governance and
more.

Additionally, another concern is the performance of

multilateral organizations such as the WHO or the United
Nations given the perceived lack of a coordinated, global
response to an unprecedented health crisis. American
president, Donald Trump, has severely criticized the WHO for

www.nearpeer.org 48
CSS Magazine Edition 5

its failure to report the pandemic on time. He blamed the institution for developing a nexus with Chinese
authorities to suppress the gravity of an otherwise dangerous situation. In a coercive move, Trump
administration also suspended the economic assistance to the institution. Similarly, the EU has also been
heavily criticized publically by Spain and Italy-the two worse hit countries in Europe for its lacklustre
performance in the wake of this pandemic. The chaotic situation has compelled the highly integrated
European countries to act in isolation to contain the virus. The free democracies of Western Europe are not
free to allow freedom of movement and socioeconomic activities. The global institution seems incongruous to
the national response of the nation-states to contain the contagion. All these factors hold testimony to the
fact that globalization is in retreat.

Moreover, global economies are facing devastating impacts due to stagnant economic activities. It has been
estimated that the contagious disease cost 5.5 trillion dollars to the global economy. Germany referred to it as
the worst crisis since WW-II, while America is referring to the impacts to be more severe than the recession
caused by the 2008 global financial crisis. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), more than
1.6 billion people are expected to lose their livelihoods due to this contagion. The gravity of the crisis can be
gauged from the fact that for the first time in history, the prices of the crude oil declined below zero dollars in
the US. Undoubtedly, this pandemic is exposing the flaws in the existing global economic system as global
aviation, manufacturing, hoteling, tourism and many other industries have suddenly been brought down to
halt by a microbe. As the catastrophe is unfolding, the loopholes in globalization are becoming more evident.

To further prove the point, it is interesting to note that the Chinese model of authoritarianism has proved
successful so far against the contagious virus. The constrictive lockdown imposed by the country halted the
spread within weeks. Additionally, the construction of thousand-bedded hospital within ten days in the wake
of the crisis is setting a new precedent for the world. Although the free world is unlikely to adopt the Chinese
model, China has presented a new strategy to cope with the crisis. China has demonstrated the “Whole of the
Government” approach, which is missing in other parts of the free world. China’s successful strategy has
provided a new lifeline to the authoritarian regime to legitimize draconian laws and tactics. Hence, exerting
more pressure on the already globalized world.

The pandemic has also spawned some conspiracy theories, which is a major challenge for globalization. The
first one has been floated by Americans that this virus is inherently from China, and it is a man-made
biological weapon that is made to shift the power dynamics of the world. Another conspiracy theory is that
the virus is made in the laboratories of the US and was spread in China by US soldiers. The purpose of this
virus was to just destabilise the most strongly emerging economy of the world. No one knows yet which
hypothesis is accepted, and which one is rejected. However, the point is not that whether either of these
conspiracies is true, but it perpetuates fact that global cooperation is a myth.

Similarly, the crisis has compelled nations to rely on their resources rather than looking for aid and assistance.
Though the statism has already been prevailing in the global affairs with a rise of populism, now this pandemic
has endorsed it even greater. The absence of symmetry in actions taken by the global leaders of the liberal
world along with their fragile condition is causing chaos on a global level. The absence of global leadership is
even more evident in these testing times. The United States, which is gradually backing from its global
responsibilities since Trump’s inception in Oval offices, now seems engulfed by the crisis. It is no more an
ideal to deal with the crisis of COVID-19 magnitude as Americans are the top affectees of the disease. Put
simply, any step closer to the populist sentiments mean getting further away from globalisation.

Also, globalistaion rest on the "just-in-time" mantra, which has been unable to cater to the needs of global
health systems. In an earlier age, manufacturers might have built up stockpiles of supplies to protect
themselves in a moment like this. But in the age of globalization, many businesses subscribe to Apple CEO Tim
Cook’s famous dictum that inventory is “fundamentally evil" .These companies rely on “just-in-time” supply
chains that function as the name suggests. But in the midst of a global pandemic, just-in-time can easily
become too late. For instance, Russia and Turkey prohibited the export of medical masks and respirators.
Germany did the same, even though it is a member of the European Union, which is supposed to have a
“single market” with unrestricted free trade among its member states. The French government took the
simpler step of seizing all available masks. EU officials complained that such actions undermined solidarity
and prevented the EU from adopting a common approach to combating the new virus, but they were simply
ignored.

Moreover, specialization of labor, the hallmark of globalized economic order, has failed miserably to sustain
production rates. Adam Smith in his book "The Wealth of Nations" propounded the idea of specialization.

49
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Specialization produced greater efficiency, which in turn led to growth.

But globalization also created a complex system of interdependence.
Companies embraced global supply chains, giving rise to a tangled web of
production networks that wove the world economy together. The
components of a given product could now be made in dozens of
countries. This drive toward specialization sometimes made substitution
difficult, especially for unusual skills or products. This idea was
manifested in the shortage of Protective Health Units, which basically
means that globalisation would fail to rescue the world in times of crisis.

Similarly, Covid has exposed the underlying anarchy of global

governance. France and Britain have squabbled over quarantine rules,
China is threatening Australia with punitive tariffs for demanding an
investigation into the virus’s origins, and the White House remains on the
warpath about trade. Despite some instances of co-operation during the
pandemic, such as the Federal Reserve’s loans to other central banks,
America has been reluctant to act as the world’s leader. Chaos and
division at home have damaged its prestige. China’s secrecy and bullying
have confirmed that it is unwilling—and unfit—to pick up the mantle.
Around the world, public opinion is shifting away from globalization. All
the factors have had a massive strike down on the dream of a globalized
world.

It also seems pertinent to take into consideration the arguments that

perpetuate the idea that globalization would further strengthen in post
Covid world. The world of digitalization and technology has increased
the importance of cooperation and coordination manifold. Technology
has changed the traditional meaning of connectivity, engagement and
reliance. People are more connected. Social media networks are taking
over traditional means of linkages and relationship. Distances are
disappearing on social media and new social culture is emerging with
distinct characteristics of different civilizations. The mediums of
engagement like mobile, WhatsApp, Facebook, Skype, WeChat and other
have made it extremely convenient to remain in touch. The former US
president captured this when he argued, "Globalization is a fact, because
of technology, because of an integrated global supply chain, because of
changes in transportation. And we’re not going to be able to build a wall
around that." The discussed points hold ground; however, it only portrays
one dimension of globalization, as globalization has failed to deliver across the economic ,social, and political
dimensions.

Moreover, it is also argued that the nation-states of the world have had highly uneven success in their
response to COVID-19, and that is primarily because of the architecture of the system of nation-states and not
the failure of globalisation. Whereas the Trump administration has used the pandemic to pull back on global
integration, China is using the crisis to showcase its willingness to lead. As the first country hit by the new
coronavirus, China suffered grievously over the last three months. But later on it adopted effective policy
measures. In early March, Italy called on other EU countries to provide emergency medical equipment as
critical shortages forced its doctors to make heartbreaking decisions about which patients to try to save and
which to let die. None of them responded. But China did, offering to sell ventilators, masks, protective suits,
and swabs. However, it cannot be regarded as the success of globalization, rather a success of the country
with strong authoritarian government, which has strong hold over internal dynamics

The case of South Korea is an interesting learning for the globalized world. It has done so without locking
down entire cities or taking some of the other authoritarian measures that helped China bring its epidemic
under control. Kim Woo-Joo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University said, “South Korea is a
democratic republic, we feel a lockdown is not a reasonable choice. Behind its success so far has been the
most expansive and well-organized testing program in the world, combined with extensive efforts to isolate
infected people and trace and quarantine their contacts. South Korea has tested more than 270,000 people,
which amounts to more than 5200 tests per million inhabitants—more than any other country. The South

50
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Korean model has proved that it can preserve democracy and protect the global economy. If the predominant
model relies only on lockdowns or shutdowns, the future of the global economy will be precarious. Thus, it is
not the form of government rather the policy actions that determine the success or failure of a nation. The
following paragraphs now mentions some recommendations that can be adopted to put a halt to this downfall
of globalization.

