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The Young Stalin

By
Asal Din
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“A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths is statistics” is one of the famous sayings of the dictator who ruled Russia for nearly 30 years.

Joseph Stalin was unquestionably the mightiest of all the dictators that the world endured in the 20th century. Succeeding Lenin, Young Stalin took over a state that was still recovering from the ravages of WWI, 3 years of civil war, and 6 years of communist depredations. On Stalin’s direction, the Russian Red Army killed 3 million farmers in their own country. Between 1930 and 1933, six million people died of starvation due to his authoritarian agricultural policies. He killed over 80% of his party workers and Russian army officers whose loyalty he suspected. Stalin is thought to have directly or indirectly caused more than 20 million fatalities.

He was the one who defeated Hitler and dictated to Russia during WWII. It is said that he was so cold-blooded and heartless that when the German army arrested his son Jacob, Stalin turned down the German offer of barbing Jacob with the imprisoned German soldiers. Soviet Russia emerged as the second superpower of the world under his leadership. Cruelty, heartlessness, inhumanity, revolt against authority, and all he did during his rule an essential parts of history.

Here, the intent is to provide a thorough account of his early years up until the 1920s. Perhaps less was spoken about this than about his time in power.

Young Stalin’s Early Life

Stalin’s father, Vissarian Dzhugashvili, worked in a shoe factory in Tiflis, later on, shifted to Gori, a small provincial town of Georgia, and married a girl named Katrina in 1874. Iosif Vissarianovich Stalin was his first child, born in December 1878 in Gori. But Stalin’s father was not on good terms with his mother, a laundress.

When Vissarian accused his wife of adultery, infidelity, and having a secret liaison with a priest by the name of Koba, Stalin was given the moniker “Koba”. Vissarian started drinking, behaving rudely with his wife and son, and used to beat Stalin severely, calling him a bastard. All this was deadly traumatic for Stalin. In 1887, his face was left pockmarked by the spread of smallpox in the region.
Iosif Stalin’s mother wanted to make him a priest and enrolled him in Gori’s Preparatory Ecclesiastic School in 1888, but his father opposed it. Rebuking his wife, Vissarian said, “You want my son to be a priest ?”. That was the day Stalin threw a knife at his father, defending his mother.

Vissarian made Stalin work in the factory and tortured him physically and mentally. His arm injury turned severe, leaving his left arm shorter than the right one. After being reported to the police by his wife, Vissarian was put in jail.

Educational Background

Again after getting enrolled in 1890 and then graduating from Ecclesiastical School in 1894, he was admitted to Tiflis Orthodox Seminary by his mother, where he was a good student till his 3rd year in the institution.


Meanwhile, he started studying and preaching the ideas of Victor Hugo, who was considered a subversive author by the Seminary. He had also joined the Young Socialist Circle to study Marxism. Until his career at the Seminary, the germs of rebellion against authority, treachery, and plotting had nourished his personality. He had been inciting the students against the teachers and in favor of the Young Socialist Circle by smuggling illegal pamphlets and inflammatory leaflets into their dormitories. He became disrespectful to his teachers and authorities of the Seminary.

Young Stalin’s Rebellious Journey

Along with 45 other students, he was dismissed from the Seminary on May 29, 1899. One of his classmates calls, “His opinions abruptly and drastically changed. He did not tolerate criticism of his views. The search for truth did not interest him. He would defend his views which he previously condemned.”
Stalin went to Tiflis, where he met Lado, his senior at Seminary, and Kamo, an underworld presser. They invoked protests of workers of industries against the government in Tiflis and Batum, as Stalin was already part of the Social Democratic Party. He befooled the Orkhana secret police as he pretended to work for it as an informer. He was ousted from the Social Democratic party in 1901 for some ill wills on his part. In Batum, Stalin was also part of the Batum underworld band that did armed robberies and became their cashier.

Young Stalin’s Political journey

In 1903, Social Democratic Party split into Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. The same year, Stalin came to know about Lenin through Kamenov. Lenin headed the Bolshevik fraction. A renowned Bolshevik faction member named Kamenov was detained by Batum police in 1904 according to information provided by Stalin. Stalin gained a higher position in the party and funded it through his armed robberies.

Between 1903 and 1913, he was sent to Siberian jails 7 times in different cases. These included, leading demonstrations, underworld activities, and conspiracies, but every time he would run away from the jail. That was when he was given the name Stalin which means “man of steel .” He also got married when he escaped a third time from jail in 1904.

In 1912, the Bolshevik fraction emerged as a new Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Lenin made Stalin a member of the new party’s Central Committee. But the following year in 1913, he was jailed in Siberia for the next four years. In 1917 he escaped from jail. That was the year of the Russian revolution when the Communist Party grasped the Russian government under Lenin’s leadership.

Lenin appointed Stalin as the secretary general of the party. After a couple of months, Lenin became bedridden due to a brain hemorrhage and passed away within the next two years.

The most exciting thing was that Lenin had become critical of Stalin’s dictatorial thoughts during the last days of his life. Los Angeles Times reported on the 27th of February, 1988, that Lenin had mentioned in his secret document to remove Stalin from the office of the secretary-general. Still, Stalin happened to get that secret document before anyone else and did not let it reach the relevant persons’ hands.

A Nasty Dictator?

After Lenin’s death, Stalin and Leon Trotsky, the head of the Red Army, were to succeed him. Trotsky did not have that much popularity in the Central Committee. By plotting against him, Stalin first expelled him from the party in 1926 and then turned him out of the Soviet Union in 1929. After expelling Trotsky from the party, Stalin became all in all and emerged as a nasty dictator. He announced the nationalization of the agricultural lands of the Soviet Union and consolidated them to make larger agricultural farms. The government would keep 90% of the production, and 10% would go to farmers.
It was a callous decision that was even against the spirit of Communism, resulting in massive riots and protests of farmers against the government. The farmers killed their cattle, concealed their yields in the graves, and refused to give them to the government. Stalin had become unstoppable. He waged war against the big landowners and farmers, called “Kulaks.” On his command, the Red Army killed 3 million farmers in its own country. Many farmers were sent to Siberian jails and forced labor camps called “Gulags,” where anyone would hardly survive

Young Stalin; A People’s Hero?

His father’s unbalanced, harsh, bitter, abusive, repressive, and turbulent treatment presumably left his personality blemished and stained. The seeds of rebellion had already been sown in his mind. His traumatic childhood life had imprints on his character that could not be washed out later. He grew up as a rebellious, treacherous, and insurgent boy who mastered incitation and bullying before joining the revolutionary communist group.

Young Stalin would always despise authority, whether in society or at school and seminaries. He was ambitious for authority and would like to do the things that suited his taste, irrespective of the fear of authorities, traditions, or other social barriers.

It was unimaginable at that time what would have become of him when he reached 40. The Soviet Union needed a leader who was both rebellious and intrigue, which was unexpected. The 1930s and later saw the gradual unveiling of Stalin’s harsh, savage, and butcherous side, which resulted in the deaths of more than 20 million people. However, he managed to make the Soviet Union the world’s second superpower. More than 50% of Russians today perceive him as their hero.

