Reasoning and research on January 4, 2019Reasoning can be described as the ability to think logically and sensibly and thus reach valid conclusions. However, in everyday life human communication is not necessarily based on sound reasoning. People can be irrational, biased and beclouded in their thinking because of ideological and religious convictions. Religious beliefs and national narratives are areas in which […]
South Africa: the anti-apartheid movement — III on August 27, 2018As noted already in the first two articles in this series on South Africa, the brutalisation of Africans by outsiders is a blot on invaders, settlers and slave traders claiming to belong to so-called higher civilizations. The apartheid regime of South Africa did all it could to break the will and determination of the people […]
The passing of two great peace activists on August 25, 2018The world is poorer today because two outstanding Champions of Peace, India’s Kuldip Nayar and Israel’s Uri Avnery, are no more. They were leading lights for sanity, tolerance and mutual respectin their societies and nations who always believed in the indivisibility of humanity. Kuldip Nayar was born in Sialkot in on August 14, 1923 and […]
The PM’s address to the nation on August 21, 2018I was completely bowled over by the emphasis Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan laid on serving the deprived and oppressed sections of Pakistani society. There was nothing with which I disagreed. If he and his government implement his vision of a new Pakistan, we should all support him. I say this as a Swedish citizen […]
Imran Khan address to the nation on July 28, 2018PTI chief Imran Khan’s address to Pakistanis after his stunning electoral victory was in the best traditions of statesmanship. The speech was balanced, dignified, and progressive and delivered with modesty and humility. Politicians are driven by an excessive urge for power. Power can be both productive and destructive. This becomes even more pronounced when power […]
Imran Khan won hands down on July 27, 2018As a political scientist with a sense of history and sociology I have no hesitation in saying that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), led by cricket legend Imran Khan won the election hands down. The people of Pakistan voted against corruption and for change. From 10 am Central European Time, according to which the clock is set […]
The idea of State on July 19, 2018In recent weeks we have been discussing the idea of a Deep State, State within a State and the Establishment and so on. But what is the State actually? Three main theories of the State can be identified under which can be subsumed all variations of the State. The first is the Liberal State: A […]
South Africa: the anti-apartheid movement — II on July 10, 2018In this second article based on my recent visit to South Africa, I trace the struggle launched by the African National Congress (ANC) against apartheid. We begin with putting racism in perspective. Historically black Africa has been brutalised by all external forces who invaded the African continent. This is not to deny that within Africa, […]
Riding the tiger: the nature of Pakistani politics on July 2, 2018A lot of melodrama has been generated by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief and cricket legend Imran Khan’s visit to the mausoleum of Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar at Pakpattan. A video clip shows him prostrating at the mausoleum. Afterwards, a lot of hue and cry invoking rulings against such behaviour as un-Islamic have been issued by his […]
South Africa: Apartheid on June 22, 2018A lifelong desire to visit the country Nelson Mandela and his comrades had founded after long years of suffering multifarious oppressions including executions and long incarcerations at the hands of Apartheid South Africa was finally fulfilled earlier this month. My wife Meliha and I and our friends Feray and Martin, flew in from Stockholm via […]