First, global governance, economic and financial systems are required to be made more inclusive. The power
of decision making should be shifted to scientific evidences rather than consensus of some whose hegemony
over the system needs to be reduced. The weak performance or failure of consensus-based system like
climate change negotiations, WTO etc have already been witnessed . Second, human security shall take the
center stage without any discrimination of race, religion, or ethnicity, in the decision making on all
international forums. Economic interest should be sub-ordinate to human interest. The current model of
economy also required remodeling. It’s stark dependency on the private sector and focus on elimination of
role of state in business is costing most countries battling the pandemic and other challenges. There is a dire
need to make it more balanced, in terms of public private share.

Additionally, restructuring of Global institutions is important to make them more efficient and proactive.
WHO’s failure to restrict the Coronavirus to China has shown a dire need of changes in the working
mechanism of the institution. Similarly, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Bretton woods
institution, G-7 and G-20 have failed to meet the expectation of the developing world. The United States has
already backed off from its international obligations. In such circumstances, if the belief in those institutions
is not restored through prudent leadership and actions, the world may suffer even more via belief crisis.
Developing world in such chaotic times is facing both existential and economic crisis. If a liberal capitalistic
system fails to deliver, these countries may look for better alternatives. Thus, it is important to improve the
working mechanisms of these global institutions to restore perished belief in the global system.

There is also a dire need for incorporating ethical values in global system to make it more humane and
sensitize it towards unprecedented global challenges. Unethical corporate behaviors for profiteering are
proving costly for human beings. The unbridled corporate greed is not only responsible for the current
sufferings but also the progeny of other social evils. It has a major burden on air pollution, water pollution,
unemployment, low wages, social disparities, global warming, climate change and other new emerging crisis.
The world must unite for an inclusive structure, which should be based on care, cooperation and equality.
International stakeholders need to revisit their priorities. This is high time to decide what kind of future they
want to decide for the coming generations.

To conclude, the world is standing on a crossroad. Now, it has to trade-off between erratically emerging
global crisis and replacing the existing global structure with an improved one. Undoubtedly, globalization has
endorsed corporate greed, unbridle profiteering, clash with nature, unequal distribution of wealth and cruel
social stratification. Major powers of the world have failed to come up with consensus driven solutions to
strike down the negative consequences of Covid. The solution to globalization is not nationalist isolation,
rather more " empowered globalization". Only the system of cooperation, care for natural laws and equitable
distribution of wealth can guarantee a promising future for the world.

www.nearpeer.org 51
 CSS Magazine edition 5

Monthly
Press Review

52
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Monthly disease outbreaks we may face in

the coming years, there is one
warming is not kept under 1.5
degrees Celsius. If global

Press Review
threat that we know is already at temperatures rise just 1.5 degrees
our doorstep: climate change. Celsius, the report said, people
living in the city of Lagos in

Lessons Today, climate change is still the

most significant threat to global
Nigeria would experience heat
stress for the first time, as would
learned from economic and social stability. Abidjan on the Ivory Coast. If the

COVID-19 can Scientists say we have a critical

and rapidly closing window of
rise in temperatures reach 4
degrees Celsius, Luanda in Angola
help us fight opportunity to curb the and Kinshasa in the Democratic

climate change devastating effects of climate

change by limiting global
Republic of Congo would also
become heat stressed according
temperature rises to 1.5 degrees to the report.
The pressing need to develop a Celsius.
safe and effective COVID-19 Like COVID-19, climate change is
vaccine and make it available to We know what happens when not a hidden threat. Thanks to the
everyone everywhere to bring an science is ignored – we have seen efforts of scientists and
end to the ongoing coronavirus the consequences of not taking environmental activists across the
pandemic resulted in a rare warnings from scientists seriously world, the international
collaboration between world in the early phases of the community is aware that if it does
governments, scientists and coronavirus pandemic. And we are not take swift action, climate
private drug manufacturers. already paying the price for change will devastate populations
ignoring climate science – there and economies across the world.
The economic and social are more fires, floods, droughts This is why 194 states and the
devastation caused by this and other unpredictable weather European Union have signed and
catastrophic global public health events across the world today ratified the Paris Agreement on
emergency not only underlined than ever before. climate change.
the importance of multilateral
international collaboration, but While climate change is While political leaders and policy
also forced us to acknowledge the undoubtedly a global problem, the makers may need scientific
glaring social and economic African continent is expected to reports and briefings to
inequalities that exist both in be the region hardest hit by its comprehend the gravity of the
wealthy and poor countries. consequences. looming threat, for rural
communities and Indigenous
The pandemic showed us what The World Meteorological Peoples in Africa and across the
happens when political leaders Organization (WMO) recently world, and for many of my fellow
dismiss science and refuse to take warned that 2016-2020 is Chadians, the risks are far from
the necessary steps to protect all expected to be the warmest theoretical. Without needing to
their citizens, and the rest of five-year period in Africa on read academic studies and
humanity, from public health record, and rang the alarm bells examining climate models, every
crises and other natural disasters. for the fate of agriculture, public farmer and herder in Africa knows
Hundreds of thousands of lives health systems, water resources the bottom line: the weather is
and livelihoods unnecessarily lost and disaster management changing and it is changing fast.
to this disease should serve as a capabilities on the continent. A
warning to not repeat the Greenpeace report published In my country, Chad, more than
mistakes of the recent past, and earlier this year, meanwhile, half of the people are impacted by
be prepared for similar threats warned of extreme heat becoming floods, droughts and extreme
that undoubtedly await us in the the new normal in most countries heat. In the Sahel, the rich and the
future. on the continent if the poor, the young and the old,
temperature rise caused by global people living in cities and rural
While we do not know what

www.nearpeer.org 53
CSS Magazine Edition 5

communities are all experiencing disaster for a few days, publish the If we do not act, and act fast, we
the consequences of climate death toll and some statistics on will experience temperatures up
change directly. the estimated economic damage, to 6 degrees Celsius higher than
and move on to another story. Yet today by the end of this century.
Much has been said of the for those affected, the disaster The future of all our children, the
economic hardships experienced itself is just the beginning. When future of humanity at large, is at
due to the temporary border their crops disappear under risk. For this we must all be
closures brought on by COVID-19, floodwaters or pastures burn up leaders and take charge of our
especially in landlocked countries in flames, hunger becomes a daily own destiny. We need to demand
like mine. For nomadic reality for communities. The that our governments declare a
pastoralists in the Sahel, who natural resources they relay on to climate emergency and take
routinely need to cross the survive start to dwindle, water action. We also need to be open to
border, however, these closures becomes scarce and all this often making adjustments to our ways
only brought some minor leads to increased tensions and of life. We do not need to be brave
additional challenges. In the last conflicts. Homes, schools and – we just need to be realistic. If we
few months, the Sahel region has marketplaces destroyed by natural do not adapt, global warming is
seen some of the worst floods in disasters remain in ruins for years, going to destroy us: with
recent history. The borders were increasing homelessness. With the cyclones, flash floods, droughts,
shut and lives were put on hold destruction of health and fires, extreme heat waves, and
not by any government, but raging sanitation infrastructures, wildfires.
flood waters. According to the coupled with rising temperatures,
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, diseases like malaria and typhoid As we finally near the end of the
700,000 people have been become rife, devastating coronavirus pandemic, and as
displaced and otherwise affected struggling communities further. governments start to make plans
by this year’s floods. to rebuild economies devastated
Throughout the pandemic, by this global health crisis, we
Just like COVID-19, climate governments in the Sahel region need to make climate change our
change is destroying lives and have been trying to educate the new focus. Especially in the Sahel
ruining livelihoods on a daily public through public region, where the devastating
bases across the world. But the advertisements to wash their consequences of climate change
media is not giving the same hands and remain socially distant are already being felt by many, it
attention to this crisis. While you to stem the spread of the virus. is time to declare a climate
can find the daily coronavirus They even imposed lockdowns emergency and embark on a
death toll or infection rate in any and penalised individuals who “green” recovery that aims to help
given African country with a broke the new regulations. not only the masses affected by
simple Google search, getting However, when floods and COVID-19, but also millions of
up-to-date, detailed data on the droughts caused by global others suffering because of
climate crisis’ effects on the warming engulf our region and climate change.
continent is almost impossible. devastate our people, they do not
Nobody is bothering to count the issue similar warnings or take Reinventing the economy to be
lives lost and ruined due to precautions. They only offer their carbon neutral will require strong
climate change. And if you do not prayers and thank any donors for political leadership, and
count, if you do not make their help. Of course there is collaboration between
everyone aware of the magnitude nothing wrong with praying or governments and the private
of the crisis, you cannot resolve handing out a bag of rice to a sector. But we, the people, can
the crisis. hungry family, but are they really also do a lot to help kick start
doing anything to prevent similar change. We can demand our
The weather disasters in Africa disasters in the future? Are they leaders to make the climate
often get minimal media coverage. implementing the policies emergency a policy priority. We
Television channels and necessary to prevent global can make small changes to our
newspapers report on any given warming? own lives to help protect the