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Possibility of LNG supplies to Pakistan by Russia

By
Mashal Zahid
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Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Union has imposed sanctions on Russia for this invasion. Russia retaliates by cutting off gas supplies to Europe. Europe, the biggest buyer of Russia’s gas, is now facing a severe energy crisis of the decade. The US assumes that putting sanctions on Russia will adversely affect their economy as Russia exports 40% to Europe. As EU sanctions tighten, Moscow has stepped up fuel exports to Asia. This is done to find alternative markets for new profitable importers of its oil and gas. Now Russia has turned its supply of energy markets towards Asia. While China and India are already buying Russian gas, Pakistan is also in talks with Russia to import LNG.

Pakistan’s LNG shortage

Ahead of winter, the foreign minister has already warned the citizens about the gas shortage. Pakistan doesn’t have long term energy management plan. Although Pakistan ranked 29th among the states with the biggest reserves of natural gas, meanwhile domestic supplies have declined over the past few years. According to Bloomberg Pakistan has a severe energy shortage as the government was unable to secure longstanding supply of liquefied natural gas. Several failed attempts to buy gas from the expensive spot market have led to widespread power cuts this year.

According to traders until 2026, when massive new export projects start up there’s little LNG supply accessible. As consumers in Europe are willing to pay high prices in the rush to secure gas as a substitute for deteriorating Russian pipeline flows. Many spot cargoes are currently going to Europe. This leaves developing nations facing energy shortages and economic uncertainty for years. Pakistan, which is already suffering from high inflation and decreasing currency reserves. Some LNG providers are hesitant to sell fuel to the nation. It is the that they may not be able to make future payments.

Benefits of LNG import to Pakistan

Pakistan heavily relies on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternate fuel. In 2020, Pakistan imported 7.4 million tons of LNG. The government assumes that over the next decade LNG demand will grow rapidly. It is estimated that by 2030 Pakistan’s LNG imports could grow to $32 billion. In order to ease a crippling shortage of natural gas Pakistan is considering signing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchase agreement with many countries as well as Russia as it seeks to secure supply.

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Sui Northern Gas is a gas distributor in Pakistan. In a notice to the stock exchange, it said that it would give 100,000 cylinders to consumers. It was to deal with a potential gas shortfall this winter. The government has requested the business that serves clients in the northern half of the country to take action. The steps include energy requirements as Pakistan is facing challenges in aftermath of devastating floods. The currency has likewise lost value. The government has to look into other energy options to meet the gas requirements.

Agreements between Russia and Pakistan

Russia and Pakistan signed an agreement on the construction of 1,100 km-long pipeline in 2015. In order to fuel power plants in the northeastern state of Punjab, liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Karachi on the Arabian Sea coast had to be imported. The estimated cost of the construction of a gas pipeline from Karachi to Kasur was $3 billion. The pipeline has a 12.4 billion cubic metre (bcm) designed annual capacity, with a potential upgrade to 16 bcm.

In 2017, Pakistan Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) signed a cooperation agreement with Gazprom. Under this agreement, Pakistan and Russia guaranteed to develop hydrocarbon projects in Pakistan.

Then Gazprom and Pakistan struck a second $10 billion agreement in 2018 to carry out a feasibility study. The aim was to build an offshore pipeline starting from Iran to Pakistan. Again in 2019, Russia assured Pakistan of $14 billion investment. The guarantees included the North-South Pipeline Project, offshore gas project, and underground gas storage facilities were the guarantees.

Russian President Vladimir Putin showed his commitment of building gas infrastructure in Pakistan in a meeting with PM Shehbaz Sharif at the Shanghai cooperation organization. Particularly in the energy sector, Russia and Pakistan have other interesting and ambitious projects. Putin also discussed the Pakistani Stream project, which suggests the creation of infrastructure for supplies of liquefied natural gas.

Conclusion

If Pakistan buys Russian gas, it will be a huge benefit. Winter has already come and there is a huge demand for gas. Pakistan’s LNG supplies are not enough to meet the country’s gas requirements. In light of diminishing gas reserves, reinforcing relations with a reliable partner like Russia would be significant to Pakistan’s energy security. At this time, importing Russian gas will definitely ease the pressure on the already crippled economy.

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Multipolarity in International System

By
Muhammad Waqas Marwat
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Multipolarity is a very important phenomenon in the international system. There is a concept of power attached with it for the smooth lineup. In terms of population size, territory, resources, economic potential, military might, political stability, and other factors, the power of the state is something that stands out. These talents were referred to as “superpowers” in various eras and were possessed by various states. Thus, based on the number of states that attain these power capabilities. Three categories of power exist in the global system.

  • Unipolar system
  • Bipolar system
  • Multipolar system

When power is concentrated in just one state, the system is said to be unipolar. Like after the cold war, the whole power integrated only in a single state, America.

When power is split between two states, the system is referred to as bipolar. For instance, during the Cold War, the United States of America and the Soviet Union shared power.

Multipolar System

Our main concern is multipolarity. As defined in the book Essentials of the International System, “a multipolar system is a system in which the distribution of the power to conquer is concentrated in more than two states.” “The system preceding World War I was compromised by five great states: Great Britain, Prussia, France, and Austria-Hungary” (MINGST, 2017, p. 110).

It means that if more than two countries attain the most power, the international system will become a multipolar system. Because there will be a powerful state on each pole of the world and thus the system has divided power on each pole.

History of Multipolarity

As we see, the concept of multipolarity dates back to ancient times. In the times of empires, most of the time, different empires seized power at the same time. For example, the Persian empire, the Byzantine empire, the Spanish empire, the Roman empire, and the Islamic empire. Now, most of the time, these different powers fight with each other. With the passage of time, these powers weakened, and new powers arose. And the global power structure underwent a complete transformation at the turn of the 20th century.

The new power on the map was Britain, French, Germany, Russia, America, the ottoman, and the Austria-Hungary empire. And similarly, at the time of world war 2, the world was multipolar, but later the equation changed. For example, at that time now, America, Britain, French, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Russia have seized power. But after world war two, the multipolariy died. It lead to a bipolar system of America and Russia which became the center of power for the next 40 years. And then, after collapsing of U.S.S.R, the whole power was integrated into America (HIRO, 2010, p.1_319).

Balance of Power in Multipolar System

One of the most critical questions regarding the polar system is that what will be the system of power in that system. And another question is which system is most stable among the unipolar, bipolar, and multipolar systems. There are two views on the balance of power in a multipolar system. One theory holds that the multipolar system is the most stable since the power is distributed equally. There is an equal chance for the small states to join these powerful states and quickly gain their interests.

But the most important thing here is the interest of these mighty nations. In the international system, there is anarchy, and every state looks towards its own advantages. In a unipolar system, there is a chance for a single powerful state to take advantage of its neighboring states. But in a multipolar world, the chance for this type of advantage decreases (sun, 2014).

