With an optimistic outlook, one could expect that the new administration of the United States under the leadership of President Donald Trump will work with Pakistan as close as the Republican leaders have been doing so in the past, starting with the Pakistan – United States relations during the Presidency of General Eisenhower. The former head of CIA, General David Petraeus has had a long association with his Pakistani counterparts and interaction with the ISI. His positive image of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies and sincerity in bilateral relationship of the two countries will be a factor positively impacting Pakistan’s relations with the new establishment in Washington D.C.
The evolution of the state and society of Pakistan in recent years has contributed to strengthening institutions, particularly the parliament. Provinces have also gained strength due to the devolution of powers. Likewise, the security establishment has also proved to be creative and more effective in the exercise of authority and taking action where necessary in public interest. It is clearly understood now that democracy needs to be strengthened but not to be exploited and manipulated by vested interests.
Political parties need to undertake deliberate exercises for self-analysis and correctional purposes, to reform Pakistani state and society. The reforms have to start in political parties and the system of governance. Effective implementation of security measures requires leadership to muster the moral and political strength, and show courage in control and coordination for expected outcome. It is to be understood that change is the only constant and is essential to beat out the degenerating ‘status quo’. All steps are essential to guard against internal implosion and international isolation. Change is the focus of world leaders, and it is evident in the case of President-elect Trump.
If Trump can take the initiative to talk directly to the leaders of North Korea, he can be expected to act constructively and positively to follow policies that promote humanity and goodwill everywhere in spite of his election speeches. Elections are after all elections to win the race. The win-win strategy comes next that Trump would practically adopt and adapt. Remember “if nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.” The philosophy of fluidity is certainly a useful guide. Let it be used positively for the good of the globe – the mother earth. War is not a substitute for regional and international peace-seeking stability and socio-economic development for improving the level of living of the people, to fight disease and poverty and to ensure real satisfaction for love instead of politics of hate and divisiveness.
There is an urgent need to carry out reforms for a just and fair international socio-economic and political systems for equality of opportunities; and opportunities for all irrespective of colour, creed, religious beliefs, and cultures. These pointers are sure indicators of real democracy. Dysfunctional democracy is nothing beyond self-praise and self-congratulations. True democracy establishes a strong bond between the elite and the electorate. It is a test of trust as well as responsibility and accountability. The system of re-calling in the United States is an indication that the real power rests with the people. If leaders don’t live up to the expectations of the people, they have no right to represent the people in public institutions.
Strategic responses to institutional processes have to be understood not only by management experts but also by public as a whole. Ten institutional factors are hypothesised to predict the occurrence of the alternative proposed strategies and the degree of organisational conformity or resistance to institutional pressures. The factors include strategic planning, organisational behaviour, business planning, organisation, industrial management, compliance, corporate culture, industrial relations, organisational research, and management.
There is a need for modernising government and to evolve a system of controls and regulation. Researchers are concerned with alternative strategies for enhanced and workable methods, and trends in regulation of government. Has it increased, is it increasing, should it be diminished keeping in view cost, simple methods and procedures, and convenience of public service staff well as the organisations subject to institutional control? The internal and external environment of organisations is also a determinant of regulations. Care has to be taken to ensure transparency and system of accountability firmly instituted to prevent malpractices and corruption. In this process let us resolve that we never fail in our commitment to build systems fully transparent and accountable.
Complex organisations and organisations men analyse problems and seek solutions. They have problems of their own including trained incapacity and biases as well as needs. Internal and external environment inject positive and negative forces that cause success can be reduced considerably by planned deliberate effort to add to positive effects. This is the way forward to success and goal achievement. In this complicated process, we also need to understand the relationship between Authority and compliance. Authority exists only if there is compliance.
LET US RESOLVE
Moment to moment one could recall
The pages of life unfolding
Letting rethink of defaults
And inspiration for a way forward
I pondered and found others respond
Reflecting on the story of life,
Passions, hopes and aspirations
Focus on people
And ‘certainty-uncertainty’ paradigm
Gains and pains,
Need for a balance,
The areas of the known and the unknown
The pattern of life so ‘zig’ ‘zag’, the Maze and Mire
Not a straight line, something black and white.
Path to justice and peace
Suggest search for the common ground,
The way to reconcile
And issues that really matter
What is the problem?
How, where and why it is so?
Who is part of the problem rather than the solution?
When does a problem become a problem?
Let us do some muddling through
Maybe also look for a Sufi Saint, ideas of love in good faith.
Who is a friend?
Who is the foe?
Do we objectively know?
Certainly, we need to put our own house in order
Self-analysis and search through
Help build strengths as weaknesses we come to know
Positive thinking is building future
And to be truly responsible,
A first step to be accountable
Every moment of life is a test, an exercise
To prepare us to demonstrate
We are responsible
We are accountable
And in this process, we never fail, is our resolve
Let us resolve
The writer is a former Director of the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), a political analyst, a public policy expert and an author. His book Post 9/11 Pakistan was published in the US