Reclaiming Glory: Türkiye’s Rise Under Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Türkiye has been on a mission to reclaim its previous glory under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan’s unwavering support for international Muslims, as well as his criticism of US policies, have thrust him into the center of international discourse.
Despite the polarized public opinion, Türkiye has improved its military capabilities and emerged as a significant player in the weapons market, contributing to its growing global dominance.
Much to the chagrin of the United States, it has formed strategic relationships with countries such as Russia and China, diversifying its alliances and impacting regional dynamics.
Energy Predicament of Pakistan: SWOT Analysis and Way Forward
Safia Mansoor holistically covers the various dynamics of Pakistan’s energy crisis and the threats to Pakistan’s power sector by using the SWOT analysis. Strengths of Pakistan’s energy sector are massive coal reserves alongside wind, solar, and hydro energy potential, whereas the weaknesses include poor governance, inadequate role of DISCOs, T&D losses, corruption, and energy supply chain problems.
She also highlights various opportunities such as CPEC energy projects and clean & green energy technologies. Most importantly, the threats to the country’s energy sector are also discussed which include circular debt and lack of energy diversification.
She concludes that political, institutional, economic and technical reforms are need of time to deal with worsening power crisis of country.
Inside the Russian Wagner Group: Understanding its Role in Modern Warfare
In the shadowy world of private military companies, one name has recently dominated headlines: the Russian Wagner Group. Known for its covert operations and alleged ties to the Russian government, the Wagner Group has long been a subject of intrigue and speculation.
The group has been accused of interfering in the affairs of Middle Eastern and African states at the behest of Russia. Its amplifying notoriety comes from its not-so-covert involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, reports emerged in June 2023 of the private military company’s (PMC) leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and a group of Wagner mercenaries revolting against Moscow, revealing what some say are cracks in Putin’s power.
The Migration Crisis in Tunisia
The Republic of Tunisia, a North African country, has seen much despair over the past decade and has garnered much international recognition due to its vital role in the Arab Spring. Seen as the only state that fully turned over a new leaf and dedicated its efforts to a democratic future, it seemed that the country had a course chartered for progress and prosperity, but that soon went downhill.
Currently, Tunisia is going through a major humanitarian crisis that involves police brutality, cultural and structural violence, and blatant human rights violations, especially concerning migrants and refugees.
The Notorious Practice of Custodial Torture in Pakistan
Custodial torture, or torture in custody, is often used as a tool by the perpetrators of justice, i.e., law enforcement agencies.
Rida Zaman asserts that these so-called custodians of justice contribute to the waning of the just and fair standards of the criminal justice system.
She also notes that the relevant legislation, the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act, 2023, suffers from procedural and substantive deficiencies.
Parallels between Palestine and Kashmir
Palestine and Kashmir are two of the world’s most drawn-out and complex conflicts to date. They are multi-dimensional, focusing not only on a territorial epicenter but an ideological one as well.
Hafsa Ammar focuses on the several parallels between these two conflicts: a Muslim-majority population, colonialism, regional enmity, geostrategic importance, among others.
The Geopolitics of China’s Digital Silk Road
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the greatest infrastructure project in the world, has a component called the Digital Silk Road that intends to increase digital connectivity and collaboration among the participating countries.
Established in 2015, it spans a variety of industries including satellite navigation, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, e-commerce, and telecommunications, stretching Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. The Digital Silk Road is motivated by China’s desire to open new markets as well as to shift the global digital order away from the United States.
Assessing the Implications of Pakistan-Russia Cooperation for India
Pakistan and Russia have had a long and complicated history, with relations only recently starting to warm up. But what impact will this newfound friendship have on India’s relationship with Russia?
As two of the world’s largest countries, Russia and India have maintained a strategic partnership for decades, working together on everything from military defense to space exploration. But with Pakistan now cozying up to Russia, could this threaten India’s standing as Russia’s top ally in the region?
Ayesha Javaid contemplates the answer to this complex question by considering the different factors at play, including historical ties, geopolitical tensions, and economic interests.