Multipolar system as an unstable system

On the other hand, the multipolar system can be the most unstable system. The two world wars happened because of this multipolar international system. In the time of the First World War there were five superpowers on the earth: British, French, America, Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary. The war started between Austria and Serbia; these powerful states joined it because of their alliances, which led to the worst war in history.

Similarly, at the time of the Second World War once again the world was multipolar. The alliances existed between these powerful nations like Britain, French, and America; Russia also joined this alliance. While on the other side, Germany, Japan, and Italy had their alliance. Thus the alliances between these powerful states when the war started led to the world war. So from the above justifications, we can easily conclude that a multipolar world also has the tendency that leads to world wars (McCormick, 2015).

A quadruple alliance of powerful states emerged in Europe in the form of Great Britain, France, Russia. It is believed that this was one of Europe’s most stable periods. According to the journal, “the concert of Europe was one of the few historical examples of a stable multipolar system; the regular meeting of the great powers assured decades of peace and stability on the continent” (Varisco, 2013, p.3).

If cooperation is established, we can anticipate that multipolarity will emerge as the most stable system in the international sphere. But at the same time, most of the conflicts that arose were also in the multipolar world. The two world wars are the best examples.

Does Multipolarity lead to Imperialism?

The multipolar international system is linked to another important idea. Every powerful state in a multipolar system is thought to be fighting to hold onto its power. For this purpose, every state spreads its area of influence both in economic resources and in finding new markets. This is the same circumstance that we saw during the multipolar era of the colonization of the globe. These strong states split apart the colonies, completely subordinating the weak states as a result.

Is our World Leading towards Multipolarity?

One of the most mind-catching questions that have arisen this time in international politics is that “is the world leading towards multipolarity again?”

Here I will try to answer this question with some discussions. Starting with this statement “The recent rise of the new powers such is called BRIC countries brazil, Russia, India and China could soon result in the return to a multipolar international system” (Varisco, 2013). In the contemporary world, any country to become a superpower must have a large territory, expanded military strength, a robust economic system, a compatible population, technological advancement, soft power, and intense diplomacy.

Now, if we examine all the above countries, they have all these capabilities. They are ready to adopt the multipolar system in the international society. In the modern world, the primary goal of any state is to attain the most advanced technological and economic system. These powerful states mentioned above are in competition for technological advancement and on the other hand, they are in warfare on the economic field. The first BRIC summit in June 2009 also expressed a motive for this purpose.

Former American state secretary Hillary Clinton stated on an official visit to New Zealand in 2010, “We see a shifting of power to a more multipolar world as opposed to the cold war model of a bipolar world” (angular, 2007).

Similarly, the statement of the Russian foreign minister at the Russia-china conference in 2016 declared, “International relation have entered into a conceptually new historically stage that consist in the emergence of multipolar world order” (Auguiar, 2007).

Conclusion

We can easily conclude that the polarity of power changes with time and depends on certain factors. In each era, the states that attain these factors become powerful. A multipolar system develops if more than two states meet these criteria. A multipolar system has many advantages, but in the same way, it has a lot of disadvantages. The failure of the multipolarity also bounds the two great wars. And now, the world is again moving towards a multipolar system. At the end, I leave a question for readers: what will be the future of the new multipolar world?

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How Russia’s gas blockade will impact Europe?

By
Mashal Zahid
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0

Russia is Europe’s single largest source of gas. It depends on Russian natural gas supplies as it is economical and convenient, mainly carried by the vital undersea pipeline Nord Stream 1 connecting Russian gas to Europe through Germany. But recently, Russia has choked off the supplies of cheap natural gas that the continent depended on for years to run factories, generate electricity, and heat homes. That has made European governments scramble for new provisions and ways to blunt the impact as economic growth slows and household utility bills rise. Russia’s gas blockade of Europe has a long-term impact on its economy and stability.

Europe’s energy reliance on Russia

Russia has the world’s largest natural gas reserves and is the leading supplier of gas, oil, and coal to Europe. Europe imports about 40% of its gas from Russia before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As the EU’s largest economy, Germany is Russia’s leading customer, paying Russia’s state-owned gas company 200 million euros. Nearly 25% of the EU’s energy consumption comes from natural gas, Oil, and petroleum (32%). Biofuels, renewable energy (18%), and solid fossil fuels (11%) make up the rest. That dependency on natural gas means reliance on Russia. Currently, the EU is the largest distributor of natural gas in the world, with a significant part of its gas coming from Russia (41%), Norway (24%), and Algeria (11%).

As Russian gas was easy to transport and almost always accessible been attractive to Europe, Its significance grew in recent years as several countries moved to end coal and nuclear power generation and production from their gas fields deteriorated. Gazprom, a Russian state-controlled company, was supplying about a third of all gas consumed in Europe till the war in Ukraine disrupted supplies and highlighted the risk of over-dependence on one energy supplier.  This shows that Europe would be heavily affected by Russia’s gas blockade; it has an adverse economic effect.

Challenges and impact on Europe

Russia’s gas blockade has already impacted Europe. Inflation hits record high, energy prices soar high, and gas prices are 10 times high than usual. This has provoked anxiety in Europe. The majority of homes in Europe utilize natural gas to heat their homes. It is a dominant source of energy for Europe. The challenge is that if we look at it from one viewpoint and say Europe is a bit more prepared, there are dual problems.

One is that the distribution of gas storage is not constant. Countries like Germany tend to have a higher share of storage. And Finland, for instance, have almost no storage; the United Kingdom also has almost no storage. These are historical alternatives, thus, even when taken together as a region, there is more excellent storage, and some countries are more vulnerable.

A further challenge is happening, especially in Germany and the Low Countries, and it’s that this lower consumption means that high power-intensive sectors, whether it’s fertilizer producers or a whole range of business trades, are looking at the expenses and are consuming, not as much of, which means output is decreasing.

In March, The EU intended to reduce gas imports from Russia by two-thirds in a year, but it has exposed difficulty in getting arrangements on further measures such as an absolute import ban. Germany depends on Russia for almost half of its gas supply. It has recently had to limit gas use in electricity production and appeal to citizens to conserve energy after Moscow cut some supplies. The supply disruption is also compelling Germany to use more coal-fired power plants. The UK is increasing its gas exports to continental Europe to support filling storage sites throughout the winter. The EU is also planning for longer-term energy freedom.

Economic Impact of Gas Blockade

By March 2023, the euro-area economy will probably shrink by more than 2%, with GDP in Italy and Germany falling as much as 4% and 3%, respectively. If physical constraints obstruct gas flows, the uneven market approach suggests that the negative impact on economic output would be particularly significant, as much as 6 percent for some countries in Eastern and central Europe where the intensity of Russian gas use is high and alternative supplies are scarce, particularly Hungary, the Slovak Republic, and the Czech Republic. Italy would also face significant effects due to its reliance on gas in electricity production.

The increased demand for natural gas and the shortage in supply from Russia have caused an increase in energy prices. For countries like Italy and Germany. Suppose Europe doesn’t get sufficient Russian gas. In that case, it could be challenging. While Italy has been looking for alternate energy sources, Germany doesn’t have as many alternatives.

