A Look at the Ongoing Protests in Peru
A nationwide insurrection has engulfed Peru since early December, following the arrest and imprisonment of the country’s former president, Pedro Castillo.
The violent confrontation between the Peruvians and the security forces has entered the eighth week, culminating in the death of 60 civilians – and counting. What prompted these protests, and what lies ahead for Peru?
Israeli Politics and Its New Far-Right Direction
Israeli politics has been making its round on international headlines in the past few months, especially after the historic 6th re-election of Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition in November of 2022.
The government’s newest version is deemed the most right-wing establishment in Israeli history.
It includes the Noam Party, Bezalel Yoel Smotrich of the Religious Zionist Party, and the infamous Itamar Ben-Gvir of the Otzma Yehudit party.
Navigating Bosnia’s Possible Entry into the European Union
On 15th December 2022, Bosnia finally achieved candidate status for EU membership – the first step in a long and complex journey of EU accession that the country embarked on back in 2016.
There’s a cry of jubilation in the Balkan state and euphoric optimism for a prosperous future.
However, entry into the EU won’t be plain sailing for a country clogged up with a tripartite presidency, ethnic dissonance, legislative gridlocks, and numerous other challenges.
The 14-point Copenhagen Criteria, followed by 35 chapters of the EU acquis, must be implemented by Bosnia to secure a permanent place in the EU.
Then & Now: The Human Rights Violations in IOJK
Under the ill-conceived move of August 05, 2019, the BJP-led government of India, which draws its ranks from Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), introduced a new domicile law in IOJK titled “Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificates (Procedure) Rules, 2020”.
Noman Waheed argues that the perennial conflicts about Kashmir go all the way back to the Radcliffe Award. He also charts a way forward for the policymakers in Islamabad.
The Franco-Prussian War of 1870
The Franco-Prussian War or the War of 1870 is often deemed by historians as the conflict that shaped modern Europe. It was a confrontation between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia that took place from July 1870 to May 1871.
The war was a battle of politico-territorial interests where the unconsolidated German states aspired to unify and create a powerful German nation-state. France, however, fearful of encirclement and alteration of the balance of power, aimed to maintain its status quo as the major European power.
Attack on the Brazil Congress
Just a week after Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office, his opponent’s wild supporters stormed the Three Powers Plaza—an area that houses the Supreme Court, the Presidential Palace, and the Congress.
World leaders strongly condemned this act of violence, as it severely damaged the democratic will of Brazil.
Russian Influence Operations: Disinformation Campaigns
Hybrid warfare is a term worn out in academia, being overused in every situation where there is a complexity or overlap of tactics. One incredibly invasive hybrid tactic that is being utilized all around the globe is disinformation through narrative building.
Hafsa Ammar discusses how disinformation has allegedly been used extensively by Russia against its enemies, particularly against the US.
French Troops Withdraw From Mali and Burkina Faso
France’s decision to pull out its troops from Mali and Burkina Faso has created a security vacuum, and since both countries are known for the high rates of jihadist violence, concerns are growing about the impact that the withdrawal may have on regional security.
Adam Abass seeks to understand the reason why the security partnership between France and these two countries is deteriorating.
Israel’s Begin Doctrine
The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Menachem Begin, believed that the acquisition of nuclear weapons by Iraq would pose an existential threat to the Jewish state.
That was the beginning of the Begin Doctrine which called for military action against countries or groups that carry out terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens or interests.
The Begin Doctrine has also been used to justify Israel’s military operations in the Middle East, including the bombing of the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq in 1981 and the attack on the Syrian nuclear facility in 2007.
What Can Pakistan Learn from Israel’s Water Technology?
In view of the water crisis in Pakistan, there is a need for the country to learn from other countries that have made effective use of water-conservatory technologies. This is now becoming essential in order to supply people with the much-needed resource.
In Zainab Haseeb’s opinion, there is now a need to explore Israel’s water management strategies and technologies since they are widely considered the best in the world.
Saudi Arabia, BRICS, and the Future of Petrodollar
Although there are numerous reasons behind the diffusion of power from the West to the East, the declining dominance of the dollar holds significant importance. The US has been able to dominate the world primarily because of the petrodollar. However, the Russia-Ukraine war, the realignment in Saudi Arabia and US relations, the strengthening of BRICS, and improving Chinese influence in the Middle East are some of the reasons responsible for denting the value of the dollar.
Economic Diplomacy & Its Growing Relevance
For centuries, diplomacy is a term often associated with high politics; an important instrument of foreign policy, a tool to mitigate traditional security issues, and a means to ensure peaceful bilateral relations. However, in a world where the concept of security is widening and deepening, the scope of diplomacy has also enlarged to encompass many tools, types, problem areas, and actors.
In the contemporary multi-polar world order characterized by globalization, digital revolution, and newly emerging economies, it has become indispensable to recognise economic diplomacy as a paramount instrument of foreign policy. Duaa Ayaz sheds light on economic diplomacy as a concept and its evolution, its growing significance in the 21st-century liberal order, its manifestations in light of case studies, the challenges facing it, and its future.
Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal, and Pakistan’s Historical Opposition to Israel
There is a belief that Pakistan is solely opposed to Israel due to the latter’s post-independence atrocities against Palestine, but this is not the complete picture.
Pakistan’s opposition to Israel can be traced back to the founding fathers like Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Muhammad Iqbal who, through their speeches and policies, laid the groundwork for the nation’s pro-Palestine stance long before Pakistan or Israel came into existence.
Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Philippines
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms refer to alternatives for litigation and adjudication. They are methods for conflict resolution outside official courts and can be adopted due to a variety of reasons, ranging from the benefits of low costs to quick and efficient rulings.
ADR can act as a substitute for adjudication or even as a companion/precursor to court proceedings. The Republic of the Philippines still places considerable significance and respect on its tribal roots which can be seen in its various ADR mechanisms.
ChatGPT: The Next Big Thing in AI-Writing Technology
Technology has been making leaps and bounds over the past few years, and AI-powered writing is no different. ChatGPT is one of the latest technologies to enter the market, and it promises to revolutionize the way we write content. In this article, Syeda Fiza Bukhari takes a look at what ChatGPT is and how it differs from other AI-powered writing tools.
The Complexities of Humanitarian Intervention
Humanitarian intervention can be used as an instrument to manage the armed aspect of the conflict and lower the suffering of people by curbing violence. However, it is not as simple as it seems.
In international politics, a number of factors are involved for states to take action. Iman Faisal tries to shed light on the certain complexities of humanitarian intervention by taking the example of humanitarian intervention during the Rwandan Genocide.
Reality Check: Economic Crisis in Pakistan
Pakistan is currently facing a political impasse, a dwindling economy, surging inflation, escalating terror threats, and the possibility of a worldwide recession. Concerns about the status of Pakistan’s economy are mounting as foreign reserves dwindle, the local currency weakens, and inflation persists at levels not seen in decades.
A government exists in Pakistan that is unable to exercise or relinquish power. Bitter, the opposition is sticking to its rhetoric of fire and brimstone. Neither are aware of their ultimate goal. The government avoided a default earlier this month, but now its foreign exchange reserves have fallen to $4.3 billion, the lowest since 2014.
Although the finance minister acknowledges that the economy is in a “tough spot”, he simultaneously dismisses fears of Pakistan’s default and calls it propaganda from the opposition. The truth is, the country remains a hair’s breadth away from the bleak prospect.