www.nearpeer.org 54
CSS Magazine Edition 5

environment. We can support happened. The per capita income Middle- and low-income
those actively fighting for climate gap between the South and the countries, which together
justice. North has quadrupled in size since constitute 85 percent of the
1960, in what can only be world’s population, have a
Unfortunately, we cannot defeat described as a striking pattern of minority share.
climate change simply by isolating divergence.
in our homes, wearing masks, and If we look at the voting allocations
creating a vaccine. To defeat This trend is due in large part to in per capita terms, the
climate change, we need to build power imbalances in the world inequalities are revealed to be
an entire new political and economy. To put it simply, rich truly extreme. For every vote that
economic system that does not countries have disproportionate the average person in the global
protect the fossil fuel industry – a influence when it comes to setting North has, the average person in
new system that can deliver the rules of international trade the global South has only
economic prosperity while also and finance – and they tend to do one-eighth of a vote (and the
protecting biodiversity and it in ways that serve their own average South Asian has only
reducing carbon emissions. economic interests, quite often at one-20th of a vote).
the expense of everyone else.
Luckily, it is not too late. We can Not only is there minority control
still prevent deforestation, restore Nowhere is this problem more over global economic
ruined ecosystems and manage apparent than when it comes to policymaking, there is also a clear
our lands in a way that not only the distribution of power in the racial imbalance at play: on
increase productivity but also World Bank and the International average, the votes of people of
protect the lives and livelihoods of Monetary Fund (IMF), two of the colour are worth only a fraction of
Indigenous populations. By key institutions that govern global their counterparts. If this was the
listening to scientists and working economic policy. We might expect case in any particular country, we
together we came a long way in that representation in these would be outraged. We would call
defeating COVID-19. We now need institutions would be modelled it apartheid. Yet a form of
to use the lessons we learned along the lines of the United apartheid operates right at the
during this pandemic to tackle the Nations General Assembly, or heart of international economic
climate emergency. perhaps calculated according to governance today, and has come
population. But in reality, they are to be accepted as “normal”.
Published in The Al Jazeera deeply undemocratic.
In some cases, the differences
The problem starts at the top. The between countries are particularly
Apartheid in leaders of the World Bank and the striking. Take Bangladesh and

the World Bank

IMF are not elected, but are Nigeria, both of which were
nominated by the US and Europe. British colonies. In the IMF, a
and the IMF According to an unspoken
agreement, the president of the
British person’s vote today is
worth 41 times more than a
World Bank has always been from Bangladeshi’s vote, and 23 times
Most people assume that the US, while the president of the more than a Nigerian’s vote. And
inequality between the global IMF has always been European. this is the 21st century; many
South and the global North (the decades after the end of colonial
United States, Western Europe, Moreover, voting power in these rule.
Japan, Canada and Australia) has institutions is skewed heavily in
been declining over the past few favour of rich countries. The US The inequalities that characterise
decades. After all, colonialism is has de facto veto power over all voting power in the World Bank
behind us, and surely poorer significant decisions, and together and the IMF have their roots in
countries are gradually “catching with the rest of the G7 and the the colonial period. After all, these
up” to richer ones. But, oddly European Union controls well over institutions were founded in 1944.
enough, exactly the opposite has half of the vote in both agencies. Countries that were colonies at

www.nearpeer.org 55
CSS Magazine Edition 5

the time (like India) were years. These programmes – economic governance.
integrated into the system on focused on privatisation, austerity,
unequal terms, subordinated to and forced market liberalisation – Published in The Al Jazeera
their colonisers. Other colonies have created lucrative profit
were not allowed to join until after opportunities for multinational
independence, in some cases well companies, but have had a Assad’s Syria Is
Starving Like
into the 1970s and 80s. These devastating effect on the South:
institutions were designed under during the 1980s and 90s, they
colonialism and they remain in key
respects colonial in character.
caused incomes to decline and
poverty to rise, and in some cases
Saddam’s Iraq
triggered decades of recession
Voting power in the World Bank is and stagnation. To this day they Thirty-year-old Ayman fled
allocated according to each continue to have a negative Damascus, Syria, for Beirut at the
country’s financial shares. In the impact on health outcomes, beginning of the Syrian civil war.
IMF, it is primarily according to including infant and maternal Over the last year, while Lebanon’s
gross domestic product (GDP), mortality. Such ruinous policies economy collapsed and it became
with some consideration also would never be acceptable under harder for him to find work, the
given to a country’s “market democratic principles. conflict back home seemed to be
openness”. As a result, the subsiding. So he called several of
countries that became rich during There have long been calls by civil his friends, all living in
the colonial period now enjoy society and political leaders in the regime-controlled territory, to
disproportionate power when it global South to democratise the inquire if it was time to return.
comes to determining the rules of World Bank and the IMF. At They were unequivocal. “They
the global economy. Inequality minimum, critics have argued that said, ‘Stay wherever you are,
begets inequality. the leaders of these institutions there’s not even enough to eat
should be elected in a transparent here,’” Ayman said, on condition of
Defenders of this system argue process. And they have called for a anonymity because of security
that this is a legitimate approach: “double majority” system such concerns.
it makes sense, they say, that that significant decisions should
bigger economies should have require not only shareholder During the nine-year civil war,
more power over decisions related majorities but also member-state much of Syria’s infrastructure was
to the global economy. majorities. This would ensure that destroyed by the blind bombing of
global South countries have a the regime and its Russian allies,
But think of the implications of fairer say in the decisions that as well as front-line fighting. Food
this claim. In any national political affect them, and power to block production, power generation,
system, we would reject the harmful policies. and other industries fell by the
notion that rich people should wayside. Syria’s economy,
have more voting power than poor For decades, these demands have tethered to Lebanon’s, hobbled on
people, and more influence over fallen on deaf ears. But this year for a while. However, early this
economic policy decisions. We they received a boost from the UN year, as Lebanon’s monetary
would see this as corrupt and Secretary-General António policy unraveled and capital
morally repulsive. And yet such Guterres, who, while giving a controls were imposed to avoid a
plutocracy is normalised in the lecture for the Nelson Mandela run on the banks, billions of
World Bank and the IMF. Foundation, called for democratic dollars of deposits by Syrian
reform of voting power at the businesses were also blocked.
These imbalances in voting power World Bank and the IMF. This Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
help explain why the World Bank represents an historic opening, claims Lebanese banks hold at
and the IMF have been able to and campaigners should seize it. If least $20 billion of Syrians’
impose neoliberal structural we want to have a shot at a fairer earnings, which, if they were
adjustment programmes across global economy, we need to start accessible, would resolve the
the global South over the past 40 by decolonising the institutions of Syrian economic crisis all at once.

