Political merry-go-round
THERE has been far too much discussion on May 9 in the past week, making the issue as repetitive as our talk show discussions. But then, I do claim to write on…
Political capitalism
THE last couple of years have witnessed a series of changes to decision-making structures of Pakistan’s economy. These include the creation of the SIFC, the centralisation of economic governance, and greater…
Is the PTI a political party?
THE vicious vengeance directed against leaders and supporters of the PTI is a clear sign that the ruling parties in power have given up on even the pretence of democratic…
Political market
THIS story is about a country where the elites completely control politics and the economy. The elites are disproportionately overrepresented in parliament as money literally buys votes. The elites also…
Making sense of US-China tensions
After going through much upheaval in recent years, are US-China relations finally set to stabilize? Recent developments inspire hope. The two countries have been engaged in quiet diplomacy led by…
Making sense of Bangladesh
In recent years, commentators in Pakistan have been citing Bangladesh as a model for progress. As a South Asian country that was described as a basket case at the time…
Attack on Trump could spark further US political violence
In a country already on edge, the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has enraged his supporters, paused the Democratic campaign and raised fears of further political violence in…
Neoliberal economic policy, and political economic outcomes
In a number of interviews after becoming finance minister, there is a sense of naivety reflected in the thoughts of. Muhammad Aurangzeb when he thinks that agriculture, for instance, should…
Finding political legitimacy
I wrote about the CAR framework last month and posited that governance has become much more challenging because ‘capability’, ‘accountability’ and ‘responsiveness’ have all become compromised. These qualities have been…
Change the political chessboard
Pakistan stands at a critical juncture in its democratic journey, grappling with a deepening political crisis that threatens to undermine the very fabric of its society. At the heart of…