We estimate it could mean a 65% industry curtailment in Germany if flows stopped coming entirely. It’s fundamentally hard to pivot away from piped gas. Gas pipelines cost billions of dollars, take years to install, and physically connect production and customer, making them long-term commitments in contrast to oil and coal, which may be diverted. That was the origin of Germany’s dependence on Russian gas, which only deepened over time. Today, dependence is getting in the way as the world attempts to punish Russia over sanctions.

WHAT IS EUROPE DOING TO EASE THE CRISIS?

Energy ministers from the European Union are meeting in Brussels to explore strategies for halting the rise in gas and electricity costs. They are under pressure to protect businesses and consumers.  European governments are increasingly concerned rising prices could lead to social unrest and political instability. Europe has aligned all the alternate gas supplies it could. For instance, Consignments of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, that emanate by ship from the United States and more pipeline gas from Azerbaijan and Norway. LNG is far more costly than pipeline gas, though.

Germany is keeping coal plants in a process that it was going to close to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also supports the alternative of re-energizing two nuclear plants set to shut down. The 27-nation EU has agreed on a plan to lessen gas use by 15% by next March. This is roughly the amount experts say will need to compensate for the loss of Russian gas. These conservation methods are currently restricted in member nations, nevertheless.

Regardless of the EU’s consistent emphasis on renewable energy, the crisis forces governments to reluctantly return to using fossil fuels. By 2030 Germany had planned to phase out coal entirely but is now forced to defer the project and immediately legislate to revive coal-fired power facilities as a temporary fix. The Dutch administration has reopened coal-fired power plants at total capacity to save natural gas. Otherwise, that would be used to produce energy.

A frigid future

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has further darkened the international growth outlook. The European economy faced a grim setback, given trade, investment, and financial links with the opposing countries. Now, Europe is enduring a partial cutoff of natural gas exports from Russia, its biggest energy supplier.

The EU’s economic driving force depended on Russia’s gas for more than half and about a third of its oil. By the summer, the dependence declined to 26% for gas and 12% for crude. The standoff with Moscow led Germany to twice down on renewables and capitalize on LNG import facilities. But it will take years for those other sources to come online. In the meantime, the management was bracing heavily polluting coal plants. It subsidized alternative energy suppliers’ purchases to counterbalance the sharp fall in Russian gas imports.

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Floods in Pakistan and Climate Justice Debate

By
Muhammad Razi Haider
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Pakistan has witnessed one of the worst floods caused by unprecedented rains across the country. Floods have affected more than 33 million people, most of whom are Children and Women at greater risk. The climate nightmare has trashed the infrastructure, which was already in danger of failing. Many parts of the country, KPK, South Punjab, Sindh, and Baluchistan, have lost interconnectivity. Rebuilding the infrastructure and coming back to normal will take years. Floods in Pakistan became global news highlights as well. Pakistan declared a state of emergency. It was endorsed by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said, ‘Floods in Pakistan is a global crisis, and it needs Global Response’’.

The Climate Justice Debate

The estimated loss by floods is also massive; according to some reports, it is 40 billion dollars. This figure is 10 billion dollars more than the government calculated at the initial stage. All these episodes of horrors caused by the floods initiated a global debate. People around the globe are talking about Climate Justice and climate compensation. The officials of the Pakistani government at different world forums have urged global actors to help Pakistan in this dire situation because Pakistan is less responsible for what it is facing. The contribution of Pakistan to Climate Change is almost none. The messes created by the developed countries, rapid development, industrialization, and tech advancement with unregulated checks on their carbon emission have caused a significant threat to developing countries, contributing very little.

The economy of Pakistan is already crumbling due to a lack of coherent policies. The political instability within the country is adding more to worsen the situation. Pakistan cannot deal with the catastrophe of floods on its own. As a result, assistance from the international community is needed to bring attention to the climate justice discussion.

TOPSHOT – A man (L) along with a youth use a satellite dish to move children across a flooded area after heavy monsoon rainfalls in Jaffarabad district, Balochistan province, on August 26, 2022. – Heavy rain continued to pound parts of Pakistan on August 26 after the government declared an emergency to deal with monsoon flooding it said had “affected” over four million people. (Photo by Fida HUSSAIN / AFP) (Photo by FIDA HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Challenges to Global South

It is high time for those countries to take responsibility that has benefited from rapid industrialization. These countries reaped fruits without paying the cost. The developed states need to realize that they have altered the climate sphere of the world. Developing and third-world nations are facing the consequences. The Global South needs full support and aid from the global north to cope with the situation. The weather patterns worldwide are shifting. It’s tough for Low-income countries to handle the case based on the predictions only because they don’t have enough resources to manage.

Who is to be blamed for climate change?

One cannot blame nature alone for the man-made calamity. The wealthiest countries, without taking notice of the impacts, continued to have industrialization. This has disrupted nature, and now nature is taking its revenge. The growth of the world is based on injustice for several reasons. For example, the developed countries (USA, Japan, and European Countries) whose contribution is more than 50 percent in fossil fuel consumption, only 15 percent in terms of population. The countries most at risk of climate disaster are those with minimal participation in climate calamities.

The current devastation, especially in the context of Pakistan, is just a reflection of horror waiting for us in the future. The situation needs collective efforts towards Decarbonization and development, which is more environmentally friendly. The world is at the stage where we can not reverse the development and growth achieved in the past few centuries. It is time to regulate these channels and work towards an eco-friendly structure. That’s where the debate of climate adaptation comes alongside climate justice.

Solutions to Climate Change

The realization of the issue is a vital step toward the solution. We must take structural measures to ensure sustainability regarding environmental policies. We must initiate the climate adaptation and resilience policy framework as soon as possible. The faster the climate changes, the more difficult and expensive it becomes to get back on track. And those countries which are the most hit by Climate change should be a pioneer in these steps. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Countries like Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh are yet to take any comprehensive policy and step toward climate resilience and adaptability.

Pakistan needs to work on ecological, social, political, and economic adjustments to mitigate the impact of climatic stimuli. The state must respond on the community level to create awareness regarding the issue. And then impellent those policies to ensure the results. The policy must include all stakeholders and levels from the national, regional, and international organizations. The public and private sector partnership regarding the issue can also be a good option for an effective management system.

Climate adaptation is a costly process. Hence the debate on climate justice should be parallel, and we can not just stick to one direction. The countries that have done the worst to the earth should compensate those who are a victim of negligence. Parties of the Paris agreement and the UNFCCC acknowledge that adaptation is a worldwide challenge. As a result, collaboration across all dimensions is necessary to address the problem of climate change. Pakistan needs to have a country-driven, responsive, and transparent approach. It should prioritize moving towards climate adaptability, keeping the climate justice debate alive.