www.nearpeer.org 56
CSS Magazine Edition 5

The currencies of Lebanon’s now live below the poverty line. paying for Syrian reconstruction,
neighbors plummeted Desperation to make ends meet including of infrastructure like
simultaneously as prices of basic has caused a concomitant rise in power plants and irrigation
commodities skyrocketed, in Syria crime. Gangs smuggling systems that are necessary for the
by more than 200 percent. Life contraband, guns, and drugs, as country’s food security and daily
became hard for the Lebanese, well as kidnapping people for life, will end up strengthening the
but harder still for war-ravaged ransom, are running amok in regime’s oppression. They say
Syrians. several parts of the country. they have no intention of letting
Assad succeed in that, at least not
Images of hundreds of Syrians Whilst this is all deeply linked to unless he makes significant
lining up outside bakeries for decades of corruption, concessions. Moreover, the West
subsidized bread and parked for mismanagement, and a brutal is worried that Assad may simply
hours on end at fuel stations pulverization of rebel-held siphon off the funds, as he has
flooded social media. Residents territory, some critics say that the allegedly done with a large
complained of the worst food and crises are also a result of portion of the humanitarian aid
fuel crisis ever in their country. America’s sectoral sanctions. already sent for the war-afflicted.
“Power cuts make it near
impossible for businesses to A troubling comparison is being But others say that sanctions
operate,” said one of Ayman’s made: whether sanctions will be cannot reform an incorrigible
friends from Damascus. “Fuel is as cruel and self-defeating in Syria dictator and are merely punishing
too expensive to run generators.” as they were in Iraq two decades the Syrian people. They posit that,
ago. The numbers are disputed, as in Iraq, the Syrian population is
According to the World Food but according to one study half a bearing the brunt of sanctions
Program, 9.3 million Syrians are million children were said to have while Assad and his cronies are
unsure where their next meal is died in Iraq as a result of U.S.-led facing neither food nor fuel
coming from, an increase of sanctions. Saddam Hussein shortages. They assert that it is
around 1.4 million in the first six remained as dictatorial as ever naive for the United States to
months of the year. Moreover, and was ousted after years of expect Assad to hold war
northeast Syria, the country’s suffering only when the United criminals accountable, as he can
breadbasket, is under the control States attacked with its military. hardly be expected to indict
of the United States’ Kurdish allies himself. Their argument is that
the Syrian Democratic Forces, The aim of this year’s Caesar the United States must reverse its
which are yet to come to an sanctions, named after the police maximum pressure policy and
agreement with the regime on defector who fled Syria with the institute stage-by-stage waivers
grain supply. Once a wheat evidence of the killing of on sanctions that it would be
exporter, Syria had become partly thousands of Syrians in state-run ready to provide in return for
dependent on supplies from prisons, is likewise to compel the delivery of more pragmatic
Russia, but even that aid failed Syrian regime to change its demands.
when Moscow reduced flour sales behavior toward its people from
abroad to maintain reserves at “murderous” to more Bente Scheller, the head of the
home during the uncertain times accommodating. Senior Western Middle East and North Africa
of the coronavirus pandemic. diplomats have told Foreign Policy Division at the Heinrich Böll
Furthermore, U.S. sanctions on oil on many occasions that sanctions Foundation, said there was no
and gas meant only Iranian crude are the West’s last leverage disagreement on targeted
found its way to Syria. Lack of that against Assad to pressure him to sanctions against Assad’s cronies
basic resource has had a ripple release political prisoners, ensure but that America’s sectoral
effect on the agriculture and the safe return of refugees, and sanctions were having a negative
energy sectors, also impacting agree to a political reconciliation impact on ordinary people. “U.S.
local businesses. that, if carried out sincerely, sanctions are based on a
would eventually mean him ‘maximum pressure’ logic,” she
More than 80 percent of Syrians leaving power. They insist that said. “This is why they include

www.nearpeer.org 57
CSS Magazine Edition 5

sectoral sanctions, while only in a

second step listing individuals.
they could sell to survive.”
How Will Iran
[European Union] sanctions have In Syria, even anti-regime Syrians React to
Another
been largely targeted: They are beginning to say that sectoral
consist of travel bans on regime sanctions in the oil and gas and
officials and proxies based on construction sectors hurt the
High-Profile
Assassination?
their respective role in human people more than the regime. In
rights violations. Sectoral Quneitra, southern Syria,
sanctions such as against Syrian 29-year-old father of three Abu
banks curb the regime’s abilities Mishal said that he could rarely
Last Friday, Iran announced that
to purchase goods from outside. afford diesel, so to keep his family
an important player in its security
Humanitarian and medical goods warm this winter he was burning
apparatus had been killed. The
are clearly exempted—Syrian civil garbage, plastic, and dung.
target of the attack was Mohsen
society has pointed out, however, “Sanctions have made goods more
Fakhrizadeh, a key architect of the
that over-compliance is affecting expensive for ordinary Syrians. I
country’s nuclear weapons
them.” don’t think that the Syrian regime
program known as Project Amad
officials and their families are
that ended in 2003 (though
Aron Lund, a Syria specialist with going to sleep hungry or cold,”
elements of it continued for a few
the Swedish Defence Research Abu Mishal said. “In my opinion,
years after). Fakhrizadeh’s death
Agency, said both the U.S. and EU the regime and its mafia also used
marks the second time this year
sanctions came with exemptions the sanctions as an excuse to raise
that a foreign adversary
for humanitarian activities and prices and exploit poor people
successfully targeted and killed a
legitimate civilian trade. However, more and more.”
major Iranian figure: In January,
businesses tended to fear having
the United States killed Qassem
anything to do with a country Faced with an obstinate and
Suleimani, the commander of the
under sanctions, simply because it intransigent Assad, the United
Islamic Revolutionary Guard
was too complicated to States faces an impossible
Corps (IRGC) Quds Force—the
understand the rules and they did conundrum. Former U.S.
unit responsible for designing and
not want to take any risks. President Barack Obama did not
implementing much of the
“Companies avoid even repeat an Iraq-style war that
country’s proxy strategy.
permissible trade, simply to stay would oust Assad but commit the
clear of risks and legal hassle,” he United States to yet another
Unlike Suleimani, Fakhrizadeh was
said. “When international banks or country for the foreseeable future.
not a household name in Iran,
shipping companies decide that The Syrian question remains
much less outside of the country.
navigating the sanctions system unresolved nonetheless. Nine
In fact, until recently, very few
just isn’t worth the trouble, it years on, Obama’s vice president,
photos of Fakhrizadeh had been
makes imports difficult and costly President-elect Joe Biden,
made public. However, the two
across the board.” confronts a different challenge:
men were similar in that they
how to stop starvation in Syria
were both senior officers in the
Zahraa Matr is a 55-year-old and help people resurrect their
IRGC and instrumental to key
woman nicknamed Zahraa Dollars lives while not benefiting Assad.
projects undertaken by the
in Iraq. She smuggled dollars The guilty feelings of his former
regime. Suleimani expanded and
inside the country at the peak of colleagues in the Obama
institutionalized Iran’s network of
the sanctions against Saddam and administration, who watched the
nonstate allies and partners that
remembers the hard times. “Kids Syrian war devolve into chaos,
has underpinned its regional
started to die because of the lack would urge him to take a keen
strategy, while Fakhrizadeh helped
of medicines and medical supplies interest. How far up the incoming
develop the country’s nuclear
at the hospitals during the president’s list of priorities Syria
capabilities. Their deaths are
sanction years,” she said. “People will be another matter.
symbolic and important blows to
sold their belongings like
Iran, and highlight the country’s
furniture, metal—anything else Published in The Foreign Policy
vulnerability.

