Author Archives: Niaz Murtaza
21 hours ago
Changing trends
POLITICAL parties differ in a variety of ways, eg in their ideology, their leadership’s socio-economic background and their national or ethnic focus.
POLITICAL parties differ in a variety of ways, eg in their ideology, their leadership’s socio-economic background and their national or ethnic focus.
13th May, 2013
Evaluating poll credibility
CREDIBLE elections are the gateway to democratic governance. Election credibility depends upon the quality of their legal framework, management structures and implementation processes.
CREDIBLE elections are the gateway to democratic governance. Election credibility depends upon the quality of their legal framework, management structures and implementation processes.
5th May, 2013
Dealing with ex-dictators
DICTATORS deposed by death largely become subjects of historical work subsequently.
DICTATORS deposed by death largely become subjects of historical work subsequently.
19th April, 2013
As institutions mature
EXCEPT for some rollback of Taliban territorial gains, performance on immediate issues during 2008-2013 was largely poor even after accounting for the tough external environment…
EXCEPT for some rollback of Taliban territorial gains, performance on immediate issues during 2008-2013 was largely poor even after accounting for the tough external environment…
9th April, 2013
The worst era ever?
THE last PPP government is frequently termed as Pakistan’s worst. Some use such assessments to merely lambast the PPP.
THE last PPP government is frequently termed as Pakistan’s worst. Some use such assessments to merely lambast the PPP.
26th March, 2013
A stable democracy?
IN a rare instance, a credibly elected parliament has completed its term in Pakistan, raising hopes that Pakistani democracy has finally matured.
IN a rare instance, a credibly elected parliament has completed its term in Pakistan, raising hopes that Pakistani democracy has finally matured.
24th February, 2013
New ‘bargains’ on the horizon
POOR countries can be divided into those that have achieved economic and political stability despite widespread poverty and ethnic diversity and those that continually experience major economic crises and/or
POOR countries can be divided into those that have achieved economic and political stability despite widespread poverty and ethnic diversity and those that continually experience major economic crises and/or
5th February, 2013
The fundamentalist mind
FUNDAMENTALISM is a controversial term, ascribed first to 19th-century American Protestant groups which preached strict adherence to basic biblical tenets.
FUNDAMENTALISM is a controversial term, ascribed first to 19th-century American Protestant groups which preached strict adherence to basic biblical tenets.
27th January, 2013
How hungry is Pakistan?
SEVERAL recent surveys report Africa-like poverty and hunger in Pakistan. One must review these studies closely since approaches and quality vary significantly.
SEVERAL recent surveys report Africa-like poverty and hunger in Pakistan. One must review these studies closely since approaches and quality vary significantly.
8th January, 2013
Misconceptions about aid
FOREIGN aid evokes much scepticism in Pakistan. Many argue that it creates dependence, undermines sovereignty, increases debt, encourages corruption and discourages local initiative.
FOREIGN aid evokes much scepticism in Pakistan. Many argue that it creates dependence, undermines sovereignty, increases debt, encourages corruption and discourages local initiative.
25th December, 2012
Patronage economy and governance
THE policy-institutions-society nexus provides a useful tool for measuring the depth of problems faced by different countries. Policies emerge from institutions, which, in turn, emerge from societal structures.
THE policy-institutions-society nexus provides a useful tool for measuring the depth of problems faced by different countries. Policies emerge from institutions, which, in turn, emerge from societal structures.
5th December, 2012
Globalisation paradigms
GLOBALISATION provokes heated debates. While anti-globalisation groups highlight the problems faced by developing countries from premature trade and capital inflow liberalisation, its supporters emphasise the stagnation in countries like North Korea that remain delinked from the global economy.
GLOBALISATION provokes heated debates. While anti-globalisation groups highlight the problems faced by developing countries from premature trade and capital inflow liberalisation, its supporters emphasise the stagnation in countries like North Korea that remain delinked from the global economy.
18th November, 2012
The right system?
MILITARY rule, cali-phate and the Bang-ladesh model have all been proposed over time as alternatives given Pakistan’s inability to achieve good governance through parliamentary democracy.
MILITARY rule, cali-phate and the Bang-ladesh model have all been proposed over time as alternatives given Pakistan’s inability to achieve good governance through parliamentary democracy.
6th November, 2012
Non-violent ways to combat blasphemy
SINCE religious, racial and ethnic identities are central to human conceptions of self-worth, non-constructive speech whose sole purpose is to deliberately insult such identities should certainly be discouraged.
SINCE religious, racial and ethnic identities are central to human conceptions of self-worth, non-constructive speech whose sole purpose is to deliberately insult such identities should certainly be discouraged.
8th June, 2012
Not a redundant concept
FEW things irk Pakistanis more than American violations of Pakistan’s sovereignty. Under international law, states are given near-absolute sovereignty domestically, i.e. non-interference by outsiders in their domestic affairs.
FEW things irk Pakistanis more than American violations of Pakistan’s sovereignty. Under international law, states are given near-absolute sovereignty domestically, i.e. non-interference by outsiders in their domestic affairs.
15th May, 2012
Middle-class messiahs
PAKISTAN’S middle class is understandably the socioeconomic group most disenchanted with Pakistan’s governance status.
PAKISTAN’S middle class is understandably the socioeconomic group most disenchanted with Pakistan’s governance status.
5th April, 2012
A liberal Pakistan?
AGAINST the backdrop of creeping radicalisation in Pakistan, the vision posed in the title above may seem a utopia restricted to the imagination of delusionary liberals.
AGAINST the backdrop of creeping radicalisation in Pakistan, the vision posed in the title above may seem a utopia restricted to the imagination of delusionary liberals.
15th February, 2012
Economic uplift as self-discovery
THE ‘Washington Consensus’ economic model imposed by the US and IMF on developing countries since 1980 has caused more damage than good.
THE ‘Washington Consensus’ economic model imposed by the US and IMF on developing countries since 1980 has caused more damage than good.
9th January, 2012
An over-politicised state
THIS may sound odd, but like individuals, states also have multiple ‘career’ options to choose from. These choices are made by the country’s dominant groups based upon their own skills sets, worldviews and value systems.
THIS may sound odd, but like individuals, states also have multiple ‘career’ options to choose from. These choices are made by the country’s dominant groups based upon their own skills sets, worldviews and value systems.
6th December, 2011
An irrelevant superpower
IS America in decline? Commentaries about American power trajectory often focus on the larger size of its military and economic muscles compared with other countries
IS America in decline? Commentaries about American power trajectory often focus on the larger size of its military and economic muscles compared with other countries