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Biden’s statement against Pakistan

By
Azhar Mehmood
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0

Recently, in an unofficial meeting President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, claimed that Pakistan is maybe *one of the most dangerous nations in the world* as the country has *nuclear weapons without any cohesion*. What do you think is either a slip of the tongue or a deliberate mistake? And then Why Pakistan only? Why Pakistan became important suddenly? Why did the USA not focus on India’s criminal negligence, which mistakenly fired its nuclear missiles? Was such failure not a threat to Biden? As we know that in international relations, the reality is not objective. It is subjective and socially constructed. To understand Biden’s statement and all these dilemmas, let’s look at PAK-US relations through a constructive lens.

One thing America must realize and believe is that it’s not a unipolar world. Such irresponsible or baseless statements of key officials like Biden can disturb the PAK-US relations, which is mutually beneficial in this multi-polar world. No doubt, America remained the world’s sole power after the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), but the contemporary world power structure is not the same; it is shifting or almost shifted from a uni-polar to a multi-polar system. In short, it’s time for America to come out from the cold war politics and accept the complex realities of today’s world.

Is Biden’s statement a slip of the tongue?

A slip of the tongue is normal and evident in this age, but in diplomacy, nothing is normal. Any action or statement of critical officials is not taken as a mistake but as a message. Here arose a very reasonable question why central authorities made such mistakes? To understand this, we must know the complexities of the decision-making process. It is not child’s play to make and take decisions in a foreign office.

It is very subjective. Before making any decision, you have to measure the cost of your action. Because every step has its reaction, and every choice has a price. Then here we have another question how do they calculate the cost of their efforts? They made some mistakes deliberately in an unofficial way, as Joe Biden’s statement did in this case, to check the reaction or cost of their actions. After this, they think Rationally; if the price is affordable, they finally make decisions.

We have to understand that it is the cost of your actions that forced policymakers to design a Policy accordingly. To cut a long story short, key officials or central authorities have no personal life. Everything they did was taken as a message. Their slip of tongues and mistakes have meanings. And these meanings vary from one state to another. Your mistakes are not mistakes for your adversaries and vice versa. Biden’s statement in this manner becomes a question of foreign policy.

US President Joe Biden speaks about lowering costs for American families at Irvine Valley Community College in Irvine, California on October 14, 2022. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP)

Impact of Biden’s statement

America has lost its previous glory as in the cold war era. Now It is declining power. In Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas, particularly in Asia, america is losing its influence continuously. For instance, look at Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and even India, their core member in QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue). They don’t want to accept the hegemonic role of the USA.

Pakistani society already has negative discourse against the USA due to its policies in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Kashmir. Therefore, such irresponsible actions like Biden’s speech may destroy their remaining significance in this region. In the last paragraph, we see how the USA has been losing its influence in Asia since the time of the Trump administration. Such baseless statements are not suitable for American interests at all. If the USA doesn’t revisit its regional policy, then other powers will come to fill this power vacuum. The USA should avoid living in a Utopian world.

The most certain thing in this world is uncertainty. The world’s anarchic structure is creating problems throughout the world. The world’s double standards are crushing less powerful entities. Niccolo Machiavelli rightly said that politics has no morals. See the double standards of the USA, on one side criticized the country which has the most advanced safety measures for its nuclear assets and follows international standards. On the other side, they remained silent on India’s criminal negligence, who mistakenly fired their atomic missiles and were involved in the uranium business. Recently, North Korea tested its missile over Japanese territory. Go and criticize them.

What was the hidden message in recent Biden’s statement?

To understand this, don’t forget to look at the historical Pak-US relations because you don’t drive a car without a back mirror. In PAK-US, historic references clearly showed that the USA supported Pakistan only for its strategic interests. For instance, before the U-2 crisis in the 1960s, the USA supported Pakistan, not for Pakistan, but they helped Pakistan because they needed PAK to curtail Communism in this region. They engaged Pak in SEATO and CENTO just because of their strategic need. Pakistan gets nothing from these defense alliances. Look at the arms embargo of 1965, which ultimately favored Pakistan’s adversary in war.

Pakistan had to pay a high cost for these American alliances. Why didn’t the USA support PAK in a time of need, like the U-2 crisis, in the 1965 war, in the 1971 war, etc.? The simple answer is that they don’t need PAK at that time. They almost failed to stop communism in South East Asia and were defeated severely in the Vietnam war. Therefore, Pakistan became irrelevant after that. But again, Pakistan became a lovely friend when the USSR invaded Afghanistan in 1979 because of their strategic requirement. They again supported Pakistan due to its strategic significance, and after this, they simply kicked out and imposed sanctions on Pakistan. In Short, whenever the USA take Pakistan’name in their statements, it is understood that they have some regional strategic issue that haunts america.

What regional developments could disturb the American interests in this region?

Firstly, the USA knew that china was growing as a new competitor globally and in this region. The USA already signed QUAD and recently AUKUS to counter china and influence essential trade routes in the Indo-Pacific region.

 Secondly, BRI (Belt road initiative)in general and CPEC particularly haunt Chinese adversaries. Therefore, the USA launch every strategy that counters Chinese progress. To counter BRI USA launched B3W (Build Back Better world)

Thirdly, Pakistan is a significant country in this region. It has nuclear capability along with a pivotal Geostrategic position. The USA wants to cash this opportunity to look at Pakistan’s fragile economy. Therefore, they started homework once again. 

In a nutshell, neither Pakistan nor the global power structure remains the same as in the cold war era. It is a bitter reality, and no one can omit this. Bilawal Bhutto, a foreign minister of Pakistan, took proper action and called the US ambassador to demarche over Biden’s statement. In short, it’s time for the USA to come out from cold war politics and accept the complex realities of this multi-polar world.

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Electricity theft in Pakistan and Debt Burden

By
Ali Raza
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0

A society where theft is not deemed as theft is never progressive, and it is an individual’s responsibility to highlight the issue. Pakistan is a country with 220 million people, and most of the citizens are poor and live without basic facilities. In the current situation, almost 50 million people have no access to electricity in Pakistan. And research by World Bank shows that the country lost $4.5 billion in 2018 due to regulatory and systematic issues. Electricity theft in Pakistan is one of the significant reasons for pilling debt on the electricity supply companies. It is perceptible that the country will foresee the rising loss of energy and energy import bills.

What does the Economy Survey tell us?

According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan, the country increased its electricity generation capacity to 11.5% (41,557MW) in 2021-22. Amid surplus electricity generation, the country’s hydel power generation capacity marginally lies up to 24.7%, RLNG 23.8%, natural gas contribution declined to 8.5%, and Nuclear Energy increased to 8.8%. As per reports by the World Bank, the country has rapidly expanded its access to electricity between 1990 to 2022, but the lack of concentration on electricity theft has increased the burden on the tax-paying households who, in terms of price increase per unit, must pay to balance the import bill and debt on the electricity generating power plants. According to NEPRA, In June 2021, Pakistan’s circular debt stood at Rs. 2.280 trillion, and the low recovery of bills and non-payment of subsidies are the major causes of the debt increment.