www.nearpeer.org 58
CSS Magazine Edition 5

After Fakhrizadeh’s death, Iranian action. This presents Iran with a passengers and crew onboard and
officials were quick to attribute dilemma. then sought to cover up the error.
the attack to one of their chief This tragic incident was deeply
adversaries: Israel. Jerusalem is Tehran has an incentive to avoid embarrassing for the Iranian
also believed to have been behind appearing weak. The country has armed forces, which proved not
an explosion at the Natanz been hit successfully and only incapable of protecting a top
nuclear facility—which is repeatedly over the course of military commander but also
currently housing much of the 2020, against the backdrop of a killed innocent civilians by
country’s uranium enrichment pandemic its government has mistake—perhaps prompting them
program—this past summer. Israel struggled to contain. In addition to exercise some restraint in the
has a history of targeting the to the assassination of two months that followed.
nuclear programs of rivals, high-profile Iranian figures this
including Iran’s. It has reportedly year and the Natanz explosion, the But now, with U.S. and Israeli
assassinated nuclear scientists United States and Israel appear to pressure mounting, the Iranian
and conducted cyberattacks in the have killed al Qaeda’s leadership may find it more
hopes of setting back Tehran’s second-in-command, Abu difficult to sustain its relative
nuclear advances over the past Muhammad al-Masri, in Tehran in restraint. Iran’s leaders may view a
decade. In 2011, an explosion killed August. And the Trump failure to act as a sign of weakness
the architect of a third key pillar administration continues to to adversaries, inviting more
of Iran’s national defense, Hassan expand the list of sanctioned covert operations and even an
Tehrani-Moghaddam, another Iranian individuals and entities to attack on their country. After all,
member of the IRGC, who had exert pressure on Iran, and to President Donald Trump was
helped develop the country’s complicate the Biden-Harris reportedly considering
missile program. Israel appeared administration’s return to the 2015 conducting an attack on Natanz
implicated. nuclear deal—from which Trump but was dissuaded from doing so
withdrew in 2018. by his advisors. There would also
Israeli operations in Iran have also be domestic costs to inaction. The
included intelligence gathering. In Iran’s response to these events paranoid regime routinely uses
2018, Israeli intelligence seized an has been calculated and force, arbitrarily detains, and
archive of documents pertaining calibrated. It has tried to balance tortures individuals it often falsely
to Iran’s past nuclear weapon two potentially conflicting accuses of spying for adversaries
work, which shed more light on objectives: avoiding leaving these all the while failing to even
the activities led by Fakhrizadeh. actions unanswered while protect a valued regime insider on
In fact, while presenting the refraining from escalating its own soil.
archive to the public two years tensions even further, potentially
ago, Israel’s Prime Minister, inviting direct military action by Already, some Iranian officials are
Benjamin Netanyahu, noted the United States. In doing so, arguing that the nation must act
Fakhrizadeh’s importance and said Iran has had some embarrassing to retaliate for this attack and
to “remember that name.” failures: In January, shortly after deter potential future ones.
Suleimani’s death, Iran struck two Others are noting that a return to
That Israel has been so successful bases in Iraq that house U.S. the nuclear deal under these
in conducting such sophisticated forces. circumstances only further
operations on Iranian soil—going strengthens the hands of its
as far as allegedly hitting a This step was meant to be the first enemies. This is in tension with
high-profile target identified of several, designed to restore the other objective harbored by
publicly by Netanyahu in the deterrence and retaliate for the the Iranian system: Preventing
countryside outside of targeting of one of Iran’s most further escalation until Jan. 20,
Tehran—exposes once again the important military commanders. 2021, when President-Elect Joe
failure of the Iranian regime’s However, the IRGC then Biden will be sworn in and likely
internal security and the country’s accidentally shot down a position Washington to return to
vulnerability to foreign covert Ukrainian airliner, killing all 176 the nuclear deal in some form. As

www.nearpeer.org 59
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Henry Rome and I argued in Regardless of how Iran decides to should it decide to resume pursuit
Foreign Policy in September, retaliate between now and of the bomb.
“Despite extraordinary steps to inauguration day, none of its
stabilize the stock market and short-term options are risk-free. Fakhrizadeh’s killing on Iranian
cover the budget deficit, Iran’s And if such incidents continue to soil is a significant blow to the
economic situation in not occur in the 50 remaining days of government. No matter how
sustainable. The regime can the Trump presidency, they could Tehran chooses to respond, the
almost certainly not risk the drag Iran down a path it would second- and third-order effects
return of widespread protests as it prefer not to take. In the medium could be far more significant,
falters further.” term, Tehran may become less leading to a hardened line if and
inclined to negotiate meaningful when the country agrees to build
If Iran were to retaliate for limits to other areas of on the nuclear deal as envisioned
Fakhrizadeh’s killing or attempt to concern—including its missile by Biden. More worrying yet, Iran
restore deterrence, it would program and support for may decide that it should scale up
almost certainly do so in a proxies—which Biden promised on the very activities the Trump
deliberate and calibrated manner. the campaign trail his administration has sought to
It would likely choose options that administration would seek to prevent with its maximum
afford it some level of plausible curtail. In the long term, Iranian pressure campaign, including a
deniability, as it so often leaders may come to the renewed decision to pursue a
does—including cyber operations conclusion that their country nuclear weapon.
and attacks via proxies. However, needs a nuclear weapon to deter
it still risks provoking a chain adversaries from undertaking Published in The Foreign Policy
reaction. Israel could choose to such actions in the future
respond in kind and any such regardless of the costs associated
move could further complicate a with it. Post-Covid
world order
U.S. return to the nuclear
agreement, potentially denying Some Israeli observers contend
Iran much-needed economic
relief. In such a scenario, Iran’s
that taking out Fakhrizadeh will
make it harder for Iran to succeed
and geopolitics
so-called strategic patience over in building a nuclear deterrent.
The coronavirus pandemic has
the past two years would have Fakhrizadeh’s leadership and
highlighted the dismal state of the
been for naught. knowledge were no doubt critical.
global order. It can be seen that
But this line of reasoning
nations have regressed into
Moreover, Trump has proven to overestimates the importance of a
narrow selfish policies, and the
be an unpredictable and erratic single individual—regardless of
tenet of rule-based international
decision-maker. After Iran-backed how instrumental and influential
order has been negated complete-
Shiite militias in Iraq killed an he may have once been—in the
ly. The primary focus of the world
American in December, he development of Iran’s nuclear
powers is to acquire hegemony in
ordered the killing of Suleimani program. It also ignores the
the post-pandemic world, instead
and his Iraqi deputy, Abu Mahdi myriad institutions and
of finding solutions to the univer-
al-Muhandis. Just months later, in organizations involved in Iran’s
sal challenges.
March, these forces killed two U.S. nuclear decision-making and the
service members and a British development of its overt civil
With this situation, we can envis-
soldier. The U.S. response was nuclear program and covert
age a collapse of the post-WWII
muted. With just weeks to go weapons-related activities. Finally,
liberal international order. The
before he leaves office, the it misunderstands one of
US-China rivalry is festering to
Iranians could choose to wait for Fakhrizadeh’s most important
the point of becoming irredeem-
Trump to depart from the White legacies for the regime: helping
able. Global institutions are
House or to humiliate him on his build its nuclear infrastructure
incapable of addressing the crisis
way out. and creating and preserving
and the politicised WHO is losing
know-how it could later use
its credibility.

www.nearpeer.org 60
CSS Magazine Edition 5

The international image of the international arena. Providing the world wrecked by economic
world’s main superpower is medical assistance to developing difficulties and unemployment will
deteriorating at an alarming pace. countries was a laudable measure. be a breeding ground for xeno-
The incompetent US governance China’s commendable response phobia, and unfortunately, we may
in averting the burgeoning has undermined the notion that see a rise in populism and repres-
Covid-19 cases and deaths, soar- democracy is the best form of sive regimes placing democracy
ing xenophobia and racism; and governance and has shown that it and pluralism at stake.
polarised population has sabo- is the people’s belief in the state
taged its hegemonic position and that matters. Published in The Express Tribune.
challenged its democratic govern-

OIC resolution
ing model. Meanwhile, China, a Covid-19 will determine the rise
Communist state, has done much and fall of nations. It is also a
better than the US. contest to determine which type
of governance will prove the most
on Kashmir
The American model of democra- resilient. A clear display of China’s
cy is no more idealised. Trump’s soft power is pivotal in the geopo- After days of confusion over
move to withdraw funding from litical scenario, which may accel- whether or not the Organisation
WHO, and his botched attempt at erate the shift in power from the of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
rebranding coronavirus as the West to the East. would take up the Kashmir issue,
“China virus” depicted his intran- the actual meeting brought about
sigent attitude. Trump’s decisions In the case of geopolitics, while a resolution in favour of the
have led the US to a state of the global liberal order is being people of the disputed region and
catastrophic affairs, from where threatened, nationalism and in line with Pakistan’s position.
its rise to its pre-pandemic status populism in the wake of Covid-19 The OIC rejected the Modi
is very much improbable. are leading the situation towards government’s aggressive efforts to
Economic recession caused by debilitating affairs. World powers change the region’s legal and
Covid-19 will shape a new role for have been exposed at the time of political status and its efforts at
the US — and a new world order. need. Dereliction of war-torn undermining the demographics of
countries and inclination towards the disputed territory by revoking
In contrast, China will continue its selfish policies, ruptured global the articles of the Indian
stability and predictability in the supply chains, a re-assessment of constitution that grants it special
area of economic growth from the interconnected global economy status. Beyond rejecting India’s
Asian periphery, post-pandemic. and reservations of medical flurry of illegal moves being made
Petro-yawn diplomacy in the oil supplies for domestic use have since August 2019, the meeting of
market; BRI projects; investment undermined globalisation and the foreign ministers of the OIC
in Asian countries; developments manifested the accentuation of member countries — held in
in the South China Sea and nationalism. Niamey, Niger — also called on the
technological shifts are leading country to cancel the domicile
China to another level. Aiming at We are on the cusp of a new world certificates issued to
countering Western hegemonic order in which forces hindering non-Kashmiris, withdraw
powerhouses, particularly the US, globalisation are boosting nation- amendments to landownership
China is a counterbalance as it alism and regionalism. Multilater- laws, and refrain from other legal
formulates a strong apparatus for alism and global corporation are attempts to change the area’s
domestic supply chains and likely to face a serious setback. Muslim majority, and indeed,
logistic support through Advanced economies will be busy Kashmiri majority status. It also
approaching the calibrated repairing damages at home and called for previous efforts at
approach both nationally and the problems of developing demographic restructuring to be
internationally. Its decisive countries will get less attention. cancelled.
response towards Covid-19 and Hence, we might see a decline in
soft power diplomacy have activities of international develop- The 57-member Muslim bloc also
heightened its stature in the ment and cooperation. Similarly, condemned Indian human rights

