UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB
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Debt Dynamics and its Burden on National Economy: A Case Study of Pakistan (1970-2005)
No full textThis paper examines the debt dynamics and its burden in Pakistan over the last three decades. Our results indicate that the rising level of twin deficits, exchange rate fluctuations and high interest rate payments are the three core variables responsible for the rise in public debt ratio and debt burden. Results reported reveal that the primary balances mainly contributed to the rise in public debt ratios, the exchange rate factor has also remained important throughout the period in raising the public debt ratio, where as the role of interest factor was insignificant in general. Similarly primary current account balances and depreciation of exchange rate played a critical role in raising the external debt ratios, whereas interest rate factor was marginally responsible towards the rise in external debt to GDP ratio in 1990s and 2000s
Politics of Elections and Autocracy in Pakistan: Apprising the Electoral Process during Zia ul Haq’s Regime
No full textThis paper seeks to identify a gradual shift from a position of \autocratically governed autocratically of Pakistani state to semi-democratic polity. In Pakistan, it took twenty three years for the first general elections to take place in 1970 howeverelectoral politics failed to sustain itself as the election in 1977 were alleged ‘rigged’, hence the whole polit8cal system was de-railed. In that perspective the politics, pursued by Zia regime with respect to the elections are critically apprised in thisstudy
Origin of Ethnic Identities in Pakistan
No full textPlurality in every state and society is a natural phenomenon and various ethnic identities continue to grow and flourish in the society. Neither developed nor developing state can be exceptional in this case. Every society or sate is naturally plural, there are various ethnic identities that grow and develop in society. No developed and developing country can be placed in an exception. Pakistan is also one of those countries, which has been fraught with ethnic identities and conflicts. Apparently they all claim to be Muslims but inwardly they are stratified in various ethnic identities on the basis of language, territory, economic interests, profession, race and politico-cultural denominations. In therecent past ethnic conflicts have been main source of instability of Pakistan. The current paper looks into the factors, which, have been contributing in the growth of these ethnic identities
Pakistan– India Relations: Challenges & Adjustments
No full textIn the arena of new challenges and pressures there is a great need to make mature but flexible decisions. But these decisions should not be at the price of national interest and pride. Pakistan and India are trying to have purposeful cooperation to defuse the traditional tension. What are the challenges in the way of cooperation? And where we have to stop to make certain adjustments. These questions will be the theme of this presentation. One can highlight the issues by raising some questions
Strategic Triangle in the Indo-Pacific Region through Competition, Cooperation and Containment: Future of Maritime Power Posturing
No full textWithin bounds of the Regional Security Complex, this article assesses key developments in the Indian Ocean and fallout of strategic interests from thePacific Ocean in maritime convergence. The article argues that maritime interests in the Indian and Pacific Ocean are witnessing convergence as states form coalitions and strategic partnerships to create a balance between USA and China. Strategic choices between principal and peripheral actors is structured ina mix of containment, competition and cooperation. China and its strategicpartners understand the momentum of impact if American interests in the Pacific Ocean are merged with its interests in the Indian Ocean. The article argues that China would be opting to go for cooperation strategy as a means to broaden its reach and entangle oncoming contenders. America, on the other hand, is optingto amalgamate both competition and containment in a worst case scenariosituation to prevent China from creating an overwatch against global maritime activity. The paper finds that an escalatory environment with spiraling tendencies is forming in and around the Indo-Pacific and its fallout will likely be seen in assessment of magnitude of contending parties. It finds that despite understanding maritime worth of the Indo-Pacific connect, principal and peripheral partners to these strategies might be willing to transform maritime politics to strategic entanglement
President Xi Jinping’s Policies towards South Asia and Implications for Regional Order
Get PDFWorld has witnessed a change in Chinese foreign policy with political change in March 2013. Beijing’s more assertive role in international affairs, under new leadership of president Xi Jinping, has been widely noticed with cautions. The China has intended to play a pre-emptive, if not aggressive, role towards regional and international matters under the leadership of Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang. Someone also claims that Beijing has ended its policy of peaceful rise’. Another says, is China has any foreign policy. So Chinese changed attitude and status quo oriented policies are hot topics of discussion. Some Chinese used the term “New Diplomacy” while describing Beijing’s foreign policy under Xi. This paper is an attempt to analyze the new descriptions of Chinese foreign policy and the implications for the future regional order in the Asia Pacific