Major Imports

Energy is essential for driving a prosperous economy and boosting business activities. It is the source for billions of people as it helps generate income and helps in the survival of human beings. Pakistan is one country that produces electricity from Hydropower, RLNG, Nuclear, Coal, and Oil. Therefore, the country spends most of its earnings on importing RLNG, Coal, and Oil. Currently, Pakistan imports 70% coal, 7.4 million tons of RLNG, and 630,000 tons in May 2022. In the below-mentioned graph, the circular debt and import of RLNG are visual for the readers.

The graph shows that Pakistan’s Gas Sector is on the hit list regarding payments. As the country currently grapples with the ticking bomb of circular debt.

Circular debt

We study various countries and their electricity distribution methods for proper electricity regulation. Meanwhile, the primary reasons we found that affect the circular debt are the non-recovery of bills, direct hooking (usage of electricity without a meter), and involvement of related institutions in Pakistan. Electricity theft in Pakistan is the main hurdle in improving distribution and grid-system.

The government of Pakistan has not taken any step yet, nor the electricity-supplying institutions are taking such serious steps. According to the 2018 Senate Committee on Circular Debt Report, the estimated cost of power theft was Rs. 53 billion, increasing as consumers surge. In addition, most consumers do not consider electricity theft a robbery but an opportunity to take benefit. Also, no checks and balances on the meter reading and persons involved in providing such services for money make it more challenging to end the circular debt. The related authorities should take strict actions against such loopholes and hold the involved individuals accountable. Pakistan needs to get rid of electricity theft, or it will badly affect the economy and the citizens paying high bills, as depicted in the below figures.

Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1661674

Province-wise Electricity Theft

To highlight the loss of energy theft and bill recovery, we identified province-wise electricity theft and compared the considerable loss and its impact. A research study concludes that KPK faced an electricity loss of almost Rs. 5697.6 million in 2020. And power thieves almost gave a loss of Rs. 12.93 billion. Two districts of KPK topped the electricity theft, Mardan and Bannu. According to the Joint-Secretary Power Division, the loss of electricity distribution was primarily identified in Peshawar, Islamabad, and Hyderabad. Wherefore, Sindh stands at the second number where 30% to 40% bill recovery is a nightmare.

According to the document by The News, in 2018, Sindh faced 1.126 billion units stolen. Also, the records showed that Punjab ranks third in electricity theft as Rs. 12.429 billion of electricity was theft. Lastly, Balochistan also faces electricity theft in the coffin, and it caused a loss of energy of approximately Rs. 6.751 billion.

Recently, we have visited more than 50 villages in different parts of Sindh and Balochistan. Wherefore, we found that there is no meter system and direct hooking is on the rise. However, we interviewed residents, who enclosed the reason we are paying bills. But they pay some amount to the persons belonging to the related institutions. We also found that direct hooking destroys the fair distribution of power and neglects the meter regulatory system. The residents were encouraged to do the same activity and were sure that the theft culture would continue to rise soon. The reason for encouraging residents is the connection between the institutions facilitating them for money. So, the money recovered from the consumers is not going into the government’s pocket, but related institutions are filling themselves.

Conclusion

After reviewing all the loopholes, we assume that the country can fight the loss of energy and the power theft menace, and soon it can leave the barrier of rising prices per unit due to circular debt. The concerned authorities should install proper regulatory meters and somewhat track down electricity theft in Pakistan by taking strict action against the hooking system. Moreover, leaders should identify the involved persons taking bribes and encouraging thefts. A prosperous nation is always responsive and takes the opportunity to eradicate loopholes together. We need to take action now and support emerging Pakistan.

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Western sanctions on Russia in the Ukraine crisis

By
Hidayat Nasar
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0

The ongoing Russo-Ukraine war has various distinctions from the battles that were fought earlier.  As the world globally adopts rapid globalization so swiftly, the means and modus operandi of warships are changing. After the attack on Ukraine, Russia faced a series of sanctions by the west. The impact of western sanctions on Russia in the Ukraine crisis is a question striking the minds of everyone.

Vladimir Putin’s Strategy to sanctions on Russia

It is pertinent to mention here that the behavior of the ruler of a particular state and the nature and type of state also play a pivotal role in fabricating and shaping war strategies. Vladimir Putin, branded as an aggressor, provocative, etc., would undoubtedly strike hard at the enemy due to the nature of the state and the concentration of power in his hands. In contrast, a ruler of liberal democracy would hesitate to do so because he/she would also need the consent and approval of other stakeholders.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin attends the Navy Day parade in Saint Petersburg, Russia July 25, 2021. Sputnik/Aleksey Nikolskyi/Kremlin via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has wreaked havoc upon Ukraine and left almost every segment of the society fragmented and devastated. International condemnations came pouring, but Russia is reluctant to pull out of the war front. It sees the joining of NATO by Ukraine as an imminent and existential threat to Russia’s national security and sovereignty.

Impact of sanctions on Russian Economy

Beyond the war, another conflict is going on. An economic war of sanctions is underway, with the Western countries imposing joint sanctions on Russia. The apparent objective of these sanctions is to exhaust Russia’s Military, economically, and politically. Imposing economic sanctions were seen as discarding Russian aggression. The so-called sanction war is not producing immediate and desired results, but the reality is hard to be believed.

Western countries, according to Amateur, have crippled the $1.8 trillion Russian economy with a new series of sanctions. Apart from these sanctions, almost half of the Russian currency reserves lie frozen, with most of its central banks cut off from the global payment system. A series of novel sanctions also came into play after the Russian president annexed the Four regions where Russia had held a referendum.

These sanctions resulted in the removal of Russian banks from the Swift global communications system (IFMSS). Secondly, Russia has delayed payments for its exports of oil and gas. It is pertinent to mention that 40% of Russian exports accounted for oil. This has exacerbated the woes of Russia.

Aims of sanctions on Russia

The ultimate aim of these sanctions on Russia is a question that strikes every mind. These sanctions have both short and long-term aims. The short-term aim was to trigger a wave of payment crises in Russia in order to make it hard for Putin to finance the war in Ukraine.

The long-term objective of these economic sanctions is to restrain Putin from further Arsenal buildup. It is also meant to exhaust Russia’s technological and productive capacity. The long-term objectives imply that it would be an arduous task for Vladimir Putin’s Russia to invade any country in the future. The goal of these sanctions against Russia is to stop Putin’s advocacy of war.

What do sanctions mean for U.S?

Nevertheless, the goal of these US sanctions against Russia is to establish US dominance throughout the world. The West, especially the USA, does not want to confront a gigantic empire. A styled country like Russia via military might be due to their unsuccessful and needless adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan-only to mention the most recent ones.

The west, as we know it today, holds control of technological and financial networks. This provides an opportunity for the west to exert its power through such powerful means of the 21st  century’s global economy.

The Consequences of repercussions will be dire. It is estimated that many Russian consumers will miss out the western products. They will also face complete isolation from the western liberal market. This, in turn, will cause a recession in Russian economy. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Russian GDP will shrink by 6 percent at the end of 2022. The novel sanctions aim to block Russia’s access to the Hi-Tech components essential for its military sector.