Pakistan’s AI Journey: Navigating A Rocky Terrain
Sameer Sohail discusses the challenges and obstacles that Pakistan is bound to face in the near future on the job market, the education system and society in general as it develops and deploys its AI systems.
He focuses mainly on the issues associated with AI technologies that would be available to the general public, not the ones designed for military or national security purposes.
Those issues include the government’s poor understanding of the matter, a lack of national AI policy, the alignment problem of AI and the lack of philosophical and critical thinking skills in our youth.
The Arctic Region: A New Frontier for Geostrategic Competition
The Arctic region is witnessing a surge in geostrategic competition. It has attracted the attention of several key players, each with their own interests and motivations. Russia, for example, sees the Arctic as a strategic area for resource extraction and military dominance. Meanwhile, the United States is concerned about maintaining its influence in the region in the midst of China’s increasing economic and strategic involvement. The competing interests of these nations are shaping the geostrategic competition in the Arctic and have the potential to impact global dynamics.
The New Global World Order: Aging Gracefully
The end of the Cold War marked the beginning of American exceptionalism, as we know it now. The three decades following the fall of the Berlin Wall witnessed the capricious acts of the US, from its unilateral wars to blatant violations of other international rules and norms.
However, since the 2007 economic meltdown, the doctrine of American exceptionalism has faced decadence as has the economic growth of the country. Meanwhile, other factors, such as the rise of China, the resurgence of Russia, and the nuclear proliferation of other countries kept on playing their fair share in bringing the world to a multipolar environment.
The Harsh Reality of Child Labor in Pakistan
Millions of children in Pakistan are trapped in the vicious claws of child labor, deprived of a normal life, education, healthcare, and security.
Despite the nationwide ban on child labor and bonded labor – a form of modern-day slavery – their prevalence in Pakistan is a reflection of flawed democracy, poor economic conditions, and exploitative societal norms.
Maryam Ibrahim highlights that child labor not only robs children of their childhood but also hinders their overall development, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and inequality.
The Irgun and Lehi: Israel’s Pre-independence Terrorist Groups
Israel’s true nature, stained by countless crimes against the Palestinians, cannot be concealed.
Whether through the killing of innocent Gazans or the proliferation of illegal settlements in the West Bank, the state of Israel and its defense forces, the IDF, have a long-standing history of terrorism deeply rooted in the actions and ideologies of Jewish pre-independence extremist groups, namely the Irgun and Lehi.
Sarmad Ishfaq delves into the origins of these organizations, shedding light on their gruesome acts of terror in Palestine, and ultimately emphasizes how their extremist legacy continues to shape the actions of the modern state of Israel.
Riots Put France in Chaos
As a result of the police shooting of a 17-year-old boy, hundreds of thousands of people flocked to the streets across France to protest the situation.
Fizza Batool notes that France’s predicament is complicated and multidimensional since it encompasses law and order, public safety, human rights, social justice, and national identity.
Working Hours in South Korea: A Matter of Debate and Resistance
The proposal to increase weekly working hours from 52 to 69 in South Korea was met with immense resistance.
Maryam Jilani observes that the proposal was quickly dismissed after demonstrations left the government with no choice but to yield to the will of the public.
The World’s Power Distribution from Pax Americana to Asianization: A New Geopolitical Landscape
A multipolar world could hardly be considered elusive, given the intensity of the geopolitical currents.
And while the US is still standing tall, for how long will it be able to do so with China taking the lead in global affairs?
The US would eventually be forced to take extreme action or risk losing its status as a global power and becoming irrelevant as the world moves to multipolarity.
The Housing Crisis in the Netherlands
The housing crisis in the Netherlands faces a growing shortage of houses as a result of price controls.
In Amsterdam alone, a shortage of about 10,000 to 15,000 apartments has been predicted for 2030.
Dutch society also heavily experiences government regulations, permits, and taxes that pose a challenge to affordable housing.