www.nearpeer.org 61
CSS Magazine Edition 5

abuses in the region, going after observers on the conditions in the third-largest economy, one-upped
Indian state terrorism in the region and to allow OIC monitors Beijing by pledging to do the same
strongest terms. This included to complete their own report. thing, but 10 years earlier. And in
extrajudicial killings of innocent New Delhi has previously tried to early November, the American
civilians through fake encounters rubbish independent people elected Joe Biden
and other operations and investigations, including UN president on by far the most
collective punishment such as the reports, mainly getting away with ambitious climate policy platform
practice of razing private it due to the lack of unity among ever put forward by the world’s
property, including residential the international community. largest economy.
units. India’s treatment of women
in areas under its illegal Pakistan cannot let the world stop Less encouragingly, the same
occupation was also criticised. It’s paying attention to India’s abuses period also brought an
no secret that rape is used as a in the region. In that regard, the unrelenting stream of bad news
weapon of war in the occupied OIC’s resolution is undoubtedly a on the state of the world’s climate:
territory. The meeting also win. Unfortunately, the incumbent In September scientists reported
slammed India’s continued use of Indian regime has shown little that two of Antarctica’s largest
pellet guns, the blinding impact of regard for international criticism, glaciers were close to collapse,
which we have all seen. even in its most well-reasoned threatening several meters of
Thousands of people have been forms. This leaves Pakistan in a additional sea level rise; in early
deprived of sight by the use of situation where it must also October five tropical cyclones
pellet guns by Indian occupation dramatically increase its efforts to formed in the Atlantic Ocean for
forces. push world leaders to use their only the second time in recorded
power and influence to help the history; and just weeks later came
The OIC also noted how even the Kashmiris get their right to the heartbreaking report that half
Covid-19 pandemic was not self-determination. Otherwise, the Great Barrier Reef’s corals
enough to weaken India’s focus on wins such as the one last week will have died off just since 1995.
abusing Kashmiris’ rights. Indeed, mean little to the people who
if not for the basket case that is must endure India’s reign of This mixed picture leaves the
Donald Trump’s America, India is terror. world standing at a familiar
the worst-affected country in the crossroads. In the face of
world in terms of Covid-19 cases, rapidly-accumulating evidence of
Published in The Express Tribune.
and yet, it appears that the an impending climate catastrophe,
Bharatiya Janata Party’s the world’s major economies,

The New
government still places a higher buoyed by political change in the
priority on abusing Kashmiris United States, look ready to finally
than saving its citizens’ lives. The
meeting had a consensus that
Geopolitics of take serious steps to cut
greenhouse gas emissions. But
elections in the occupied Kashmir Climate there have been false hopes
are illegitimate because they are
being held under foreign
Change before, in the mid-1990s, when
the U.S., then the world’s largest
occupation. This critique also emitter, declined to ratify the
For the world’s climate activists,
covered India’s consistent efforts Kyoto Protocol; in the late 2000s,
the last half of 2020 has been both
to block Kashmiris from when major climate legislation
the best and the worst of times.
exercising their right to stalled in the U.S. Congress; and in
Even as the pandemic raged, at
self-determination by trying to the mid-2010s, when the
the September meeting of the
exclude them entirely from any conclusion of the Paris Agreement
United Nations General Assembly
attempts at resolving the dispute. failed to shift policy and markets
Chinese leader Xi Jinping
as much as its architects hoped, in
unexpectedly pledged to make the
India was also asked by the OIC part because the U.S. once again
world’s second-largest economy
foreign ministers the follow up on took a hard political turn against
carbon neutral by 2060. Weeks
reports by the United Nations’ climate action and dismantled its
later, Japan, the world’s
climate policy.

www.nearpeer.org 62
CSS Magazine Edition 5

Will this time be different? fickle domestic politics have returned vast swathes of disputed
historically been the fulcrum on territory to Baku’s control. How-
In one very important respect, the which international climate plans ever, while many commentators
answer is clearly yes. Each teetered, they now turn on the have cited Turkey’s support for
previous period of hope for world’s reaction to the rise of Azerbaijan, it is also important to
ambitious climate action China. acknowledge the wider support
depended on the United States’ given to Baku by its other major
willingness to back international Published in The Diplomat. ally, Pakistan.
cooperation on climate change,
and a robust regulatory regime to As soon as the Russian-brokered
underpin it. This time, though, is The peace deal came to light, Pakistan
decidedly different. Ambitious
climate action, like Beijing’s and
Nagorno-Karab issued a statement congratulating
the “brotherly people of Azerbai-
Tokyo’s seemingly dueling carbon akh Conflict: jan on the liberation of their
pledges, is increasingly driven not
by a vision of cooperation, but one Diplomatic territories.” The press release
went one step further, saying
of geopolitical competition. This Repercussions Pakistan hoped for a period of

for Pakistan
conceptual shift is matched by a “stability and prosperity” and that
tactical one: Instead of an Azerbaijan’s victory “will pave the
emphasis on domestic regulatory way for the return of internally
sticks to drive down greenhouse displaced people to their ancestral
Armenia and Azerbaijan each
gas emissions, the focus is moving lands,” a clear statement of
claim a historical and religious
to one more focused on carrots to support for Azerbaijan’s historic
connection to the region of
promote technological innovation right to Nagorno-Karabakh.
Nagorno-Karabakh. The Armenian
and development – the better to Pakistan has repeatedly supported
claim rests on the fact the territo-
compete with would-be rivals. Azerbaijan’s position on the
ry was part of a larger medieval
dispute at the United Nations and
Christian Armenian polity, whose
The world still needs a healthy other international forums. While
borders far exceeded the bound-
dose of cooperation and its support for Azerbaijan is hardly
aries of modern day Armenia.
regulation to tackle climate surprising, the diplomatic reper-
Azerbaijan also claims a historical
change. But the new geopolitics cussions for Islamabad may be
connection to the land, arguing
that now shape climate policy far-reaching.
the territory was frequently
offers renewed hope that this
invaded and ruled by Muslim
time, major economies might Many Armenians believed their
Ottoman Turks throughout the
finally produce a durable plan to former patron, Russia, would
late medieval and early modern
tackle the climate crisis. These provide substantial military
period. Since the breakup of the
new dynamics are especially support to the Armenian separat-
Soviet Union, the two countries
important given the accelerating ist forces in Nagorno-Karabakh,
have fought a number of times
impacts of climate change, which citing the dangerous role Turkey
over the region, which is largely
make it increasingly clear the was playing in the conflict.
recognized as part of Azerbaijan
world will not only have to slash Russia’s decision not to intervene
but has been occupied by Armenia
its carbon emissions, but militarily in the conflict, and its
for decades.
eventually take more carbon refusal to send fighters to the
dioxide out of the atmosphere disputed enclave, is the result of a
In the most recent conflict
than it puts in. complex web of diplomatic rela-
between Baku and Yerevan,
tionships in the region. Among
Turkey’s military and political
In another key break with the those factors is the recent
support was vital and contributed
past, it’s now China, not the strengthening of ties between
to a number of Azerbaijani
United States, that stands at the Moscow and Islamabad. Pakistan
military victories. These victories
center of the new geopolitics of and Russia have conducted joint
eventually culminated in a
climate change. While America’s military drills and the South Asian
Russia-backed peace deal, which