Impact of sanctions on the western world

Apart from this, these western sanctions on russia in the ukraine crisis will hit the western world even more. It is because of the loopholes and grey areas within the Spectrum. Most western countries are not willing to enforce full or partial sanctions on russia. These hesitant countries account for about 40 percent of the world’s GDP. Secondly, the squeezing of supply chains on the part of Russia may trigger a recession with the Inflation rate increasing unprecedentedly.

The Biggest menace that Confronts the western world is that Russia is an autocracy which is why the Russian economy is still intact. It is also posing an existential threat to western dominance and hegemony. This clarifies things about the US-Chinese rivalry, especially the in the Indo-Pacific region. China is the biggest autocracy, and its economic resources are 10 times larger than Russia’s. Starving China through economic sanctions will be even much tricky owing to the tensions over Taiwan.

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Social media and Misinformation

By
Wali Ejaz Nekokara
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0

Yuval Noah Harari writes that “In a world deluged with misinformation clarity is power”. In this age of technology, clarity is rapidly disappearing. One of the dark sides of social media is the diffusion of misinformation. Social media and misinformation are becoming a launch pad for destroying the self-esteem of people. The integrity of a person is at stake in this age of social media.

Case of Dr. Yusra

Several days ago, fake news about a lady doctor, Dr. Yusra, came to light.

It attracted the attention of many people on social media. Dr. Yusra was working at the Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi. A patient’s relative accused Dr. Yusra of drinking human blood. According to BCC Urdu, National newspapers (Urdu) published unverified news under the title “The doctor who used to drink human blood lost her job”. The representative of Holy Family Hospital, Dr. Tanvir told that “a patient’s relative leveled allegations against Dr. Yusra. Hospital administration took action immediately and an inquiry into the matter commenced”.

He further said that “the accuser did not appear before the inquiry committee. The inquiry was incomplete when the news got published in the newspaper. Following CCTV footage, the blood tests, psychological tests, and staff members’ stance, we concluded that it was fake news”.  

             It was difficult to control one’s tears while reading the BBC report on this matter. There was extreme pain and helplessness in the words of Dr. Yusra’s father. Her father said that “This news left us devastated. Although the truth has been revealed, we are still unable to bring our daughter back to normal life. He further said that “his daughter is depressed to the extent that whenever she comes out of her room, she only asks that “Baba! What is published about me on social media today?”  The Father of Dr. Yusra dismayingly said that “Fake news was read by many people but (despite inquiry report) little attention is paid on seeking apology and rejection of news”.

Dr. Yusra’s Revelation

While talking to a YouTuber, Dr. Yusra maintained that “Some of the people from the hospital might be involved in the propagation of fake news for damaging my repute”. When asked about the journalist who published the news, Dr. Yusra said that “I would not reveal his name. He has apologized and I have forgiven him”. On the question of the future plan, Dr. Yusra said “it is difficult to say anything about the future. I have yet to be recovered from the distressing phase I am going through”.

In Dr. Yusra’s case, social media emerged to be a satanic tool. The number of internets and social media users is sharply increasing. Dr. Javaid Laghari, in his article titled “The power of social media,” writes that there were 61 million internet users in January 2021. He further adds that there were 43 million Facebook and Twitter users. Similarly, the WhatsApp users were around about 46 million. The more the propagation of social media and misinformation, the more the chances of chaos will be. In a country like ours where there is no check and balance, and no research culture, unverified news can destroy many careers. Dr. Yusra’s case encouraged one to do some research on the topic of misinformation.

Types of Misinformation

                                            It helped one understand the various dimensions of misinformation. A research paper titled “Misinformation in social media: Definition, Manipulation, and Detection” enlightens us about the definition and types of misinformation. The paper mentions twelve types of misinformation: unintentionally-spread misinformation, intentionally-spread misinformation, urban legend, fake news, unverified information, rumor, crowdturfing, spam, trolling, hate speech and cyberbullying. It would be pertinent to explain some important types briefly.

                                    First is “Unintentionally-spread misinformation”. It denotes the unintentional dissemination of misinformation; in which the spreader does not know the news is inauthentic. By trusting the source of information, the spreader passes it to his friends and family members. This misinformation can be related to an outbreak. So, people caring about their family members may pass this misinformation to them. 

The second is “Intentionally-spread misinformation”. It indicates the deliberate bid to disseminate misinformation. In this type, the spreader propagates fake news despite knowing the inauthenticity of the news. In such types of misinformation, various groups pass on false information in line with their agenda. Such kind of misinformation is also termed “disinformation”. 

A form of intentionally propagated misinformation is disinformation. Its agenda may have a link to gaining more and more viewers, likes, and comments. In political terms, it can serve a political party’s purpose against the opposition. Armed forces can be maligned by this type of propaganda. An example is a recent hateful campaign against the armed forces of Pakistan when the helicopter went missing in Baluchistan.

                                     The third is “Urban legend”. This is intentionally disseminated misinformation that deals with fictional stories about local events. The purpose may be entertainment. A recent example of this is the misinformation regarding floods in Pakistan. Some people termed floods as the wrath of Allah. What the propagators could not understand is that Allah does not punish without reason. If this was the wrath of Allah, then the reasons are mismanagement, poor planning, and ignorance of climate change. Entertaining purposes are also a reason for this type of disinformation.

Fourth is “Fake news”. This misinformation is propagated intentionally and is used in a news format.  The fifth is “Unverified information”. Unverified information might be true but in most cases, it appears as misinformation. The Sixth is “Rumor”. Rumor is unverified information that can be true or cannot be.

A piece of information may be a rumor until it gets verified. In most cases, we see that rumors are based upon little knowledge or no knowledge at all. Some people intentionally spread a rumor to create misunderstandings about someone or something. The case of the corona vaccine is before us, a rumor was created that the vaccinated people would die soon. Several people were denied vaccinations as a result of this myth. These six types of misinformation are more common in the world. Almost all these types sit well with Dr. Yusra’s case except “Urban legend”.

Dr. Yusra’s case was a result of intentional as well as unintentional propaganda. It was equally a rumor and fake or unverified news. Dr. Yusra’s case has exposed dying journalistic values as verification of news is one of the prerequisites of journalism. It further shows how misinformation can make our life difficult. Most of the above-mentioned types posit intentional attempts to spread misinformation for deceptive purposes. The motive behind these attempts can be a desire to get more views, political agendas, character assassination, and popularity stunts.

Voyeurism

                                 Unfortunately, in Pakistan, we have another important way of misinformation which is “Voyeurism”. Voyeurism represents the desire to get sexual pleasure by seeing others while sexual activity or in a naked position. There can be real naked photos or videos of someone but in some cases, the propagator uses a normal photo or video for creating suspense. We have two examples of Voyeurism.

Dr. Amir Liaquat Case

The first is of Amir Liaquat (Late) and the second is of a motivational speaker. Dania Shah, Amir Liaquat’s wife, produced and released the video. Then, various social media groups came into play. They disseminated the video for its popularity and viewership. This video left Amir Liaquat psychologically and physically devastated.

