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Technology Transfer in Bangladesh to Accelerate Energy Transition
No full textRetail manufacturing is an industry that puts high demand on energy resources. Bangladesh is one of the world’s largest garment exporters; its ready-made garment sector (RMG) accounts for 84% its exports. Nevertheless, in 2020, Bangladesh ranked only 87 out of 115 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Energy Transition Index. This indicates both a major challenge and a potential for the country and its largest industry. In order to accelerate energy transition, substantial investments into renewable energy sources and technologies, as well as knowledge transfer in the form of training and capacity building, are crucial. Through an analysis of the current state of the energy sector, technology transfer, foreign aid, and government policies, the paper explores the future of technology transfer in Bangladesh and its potential in the garment industry. It discusses a focus shift of aid programmes, foreign direct investment (FDI) in research & development (R&D), as well as policies enabling an investment environment. All of these constitute pathways for a fast energy transition
Intra-Afghan-Peace Talks (II): Pakistan and the puzzle over the future of foreign military presence in Afghanistan
No full textThe Afghanistan imbroglio, particularly the remaining 2,500 foreign troops on its soil, will confront new U.S. President Joe Biden with early decisions ‘that will define the contours of the war’s next chapter and determine the legacy of the American-led invasion’. He inherits not only a ‘nascent, fragile peace process’ but also a controversial ‘peace agreement’ with the Taliban struck by the former Trump administration in February 2020. This agreement initiated not only the launch of peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government but also committed the US - and subsequently the NATO as well1 - to a total withdrawal of forces by May 1, 2021. In exchange, the United States received security assurances and counterterrorism guarantees, including the cut of ties with Al-Qaeda and other international terror groups. […
Historical and philosophical essence of teaching
No full textThe article examines some of the characteristics of one of the most mysterious philosophical and religious movements in Islam – Sufism. The history of its origin, development and current state are investigated. We also propose to use the positive experiences Sufism provides as a form of spiritual education at the individual level. Finally, we explore the distinctive features of Sufism as a philosophy and worldview, including as a form of classical philosophy and as theology
Myanmar’s Military is Myanmar’s Agony
No full textThe article argues that Tatmadaw's involvement in politics and Suu Kyi's plan for 'ethnic democracy' have ruptured the co-habitation of different social identities from forging inclusive democratization in Myanmar
Sustainable development through trade – Case study: Pakistan’s GSP+ and the red meat market
No full textThe European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences+ (GSP+) trade scheme intends to promote sustainable development through trade for those countries that deserve some trade promotion for their special achievements regarding fundamental political goals. Whereas the political achievements specifically contemplated by the preferential trade scheme are normally the ones under direct scrutiny, it is also important to evaluate a country’s dynamics according to other criteria: the global environmental impact is a case in point. This paper aims to analyse the EU’s indirect incentive to Pakistan’s exports of red meat – specifically, beef. Pakistan, already a major casings provider to the EU, started exporting red meat amidst the GSP+’s implementation – and has been seeking to further integrate the European’s red meat market. Whereas it might make sense to maintain those existing derogations under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that provide incentives to red meat production which follows a range of high environmental and rural development standards, there are several reasons to disincentivise these productions. Red meat production carries considerable damaging environmental effects – including the depletion of water resources and reduction of water quality. Here Pakistan constitutes a case in point because of its water-stress situation – that alone justifies restrictions, not incentives, to red meat production in the country. International institutions such as the FAO warn us yet and again about the unsustainability of both the production and consumption of red meat due to its impacts on water resources. The EU so aligns its public discourse. However, after reviewing numerous academic papers, reports, and official documentation, we find that actual policy fails to match the rhetoric. Lifting custom duties for various animal products under the GSP+ without proper environmental impact assessments constitutes a telling example. Furthermore, the funding of ‘pro-meat’ campaigns increases incentives to the livestock sector and does not favour a shift away from red meat consumption. Incoherencies in EU policies may work against the shift from animal-based diets towards more sustainable (plant-based) diets. This paper explores some possible solutions for correcting these inconsistencies and improve a water-sustainable combination between supply and demand of red meat