www.nearpeer.org 63
CSS Magazine Edition 5

nation participated in recent war peace deals with Arab Muslim India and a father from Jamaica,
games hosted by Russia. Pakistan states, including the UAE and who had surpassed countless
could be an important partner for Bahrain, may potentially bring obstacles and made history.
Russia, particularly given that the Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Women wept in the audience and
two can play an active role in Khan closer to establishing formal at home as Harris delivered her
settling regional disputes, includ- diplomatic relations with Israel. In most memorable line, “I may be
ing in Afghanistan. The fact that fact, just this month, Khan said he the first woman in this office, but I
Pakistan’s recent statement was “under pressure” to recognize will not be the last.”
acknowledged Russia’s role in Israel. The fact that the two sides
ending the fighting is a subtle nod also support a common ally in the In South Asia, where women’s
to Moscow’s importance to Caucasus could act to bring them successes are, as a matter of habit
Pakistan and the wider region. closer together. and routine, looked at with
scepticism, there was less excite-
Russia may also have wanted to Peace has been re-established in ment. Some Indians immediately
avoid upsetting another of its the Caucasus for now and Paki- tried to claim her, not because she
South Asian allies. Whilst playing a stan can stand to benefit in many represents the potential of Indian
delicate balancing act between ways, not only by strengthening women, but because she may
Azerbaijan and Armenia, Iran still its relationship with Azerbaijan, deliver up choice tidbits of
issued frequent statements of but also by using the conflict as a concessions to the Modi adminis-
support for Baku, with supreme springboard to further the tration. Many Muslims took the
leader Ali Khamenei arguing that Russia-Pakistan détente, as well as bait and immediately began to
“Azerbaijan has the right to raising the tantalizing prospects critique and denounce Harris
liberate its occupied territories.” of closer relations with Israel. based on vague connections and
The diplomatic fallout for Russia While Nagorno-Karabakh is over support for Israel.
from supporting Armenia would 2,000 kilometers from Pakistan’s
have potentially upset its relation- borders, its conflicts may have a Neither, of course, are correct;
ship with its firm ally Iran and also lasting effect on Pakistan’s diplo- unlike many other Indian-Ameri-
threatened to destabilize the macy. can candidates (Tulsi Gabbard, for
recent détente with Pakistan. example), she was not close to the
Perhaps this is one of the reasons Published in The Diplomat pro-Modi diaspora Indian com-
President Vladimir Putin decided munity.

Kamala fever
to remain neutral in the conflict.
Kamala Harris, like Barack Obama
It is also important to note Israel’s before her, is an expression of the
support for Baku, raising the amalgam of cultures, languages
ON Nov 7, 2020, an ebullient
prospect of a reset between Tel and diaspora that is America
Kamala Harris took the stage as
Aviv and Islamabad, particularly today. Her mother, Shyamala,
the first woman and the first
given their shared support for arrived in the United States at 19
woman of colour to be elected
Azerbaijan. During the recent to pursue a PhD. Soon after, she
vice president of the United
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, met and married Harris’s father, a
States. Her history-making
the Israeli-made IAI Harop drone Jamaican immigrant. When the
speech, delivered at the end of a
was reportedly deployed to marriage ended, Shyamala decid-
long and trying week in America
devastating effect against Arme- ed to raise her daughters on her
(and much of the world), will
nian forces. Israel’s support was own, and that is exactly what she
undoubtedly be quoted widely.
solidified after the country’s did, working all the while as a
Harris’s candidacy and her victory
ambassador to Azerbaijan visited cancer researcher.
represent for Americans, and for
the city of Ganja to offer his
others around the world, the
condolences to civilian victims of The election of Harris reiterates
power of possibility.
Armenian rocket attacks. Their that immigrants are not the
shared support for Azerbaijan, despicable interloping outsiders
Here was a child of immigrant
combined with Israel’s recent Trump has made them out to be
parents, a mother from South
In her daughters, she instilled a

www.nearpeer.org 64
CSS Magazine Edition 5

tireless work ethic, a himself or herself running for questions of skin colour or sect or
tough-as-nails sense of fortitude president. It is possible, given this whatever else are being tran-
and the belief that they could view, that Kamala Harris’s speech scended. Connectivity enables
overcome any obstacles in their was the beginning of her cam- exchanges within an instant, and
way. After graduating from high paign for 2024. She is already the yet the Pakistani woman who may
school, Harris went to Howard first female vice president; she be a lawyer or doctor or scientist
University, one of the historically may soon be president of the has to worry about whether her
black colleges and universities, United States. mother-in-law will be upset if she
before going on to law school. Her stays late at work in order to
career since has been a series of The positioning of immigrants finish an assignment.
firsts, from becoming the first within American political
woman of colour to serve as discourse has been tested in the Soon, the second most powerful
attorney general of the state of past four years. Led by his xeno- woman in the United States,
California, and then all the way to phobic and Islamophobic adviser arguably the world, will be a black
the vice presidency a mere four Stephen Miller, Trump has done and South Asian child of immi-
years after she was elected to the everything to undermine the grants. The issues and enthusiasm
Senate for the very first time. possibility of ‘becoming’ American. around this event have the power
The push to realise a white to galvanise and inspire women all
In Pakistan, girls are often told nationalist agenda has meant that around the world. Pakistani
that they, too, can be anything, the definition of American has women also need to think about
but this is far from the truth. been theoretically and visibly transcending barriers and break-
When Pakistan did elect a female reduced. ing ceilings. As Harris’s election
prime minister, she belonged to a reveals, over 200 years of history,
class of landed elite so powerful The election of Harris thus of obstacles and exclusions all in
that it rendered her gender an represents a retaking, a reitera- the favour of white men, can be
afterthought. In India, Priyanka tion, that immigrants are not the overcome if a woman and her
Gandhi is undertaking the family despicable interloping outsiders country come together.
business of politics along much Trump has made them out to be,
the same lines. but, as in the case of Harris’s own Published in Dawn
parents, are raising the future
Even in the United States, this leaders of the nation.
very nearly happened. Unlike
Kamala Harris, who is a truly It is hard not to want to wish for
Recognising
self-made woman, Hillary Clinton the existence of similar possibili- Israel
rode on the coattails of her ties in Pakistan. Structural prob-
husband, using her access to the lems, a male-dominated and THE planned futuristic Saudi city
presidency to make a political majoritarian society, the rapacious of Neom on the Red Sea coast was
career for herself. It would be constrictions presented as essen- the venue of the G20 virtual
correct to say that had it been tial by clerics all collude to make summit last week, but something
Hillary Clinton rather than Kamala this almost impossible. Ideas of of greater importance happened
Harris who broke the glass ceiling what a woman should be or must there on Sunday night that may
and was elected, it would be a less be revolve around clothing or mark a tectonic shift in regional
compelling case for the power of a piety or domesticity such that the geopolitics. The reported covert
self-made woman. women who do want to do some- meeting between the Israeli prime
thing more, rise above and lead, minister and Saudi Crown Prince
Given the age of President-elect are left to sob amid the wreckage Mohammed bin Salman is seen as
Joe Biden, it is entirely possible of their dreams. the most significant move yet
that he will choose not to run for towards the recognition of Israel
a second term. Even before Harris Pakistan must change. The by the kingdom.
was selected, there were plenty of achievements of other women in
rumors about how Biden’s vice other countries reveal a bold new While the Saudi foreign minister
presidential candidate would find world where the primordial has denied that any such meeting

