Trump’s Ukraine Policy: From Allies to Ambiguity
As US elections loom, people have started to pay closer attention to candidates and their policies regarding pressing global issues.
Sanan Lashari gives his candid opinion as he explains Donald Trump’s stance regarding the war in Ukraine.
Although Trump has publicly wished for the war to end, his sentiments are troubling for the Western world as he stated he would endorse a Russian invasion of Ukraine if the latter did not pay its share of the NATO defense budget.
Canada-Philippines Defence Agreement and the South China Sea Dispute
The recent defence agreement signed between Canada and the Philippines is focused on cooperation in military education, information sharing, training exchanges, peacekeeping operations, and disaster responses regulated between the military and defence establishment of both countries.
Although it doesn’t mention a direct aim of safeguarding the claims of the Philippines in the South China Sea, the defence agreement would surely play its role in the ongoing dispute.
India’s Cultivation of the Khalistan Movement—Past & Present
The Khalistan Movement is an attempt to liberate the Sikhs of India. The separatist movement was started by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and gained momentum in the ’80s.
The recent murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver has rekindled the movement, shedding light on India’s persisting anti-Khalistan sentiments.
India’s distaste for the Sikhs has been seen time and again over the years from Operation Blue Star of 1948, to the unsavory response that the Farmer’s Protests received.
Sarmad Ishfaq summarizes that with the way India keeps targeting Sikhs, the revival of Khalistan seems inevitable, and it’s only a matter of time before it gains momentum again.
The 27th GCC-EU Joint Council in Oman
The 27th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – European Union (EU) Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting took place in Muscat, Oman on 9th and 10th October 2023.
Chaired by H.E. Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi, Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, and H.E. Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, the meeting aimed to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two organizations.
From Manifesto to Mandate: Understanding the Road Ahead for Argentina
Muhammad Karam delves into Argentina’s recent political landscape, focusing on the 2023 general elections that resulted in the election of Javier Milei, a far-right anarcho-capitalist, as the new president.
With his landslide victory, Milei’s unconventional approach and economic promises are analyzed in depth, along with an exploration of his background, campaign strategies, and the challenges his administration may face.
Coloniality of the P5: Decoding the Power Dynamics in the UNSC on the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Fatima Arshad Warraich shares how the permanent membership status and the absolute and unaccountable power to veto wielded by the P5 nations in the UNSC undermines democratic principles of the majority. She also adds that it compromises the Council’s ability to impartially address and maintain global peace and security.
She illustrates this by citing how the US, one of the P5 members of the UNSC, vetoed the resolution that demanded immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza on grounds of inadequate condemnation of Hamas and the ceasefire’s inability to create durable peace in the region.
US Support to Israel: Fueling the Palestinian Tragedy
George Salhab denounces the influence of the pro-Israel lobby on the decision-making of the United States. In a war where thousands have lost their lives to Israeli attacks, American support for the Zionist state is a clear indicator of where its loyalties lie.
What to Expect from the 2024 Taiwan Elections?
China’s growing influence around the world and its emergence as the rising superpower of the globe has inflicted fear in the people of Taiwan who have presidential elections on 13th January.
The major presidential contenders, along with an increasing majority of Taiwan’s population, reject the idea of Chinese governance. However, distinct differences among these parties may result in significantly diverse political landscapes.
The World in 2023: A Turbulent Year
The turbulent year of 2023 has finally come to an end. The year was marked by numerous conflicts, tragedies, clashes, and chaos around the globe. Unfortunately, the year 2023 has passed instability and chaos to the coming year. Notably, the United States played the key role behind most of these conflicts due to its economic interests.
The Balochistan Issue: Exploitative Politics?
The political structure of Balochistan has always remained a conflictual issue. The author, Irfan Ullah Buzdar, is of the opinion that political insecurity and inaction are at the root of the “Balochistan Issue.” The residents live a miserable reality, devoid of basic facilities and fundamental rights such as education, healthcare, and individual security.
It is high time for the state institutions and the government to take effective measures to meet the grievances of the people of Balochistan, otherwise, it will be too late.
The White Man’s Burden – An American Delusion
Hadiqa Maryam Abbasi delves into a deconstruction of Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘The White Man’s Burden’ which was published in 1899 and elaborates on how the message of the poem is still reflected in the policies and operations of the American Hegemon.
She uses the invasions of Libya and Iraq to set the foundation for her argument and provides snippets from speeches and press claims of various US politicians such as Obama, Powell, and Bush, which reiterate the American liberal responsibility and authority over other states and their governments.
The Enigma of Henry Kissinger: Unraveling a Legacy Laced with Blood and Power
Unveiling a career marked by opportunism and pragmatism, Naveed Hussain Mangi scrutinizes Kissinger’s role in shaping world events, from the prolonged Vietnam War to the Middle East and Latin America.
Beyond diplomatic accolades, he examines the bloodstains on Kissinger’s legacy, exploring the enduring consequences of his decisions and the ethical questions raised by his post-1970s advisory role.
Ultimately, the analysis calls for a nuanced understanding of the intricate interplay between geopolitics, morality, and the human cost of realpolitik.
Nagorno-Karabakh: A Conflict with No Easy Answers
Nagorno-Karabakh, a landlocked mountainous territory, has been the source of a long-standing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. While military confrontations have simmered down, peace in the region appears distant.
This piece will help you understand the causes and consequences behind the conflict as well as the stances of countries like the US, Russia, Turkey, and Pakistan.
Paradigm Shift’s Magazine: November 2023 Edition
The November 2023 edition of the Paradigm Shift magazine contains 12 handpicked pieces. These cover the genocides in Congo and Palestine, the geostrategic importance of the South China Sea, Hindu nationalism in India, and the role of AI in modern warfare.
Destined for War: Can America and China Escape the Thucydides’s Trap
Destined for War is a strategic compass for statesmen and is essential reading for students and researchers who are studying the complexities of great power politics. Allison, in this book, has given clues as to how the struggle between China and the US can end in war. The book has been a captivating exploration of the Thucydides Trap, offering profound insights into the challenges these two global powers face and the potential consequences of failing to navigate these challenges successfully. To support the claims, Alison has provided sixteen cases from the last 500 years in which a rising power challenged an existing power, of which 12 ended in war. The dynamics of the politics of the contemporary world are very different from the politics before the two World Wars because of nuclear weapons. If things are not managed diplomatically, the end of both powers could be catastrophic.
Israel’s Strategic Depth: History & The 2023 Gaza War
Sarmad Ishfaq examines the concept of strategic depth, primarily in the context of Israel. He outlines the historical evolution of Israel’s strategic depth, discussing both the political and maritime dimensions of the phenomenon. Considering both traditional and political strategic depth, the article explains how these two aspects have manifested themselves in the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict.
BJP and its Politics of Cricket
Cricket–and the World Cup–in India have become more than just an event for the people to enjoy. For Modi and the BJP, hosting the ICC World Cup is just one more feather of international recognition in their caps, following the G20 summit just weeks ago.
It could be due to the fact that sports and entertainment have a way of going where historically politics and state media have had a hard time penetrating.