Closing Gender Gaps in Education, Finance & Child Care – Unlocking the Full Potential of Women Entrepreneurship in India
No full textThe staggeringly low number of women entrepreneurs in India demands for a number of interventions in terms of education, access to finance and child-care options. Considering that women empowerment in itself is valuable and has positive effects on the economy, it is high time to address the gender gaps in education, unequal access to finance and unequal distribution of domestic responsibilities. Evidence shows that there is a clear correlation between women entrepreneurship and factors such as women literacy rates, financial knowledge, owning a bank account – among others. While the largest share of child care falls on women, it can be dealt through adequate infrastructure such as child-care centers. Although the government has taken initiatives on entrepreneurship, few of these target women. Due to the limitations and low status of women in society, these initiatives are mostly unfavorable. Hence, it is now time to amend policies and make them more gender inclusive. This policy brief discusses various interventions, including strategic plans for free and compulsory education advocacy and awareness in partnership with nonprofits, women-specific financial inclusion policies and programs collaborating with the State Bank of India, and establishing child-care centers
European FDI to India and Covid-19
No full textThis paper aims to discuss where India stands on the foreign direct investment (FDI) market, especially as regards FDI from the EU. In 2020-2021 the Covid-19 outbreak largely hit financial markets and global FDI plummeted. Only a few countries, among which India, still recorded high and positive FDI inflows. This may reveal India's full potential as a host of foreign investment and redefine its position on the FDI market as an opportunity catalyst. In May 2021, the European Union (EU) and India entered a High-Level Dialogue on Trade and Investment and agreed on a new Connectivity Partnership. This paper suggests that it may be in the EU's best interest to leverage its already privileged relationship with India – strengthening it and encouraging European companies to consider India as a FDI host
Out of sight, out of mind? Biden’s calamitous decision on Afghanistan
No full textDespite severe concerns by members of his own military top brass and security circles, on 14 April, 2021, US President Joe Biden announced the unconditional withdrawal of all combat troops by 11 September of the same year. The US does not only thereby relinquish the opportunity to conduct counter-insurgency campaigns against the Taliban, it will also lose any capacity to conduct counter-terrorism operations against al-Qaeda and other international terrorist groups present on the ground.1 Furthermore, this stands in sharp contrast to his own earlier points of view, particularly those held as Vice-President (2009-2017), when under President Obama he advocated for a less troop-intensive but more engaged counter-terrorism presence in Afghanistan. Despite much disenchantment regarding nation-building efforts, endemic corruption, and the inability to bring stability to the country despite a massive troop surge, Biden was then not willing to abandon Afghanistan. President Biden obviously changed his opinion – to the disadvantage of the Afghan state and society. […
Intra-Afghan-Peace Talks (III): Pakistan’s push for an interim government in Afghanistan
No full textAs discussed in an earlier SADF Comment, one of the immediate aims of Pakistan’s Afghan policy is the establishment of an interim government in Kabul. In March 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan presented the idea of forming a transitional authority ‘representing the entire people of Afghanistan’. This call for a ‘new government’, combined with the portraying of the then head of the so-called National Unity Government Ashraf Ghani as a major obstacle for national reconciliation and peace negotiations in Afghanistan, created harsh criticisms among the country’s political leadership. However, Pakistani authorities still and persistently broach the topic – especially in times of rising tensions between Islamabad and Kabul. Now, amidst the current debate among decision makers in the US and NATO regarding either a troop withdrawal or a potential extension of military presence, and faced with a stalled process of talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, the notion of an interim government becomes crucial. […
Klimagerechtigkeit ist kein Terrorakt, sondern ein Grundrecht
No full text„Climate Justice Now!“ – „Klimagerechtigkeit, jetzt!“ ist zum globalen Motto der Klimaaktivist*innen geworden. Es geht nicht nur darum aufzuzeigen, dass die Klimakrise zu überwinden uns alle angeht, sondern auch, die kolonialen Wechselwirkungen der Ungerechtigkeit in dieser Krise und deren Bekämpfung mitzudenken. Die Philippinen sind als Inselstaat durch immer wieder auftretende Extremwetterphänomene wie Taifune und steigende Meereswasserspiegel besonders stark von den Auswirkungen der Klimakrise betroffen, weswegen philippinische Klimaaktivist*innen in ihrer prekären Lage bereits dringliche Appelle und Aktionen hervorbrachten, von denen man sich auch in Deutschland einiges an Strategien und Optimismus abgucken kann