Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power
“Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power” by Robert Kaplan is a captivating exploration of the geopolitics, history, and culture of the Indian Ocean. Published in 2010, the book seamlessly weaves together Kaplan’s personal travel experiences with strategic analysis and geopolitical insights. The title cleverly draws parallels between the region’s unpredictability and the monsoon, underscoring its significance in global power dynamics. Overall, it serves as a concise guide to understanding the past, present, and future of this crucial region
Revival of Radio Pakistan
Marriyum Aurangzeb, the former minister for Information and Broadcasting, lauded Radio Pakistan’s initiatives for revival on her visit to the station last month.
The national broadcaster’s efforts to make itself financially stable will ensure a significant improvement in the creativity and innovation of its content.
China’s Rise: From Sleeping Giant to Global Economic Powerhouse
Maidah Tariq explains that China’s journey to becoming a modern state began with the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. After a civil war, the Communist Party, led by Mao Zedong, emerged victorious and formed the People’s Republic of China in 1949.
Mao’s economic policies faced challenges, but Deng Xiaoping introduced reforms in the 1990s that led to massive economic growth. These reforms included incentives for workers, encouraging private farming, promoting township and village enterprises, and focusing on education.
She concludes that China’s integration with the global economy through exports and foreign investments has made it an economic giant and a major player on the world stage.
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.
[Video] China’s Economic Rise
Explore the incredible narrative of China’s remarkable ascent to becoming a dominant global economic force in this engaging video. Join us as we dive into the historical, political, and socioeconomic factors that have propelled China from its humble origins to a position of unrivaled economic influence.
Oppenheimer: Recorded History vs Glossed Reels
In this day and age, everyone who is chronically online knows to take any form of media or information with a grain of salt; the same should be the case with Christopher Nolan’s groundbreaking new film ‘Oppenheimer’ which was released just last month on 21st July 2023.
Based on the book ‘American Prometheus’ by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, the highly anticipated movie had a budget of around $100 million. Records broke around the globe as people rushed to theaters and cinemas to catch the earliest screenings.
Nolan has been known to create intellectually challenging films such as Tenet, Inception, Interstellar, and more which make the viewers question not only the laws of physics but of reality as well. Oppenheimer, too, has not deviated from this path.
Is the movie an accurate depiction of history, or has it instead been portrayed to advance American heroism?
Paradigm Shift’s Magazine: July 2023 Edition
The July 2023 edition of the Paradigm Shift magazine contains 13 handpicked pieces.
These cover the French riots, the geopolitcial significance of China’s digital Silk Road, the micro hyrdopower projects as a solution to Pakistan’s energy crisis, and the comparison of the PMS and CSS exams.
The July edition features two infographics: one featuring the top 10 countries in military spending, and the independence dates of the former Soviet republics.
This edition also has a book review, an op-ed, two PU pieces, and an interview of Brigadier (R) Samson Simon Sharaf.
SadaPay: Reshaping Digital Payments in Pakistan
The State Bank has granted numerous licenses to encourage digital financial services as a result of which Pakistan has seen substantial growth and innovation in the digital payment sector.
SadaPay, an indigenous fintech firm that is transforming digital payments in Pakistan, is one such noteworthy player to have entered the market.
SadaPay was founded with the goal of building a financial ecosystem that gives people and businesses access to quick, safe, and reliable digital payment options.
Climate Change: A Growing Challenge to State Sovereignty
The sovereignty of states cannot be studied in isolation from the environment in which they reside. Changes in climate patterns have a profound impact on human behavior and pose new challenges for the state. As rising sea levels, droughts, erratic rainfall, and food insecurity sweep across regions due to climate change, large populations have begun abandoning their homelands in search of security and better living standards. Athar Ali discusses how climate-driven mass migrations have influenced the sovereignty of states, disrupting socio-economic and political development.
Notable Political Philosophers
It would not be possible to comprehend how society and the state function without an analysis of political science. It gives people clarity of mind and thought, and the ability to formulate opinions without generational bias.
Termed as the “Queen of Sciences” by Aristotle, political science encompasses the local government, constitutional law, political parties, judicial institutions, policy-making, resource allocation, socio-political ideologies, and state machinery.
Hafsa Ammar explores the works and ideas of five prominent political philosophers: Plato, Al-Farabi, Al-Ghazali, Ibn Khaldun, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
The Thriving Cotton Market of Pakistan
The favorable climate and rich soil of Pakistan create an ideal environment for cotton cultivation.
In FY2018-19, it was noted that the cotton market accounted for 0.8% of the country’s GDP.
Fizza Batool explores the various factors that contribute to Pakistan’s competitive advantage while also pointing to strong competitors that have appeared such as Bangladesh.
[Video] Contributions of Pakistani Christians
In this video, we aim to shed light on the significant contributions made by Pakistani Christians to our society. It’s crucial to recognize and celebrate the diversity that enriches our nation’s fabric.
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.
Exploring Micro Hydropower Projects as a Viable Solution to Pakistan’s Energy Crisis
Pakistan possesses a hydropower potential of up to 60,000 MW, with about 40% of it coming from Gilgit-Baltistan and the Kashmir region.
Although the natural topography and challenging terrain make it difficult and expensive to bring up grid electrification to most places, particularly in the northern highland parts, Daniyal Bin Tanveer presents Micro Hydro Power (MHP) projects as an interesting policy solution.
The paper shall first discuss why a lack of energy production in Pakistan is a massive issue that needs to be addressed, followed by an analysis of the prevailing dynamics of the MHP market.
What will follow is a look at this paper’s findings, followed by a proposal of potential policy
measures that could be utilized to develop a network of MHPs where possible. Lastly, the economic implications of possibly adopting this policy measure will also be presented, before a brief conclusion ties the entire discussion together.
Largest Airliners in the World (2022)
The adventure through the skies would be impossible without the magnificent giants, so this infographic will share details about the five largest airliners in the world as of 2022.
Four carriers belong to the United States, while the fifth is Irish.
The New Confessions of an Economic Hitman
John Perkins’ The New Confessions of an Economic Hitman was published in 2004 as an unofficial sequel to Confessions of an Economic Hitman. It is a thought-provoking and eye-opening autobiography that shares the writer’s personal experience as an economic hitman. It provides an in-depth understanding of world politics and international financial system manipulations to propagate the Super Powers’ hegemony across the globe.
The book takes the readers through a journey, starting with the author’s childhood life, and how he grew into becoming an economic hitman during the ’70s and ’80s. Perkins later became a whistleblower, revealing the strategies used by the US and international organizations to lure underprivileged nations into debt traps to increase their influence across the globe.