www.nearpeer.org 65
CSS Magazine Edition 5

took place, some Israeli officials Palestinians. Meanwhile, Jared publication of news and articles
have confirmed that Prime Minis- Kushner’s peace plan succeeded about Israel.
ter Benjamin Netanyahu and the in persuading the UAE and
head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency Bahrain to recognize their secret With Egypt and Jordan having
had flown to Saudi Arabia on liaison with Israel. Trump’s recognized the Jewish state a long
Sunday night. There have been son-in-law is seen as the architect time ago, there are now fewer
reports of informal contacts of the Trumpian Middle East Middle Eastern Muslim countries
between the two countries in the policy. that have not ended their boycott
past, but it would be the first of Israel. A major justification
direct interaction at the highest The expected recognition of Israel given by the UAE for formalising
official level. by Saudi Arabia would certainly be its relations has been that it could
the biggest coup for the maverick stop Israel from establishing new
Many analysts believe that it is a president. It is true that Riyadh for settlements in the occupied
just a matter of time before the long had maintained secret territory, but there is no indica-
two sides establish diplomatic contacts with Israel, but they tion of Netanyahu agreeing to any
relations. The kingdom has became more pronounced with such demand.
already blessed the recognition of the rise of the ambitious crown
the Jewish state by the UAE, prince who has developed a Normalisation of ties with Israel
Bahrain and Sudan. The develop- special relationship with Trump without a two-state solution
ment may be seen as a diplomatic and Kushner. could further isolate Palestinians
triumph for outgoing US President and intensify conflict in the
Donald Trump, but it also illus- A major reason for their closeness Middle East. There is no likelihood
trates the fast-changing dynamics was Trump’s aggressive policy of any major change in American
of Middle East politics mainly towards Iran. Saudi Arabia, along policy in the region under the
resulting from Saudi-Iran rivalry. with Israel, was among the nations incoming Biden administration
who hailed Trump’s decision to except for the possibility of revival
Curiously, it is all happening as pull America out of the Iran of the Iran nuclear deal.
the government of Prime Minister nuclear deal. Trump had also
Netanyahu pursues a more ruth- looked on the other side of Saudi Surely any Saudi move to open up
less policy of expanding Jewish military intervention in Yemen. to Israel would be welcomed by
settlements into occupied Pales- Their mutual hostility towards the incoming US president who
tinian territory and annexing Iran has also been a major factor hails from the Democratic Party. It
them to Israel. Unstinted support in bringing Israel and Saudi Arabia remains to be seen whether the
from the Trump administration closer. new administration is able to
gave further impetus to Israeli persuade Israel to suspend the
expansionism. Trump not only Over the past few years, Riyadh establishment of new settlements
shifted the US embassy in Tel Aviv has been sending out signals that and its planned annexation of part
to Jerusalem but also approved it was ready for greater coopera- of the West Bank.
Israeli expansionism. tion with Israel. Mohammed bin
Salman has been quoted as saying The shifting sands of the Middle
In January this year, President that he didn’t consider Israel an East have also opened a discus-
Trump announced what he enemy. But the fear of a backlash sion on whether Pakistan should
described as the ‘deal of the from extremist elements stopped revisit its policy towards Israel. In
century’, which attempted to him from establishing open official a recent interview, Prime Minister
impose a one-sided ‘solution’ on relations with that country. The Imran Khan mentioned pressure
the Palestinians. It provided for absence of a public reaction from from some unspecified foreign
unilateral Israeli annexation of the UAE and Bahrain over their leaders to normalise relations
significant territory in the West recognition of Israel might have with the Jewish state. But the
Bank and all the settlements. It given him the confidence to break foreign ministry denied there was
virtually buried the two-state the taboo. In a marked shift, any suggestion to review Paki-
policy by further sidelining the Riyadh lifted restrictions on the stan’s policy.

www.nearpeer.org 66
CSS Magazine Edition 5

While the stated policy is that

there is no question of changing
the country’s stance without
Palestinians getting their rights,
there have been reports of
Pakistan maintaining covert
contacts with Israel as in the case
of the latter’s country’s military
help during the 1980s’ Afghan
resistance against the Soviets.

There had been some public

encounter between officials of the
two countries after 9/11, eg a brief
meeting between Khurshid Kasuri,
the then foreign minister, and his
Israeli counterpart in Istanbul in
September 2005. Israel hailed the
meeting as “historic and a huge
breakthrough”. But the event drew
criticism at home.

A major demonstration of Israel’s

desire to improve relations with
Pakistan was seen when Gen
Musharraf was invited to address
the American Jewish Congress
during his visit to New York in
September 2005. The military
ruler was greeted by a standing
ovation for initiating public
diplomatic contacts with Israel. A
moved Musharraf said he did not
expect a Pakistani leader “to be
greeted by this community with
this sort of ovation”.

Musharraf spoke about

Pakistan-Israel relations, and said
there was no natural enmity
between the two countries. But it
was not possible for him to
normalise relations with the
Jewish state without risking his
survival in power. Any move to
recognise Israel will be seen as a
betrayal to the Palestinian cause.

Published in Dawn

www.nearpeer.org 67
 CSS Magazine edition 5

Mcqs Compilation

68
CSS Magazine Edition 5

1. Which company on 15 August 2020 was C. India and Pakistan

ordered to sell all of its assets in the United D. China, India, and Nepal
States within 90 days?

A. WeChat 7. Which country on 24 June 2020 suspended visas

B. Lenovo including High-skilled tech workers visas for
C. Tiktok foreign workers?
D. Samsung
A. Sweden
B. Germany
2. Which country on 19 July 2020 launched its C. United States
first mission to Mars? D. United Kingdom

A. India
B. Malaysia 8. After two years with 2280 deaths, Ebola was
C. Iran finally declared “Over” on 25 June 2020 in
D. UAE
A. Kenya 
B. Niger 
3. Google has recently announced to invest C. Nigeria
____ in India. D. DR Congo

A. $5 billion
B. $10 billion  9. US President Donald Trump on 15 April 2020
C. $15 billion halted funding to
D. $20 billion
A. WTO
4. Currently, about how much world’s goods B. WHO
trade (by volume) is carried on ships? C. Cuba
D. Nigeria
A. 50%
B. 60%
C. 70% 10. The Paris agreement of the United Nations
D. 80% Framework Convention on Climate Change is to
limit global warming well below

5. Which country on 17 June 2020 launched A. 1.0 °C

“Operation Claw-Tiger” against Kurdish B. 1.5 °C
militants in Iraq? C. 2.0 °C
D. 2.5 °C
A. Iran
B. Turkey
C. Israel 11. ‘Aksai Chin’ is a disputed area between
D. United States
A. China and India
B. China and Pakistan
6. “Line of Actual Control (LAC)” is a disputed C. India and Pakistan
border-line between D. India and Nepal

A. China and India

B. China and Pakistan

www.nearpeer.org 69
CSS Magazine Edition 5

12. Who is current secretary general of the United 1. The name of the common mineral salt present in
Nations? sweat is:

A. Javier Perez de Cuellar A. Calcium Oxalate

B. Kofi Annan B. Potassium Sulphate
C. Ban-Ki-Moon C. Sodium Chloride
D. Antonio Guterres D. Iron Sulphide

13. The United Nations Framework Convention on 2. What is the chemical formula of sugar?
Climate Change deals with
A. C12H22O11
A. reduction in fossil fuel usage B. C6H12O6
B. CO2 emissions mitigation C. CH2OH
C. reduction in Uranium production D. None of these
D. greenhouse gases emissions mitigation

3. What is the chemical formula of glucose?

A. C12H22O11
B. C6H12O6

ANSWERS
C. CH2OH
D. None of these

1. C 2. D 3. B 4. Study of life in outer space is known as:

4. D 5. B 6. A A. Endobiology
B. Exobiology
7. C 8. D 9. B C. Enterobiology
D. Neobiology
10. C 11. A 12. D

13. D 5. The study of places and the relationship

between people and their environments is known
as:

A. Geography
B. Geology
C. History
D. None of these

6. The branch of astronomy that involves the

origin and evolution of the Universe, from the Big
Bang to today and on into the future is known as:

A. Ontology
B. Astrobiology
C. Cosmology
D. None of these

www.nearpeer.org 70
CSS Magazine Edition 5

7. Persons with following blood group are

considered to be universal recipient.

A. A+
B. B+
C. AB+
D. O+

8. Persons with following blood group are

considered to be universal donor.

A. AB+
B. A-
C. B+
D. O-

9. Which blood group can only receive blood

from the same blood group as itself?

A. AB-
B. B-
C. O-
D. A-

ANSWERS
1. C 2. A 3. B

4. B 5. A 6. C

7. C 8. D 9. C

www.nearpeer.org 71
72