Qasim Ali Shah Case

Consequently, the pain of the video’s dissemination killed him. The second example is Qasim Ali Shah. He is truly a gentleman but some troublemakers from a mobile repairing shop spread his shirtless photo on social media. In our rooms or homes, we all can be shirtless but the propagator gave a caption that naked videos of Shah are coming soon.  In reality, no such video of Shah was there. So, it was propaganda to get public attention and to malign Mr. Shah.

                                In the end, one would say that government must establish a system of checks and balances on social media and misinformation. There must be prosecution of the people who distribute bogus news, particularly those who publish nude images. FIA’s cyber-crime wing must be active, otherwise, only institutions like FIA would exist but people’s dignity would not. It is the moral responsibility of every citizen of Pakistan to avoid being part of propaganda against any other citizen. The use of social media and misinformation demands some ethics.

About the Author

(Wali Ejaz Nekokara is a Graduate of the School of Politics and International relations QAU Islamabad)

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Role of Media and Terrorism

By
Amna Zaman
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0

Terrorism is a complex and subjective issue and one of the most disputed concepts in the social sciences. The general public largely misunderstands this idea. It leads to pointless disagreements and moving discussions. There is no consensus on this concept as it is a much broader term, having diverse perspectives. Terrorism has always existed in many forms since its existence.

It can be somehow defined by considering some particular perspectives and scenarios. Thus, terrorism can be defined as “the politically motivated deliberate use of violence against unarmed civilians to create long-term fear in society”. After Cold War, significant issues under consideration included terrorism on the top. 9/11 terrorist attacks entered the world into a new era of terrorism.

Use of Media by terrorists

Terrorism is a form of persuasive communication. It uses many platforms to spread its ideological violence and objectives worldwide. Terrorists use and exploit media networks from all across the globe to spread violence and propaganda to their target audiences. Terrorist organizations use media for three primary purposes:

  • To gain the attention of the public.
  • To acquire sympathy for its cause.
  • To propagate its agenda and irrational terror or fear to influence policy-making and politics of the state.
Propaganda propagation by terrorist organizations

As media outlets and platforms expanded with the development of technology, terrorists were able to reach a bigger audience. They propagated their objectives and fears across the globe. Thanks to the media’s expanding role in supporting terrorism, terrorist organizations have been able to cross geographical boundaries.

Symbiotic Relationship

Terrorism and media have a symbiotic relationship (mutually benefitting each other).

  • The media has a reputation for being an “accomplice” of terrorism and giving it “oxygen of publicity.”

For example, the 9/11 terrorist attacks by a terrorist organization, Al-Qaeda, got a “snowball effect” via media platforms.

  • In addition, terrorism helps the media for selling their news products by providing emotional, violent and, exciting news, increased ratings and, circulation.

Is the media responsible for PKK terrorism?

Turkey has been facing terrorist attacks like many other states for years. In the Security Bureaucracy of Turkey, prominent leaders are questioning the role of media in the continuously progressing PKK terrorism over the last 40 years. They have critically asked, “If the media had reported more responsibly, avoiding exaggeration, would PKK (The Kurdistan Workers’ Party) terrorism have been able to continue for such a long time?”

terrorism

Terrorist violence intends to provoke fierce and immediate reactions. Terrorism through media is fostering many extremists and unaffiliated individuals, giving birth to new violent ideas and actions. These people have developed more violent strategies that can cause massive havoc to societies, nations, and states.

Following this, the US has experienced this generation that Al-Qaeda inspired. Some Americans left Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia to train and join other terrorist organizations. There was a man among them who became a Muslim and was able to reach Pakistan. He was Bryant Neal Vinas, who joined Al-Qaeda. He got involved in many attacks against coalition forces providing Al-Qaeda insight into homeland attacks, including the target of his homeland area, The Long Islands’ Rail Road.

Threat Imposed by Terrorists on Media

Using media as a tool by terrorist organizations has posed substantial threats to journalists and other media professionals. Recently, journalists and other media professionals have faced significant challenges covering terrorist attacks.

The Council of Europe has set comprehensive standards, and the European Court of Human Rights case law elaborates specific objectives for journalists. Journalists are responsible for covering accurate and thorough information regarding terrorism. Still, terrorists have violated their fundamental rights of freedom, expression, and life by preventing them from covering highly sensitive, informative, and accurate scenarios.

Shahid Zehri Case

History is replete with instances where journalists and other media members have faced such threats, abductions, and cruel treatment, even to death. Here I am quoting an example of Shahid Zehri. He was a reporter for a local TV channel. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist rebel group considered a terrorist organization, claimed responsibility for his assassination.

Decreased power of Media

With time, due to digital media, classical journalism is getting much weaker. A blogger who elaborates on the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in an understandable way gets millions of views within seconds. Terrorist threats and their variating tactics are detrimental to the nature of information and scenarios and their coverage.

As the professor of the Criminology department at Michigan State University “Steven Chermak” said, “With social media, not only is the information immediately, but the public’s access to information and conversations shape how an event is talked about, this can be dangerous when we can’t discern fact from a panicked reaction”.

Brand Culture Theory

Since the introduction of social media, terrorist organizations’ operations have taken advantage of this to further their objectives. By using social media platforms, they can easily approach the whole globe from their fingertips and utilizes.

Social media use by terrorist groups

For instance: ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) is a Sunni jihadist group with a violent ideology of calling itself a caliphate of the Muslim World. It used social media for recruitment, raising funds, spreading propaganda, and facilitating public terror and fear. Moreover, it used social media to convert its organization into a Brand by relying on the “Brand Culture” theory.

What role should Media play?

Contrary to this, media can also play an essential role in countering terrorism. In this era of globalization and digitalization, the media offers unique opportunities for intelligence agencies to confront terrorism. The identification and exploitation of the possibilities of the terrorists, both tactical and strategic, will positively pave the way towards critical benefits to the governments globally for confronting global terrorism. 

Effective social media interactions can break up the networks that support terrorists. Social network analysis will be helpful as it includes techniques to analyze the communication between various terrorist groups. Destruction of the financial services of the media itself will happen if it participates in the investigation of terrorist financing.

Role of Government

Governments should play a vital role in checking the media outlets and the content prevailing on these outlets. Moreover, governments should also ensure the safe usage of the media by giving it the freedom to cover authentic information and protect its respective media platforms and their rights from threats and attacks.

Use of social by terrorists

Conclusion

In conclusion, since the 9/11 incident, the threat environment has changed dramatically. It will continue to change in the upcoming years. The role of media is vital in policy-making and nation-building. By fully realizing its duties and responsibilities, it should work for the achievement of valuable standards like justice, truth, provision of accurate and authentic information irrespective of threats, and any sponsorship. It should demolish the ways of destroying the public’s perception by preventing the propagation of illegal and unauthentic information. Destruction will happen to many countries and states if the media’s function in society does not achieve this.

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