Extremism in Pakistan: Issues and Challenges
Get PDFThis study is designed to examine the challenges of extremism; the most sensitive issue to the national security of Pakistan, This issue effect not only on the foreign relations but also on the domestic harmony, leading to unrest and terrorism in the state. Different events and aftermath of 9/11 brought with it the issue of violent extremism, which is continuing and posing security threats to many states of Middle East, South Asia, Africa and now Europe. Pakistan is one of these affectees. Primary and secondary sources are used to strengthen the logics. This violent extremism is practiced by many actors due to motivation of their own ideologies. Many strategies and policy options are available to Pakistan in order to counter terrorism and extremism. Ways are sort out to create the new ways for countering extremism. For their proper handling a thorough approach from legislation to some intelligence-sharing and exchange of successful best practices is needed
Pakistan's Relations with the United States and China in the Post-9/11 Era
Get PDFThis paper intends to explore the key elements that contribute to reshaping Pakistan's relations with the United States (US) and China in the post-9/11 era. In addition, the reasons contributing to how the US and China are perceived in Pakistan have been examined. The US and China both use different approaches in their relations with Pakistan. The US makes unilateral decisions, poses economic and security threats to Pakistan in pursuing its objectives, while China makes bilateral decisions and asserts itself as a soft power in its relations with Pakistan. The Pew Research Center's public opinion poll data shows that the US has become increasingly unpopular in Pakistan even after its substantial economic and military aid to Pakistan. China, on the other hand, has been able to win the hearts and minds of Pakistanis even though its economic and military aid to Pakistan in comparison to the US aid package is not nearly as significant. The study also reveals that Pakistan has grave concerns about future developments in the region after the US withdraws its forces from Afghanistan
Personality Traits, Tolerance towards Ethnic Minorities and Egalitarian Political Values of University Students
Get PDFThis research aims to examine the personality traits, tolerance towards ethnicminorities and political ideology of university students in Pakistan. Politicalpsychology across the globe has been trying to find the citizenship improvementdynamics and furthering in this regard, personality based studies tend to yieldfruitful results. This has been hypothesized that personality traits and tolerancetowards ethnic minorities are likely to predict the egalitarian political values ofuniversity students. The sample comprised of 500 university students, both boysand girls between the age ranges of 19 to 24 years taken from different universities of Lahore. The instruments or measures for data collection involved a demographic information sheet, Myers Briggs Type Indicator, Tolerance towards Ethnic Minorities Scale, and Egalitarian Political values Scale in addition to Religiosity scale. The analyses were executed through SPSS version 24.00. The findings from stepwise regression analysis revealed that specific personality traits predicted attitude towards minority and egalitarian political ideologies. Thisempirical investigation mainly focuses on the proponents that people erect in their political views and ideologies in consonance to their personality dispositional tendencies. The assumption is to unravel how people relate their day today situations in accordance to unique and specific elements of their personalities. Under the framework of this theory, it has been assumed that there is a statistically significant correlation between specific and peculiar elements of one's personality and political views and ideologies thereby formed. The results of this study entail that a further fusion of Political Psychology and Personality Studies can help to develop guidelines for policymakers, political parties and voters alike
Role of Electronic Media in Developing Political Perceptions of People: A Comparative Analysis of ARY and PTV (2008-16)
Get PDFPakistan has one of the most vibrant media landscape in the region. Since liberalization in 2002, the number of media outlets has increased. This study analyzes the role of Pakistani electronic media in creating political awareness among people and the role of state owned news channel and private news channel in developing political perceptions of the people. Considering the presentsituation in Pakistan i.e. the high saturation levels of media usage and its reflection in the people attitudes suggests the implication of certain theory such as cultivation theory. This theory suggests that media, and in particular television channels, develop the ideas of the people. People who spend more time on television, it tends to be their main source of information. Therefore, thepopulation of present study consisted of all the female and male who study in universities. Four universities selected for the collection of data and the survey sample comprises a total of 120 respondents, 30 respondents taken from each university. The findings of paper indicate that most people rely on electronic media for political news. It influences people’s perceptions and they are becoming politically aware by electronic media especially by the news channels