Political dynasties
DYNASTIC politics curbs merit in politics. Yet it exists even in the West, China and Japan. Its strength varies. In its mild, most common form, many scions of a family…
Dynasties and cults
IN developed states, policies largely attract votes. In developing ones, electables gain vote banks by promising patronage goodies directly to local clans. These banks, being based on social links, transfer…
Dynasties, old and new
It was generally believed that the rise of the PTI would change the political landscape of the 2018 general elections. It was believed that the PTI’s young candidates would weaken…
Political parties and democracy
“Political parties make strong demands for the conduct of free and fair elections to legislative bodies, but choose to ignore the application of the same principles when it comes to…
End of acrimony
To the credit of the very congenial-looking Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari , he is trying to overcome the emptiness of the present by building the most cordial scenarios for the future. A…
The fate of the republic
The seriousness of the crisis in Pakistan can be gauged from what is perhaps the most sobering of all the considerations as we begin to take account of the dead…
Resurrecting the human soul
Starting in Lahore, the freedom march would be on its way to Islamabad on the day this piece appears in the paper, to reach there on November 4. The importance…
Philippines elections
Marcos Bongbong Marcos Jr was elected president of the Philippines in the presidential election held on May 09. According to unofficial results, Marcos Jr won a landslide with more than…
Who gets to do politics in Pakistan?
Despite its associated shortcomings, democracy in its varying forms, is often touted as the most desirable system of government worldwide. To be fair, the foundational philosophical tenets of democratic governance…
A crisis and a reset
There is nothing inevitable about the constitutional and economic crises that we are facing. These are a consequence of our civilian and military rulers’ reckless elite bargains, chopping and changing…
