Posts Tagged ‘Democracy’
What does M.F. Husain’s ‘renunciation’ of India mean?
Naked Sita on Hanuman's tail
For all those who are wondering why M.F. Husain “abandoned” India, here are a few thoughts (in words and pics) from an equally confused Indian.
According to Husain it was impossible for him to express his creativity in India. So what does this say about India’s claim as an open democratic society? Is Qatar more democratic than India?
Different Flavors of Popular Protests in India and Pakistan
Indians and Pakistanis are discussing the leadership crisis in their respective countries, but 
for different reasons and with different implications. India’s inability to wield influence on the world stage is being blamed on the lack of good leadership. In Pakistan, people feel that the political leaders have failed to instill confidence and provide direction when the country is consumed by the threat of terrorism. Are these leadership demands signs of widening and maturing democracy in the two countries? Or are the Indians and Pakistanis wanting to re-live the hope and optimism characterizing the era of Nehru and Jinnah? Whatever may be the rationale, the demand for better leadership is showing different traits of the public in India and Pakistan. Click to continue…
Burqa, Identity and Democracy: Sarkozy’s Flawed Logic
Nicolas Sarkozy is the first French President since 1848 to address both Houses of the French Parliament. The speech at Château de Versailles was expected to elaborate the President’s policy plans for the second half of his tenure. True to reputation, President Sarkosy’s utterances have evoked another controversy. According to the President, “The burqa is not welcome on French territory. In our community, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen; cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity.”
The President’s comments have been condemned by Islamic groups across the globe, reminiscent of the protests in 2004 against the French law prohibiting the display religious symbols in public places. Click to continue…
Egyptian Public to Greet President Obama with Suspicion
A new WorldPublicOpinion.org poll finds Egyptians continue to view US foreign policy quite negatively and see President Obama as closely aligned with it. At the same time, Obama has much better ratings than Bush had, and there are signs of thawing feelings toward the US. Excerpts from the Opinion Poll are presented here.
Asked how much confidence they have in Obama to do the right thing in international affairs, 39 percent say they have some or a lot of confidence–up sharply from the 8 percent who viewed George W. Bush positively in January 2008. Views of the United States government have also improved with favorable views rising to 46 percent from 27 percent in an August 2008 WorldPublicOpinion.org poll.
There has been little change in the views of US foreign policy. Sixty-seven percent say that the US plays a negative role in the world.
Indian Democracy has Many Sides: Enlightening Gideon Rachman
There is a myth that intellectual insight gains greater credence if one attempts to counter popular perception. For most scholars in this age of info boom the best way to gain visibility is to project a view that runs contrary to what the mainstream is saying. Though variety of opinion is always enriching opposition merely for the sake of it can prove injurious to serious intellectual discussions. Gideon Rachman’s recent commentary on the weaknesses and limitations of Indian democracy is one such example of intellectual opposition. All opposing views are not necessarily relevant. This is not an exercise in criticizing Gideon but enlightening him!
The Curious Case Indian Election Results
The morning of May 16, 2009 marks the high point of the Great Indian Tamasha; counting for the 15th Lok Sabha Elections gets underway. The pre-results phase is not only marked by subtle alliance making in the political circles but also by speculations among analysts and the intelligentsia. Election results in India, the largest and most diverse democracy, could even send Sherlock Holmes’s insights into a spin. But being an Indian how could I resist the temptation of putting forth my own analysis of the possible political combinations and permutations likely to gain shape by Saturday afternoon. So here is my take on 2009 General Election results. Click to continue…
The Fifth Amendment Crisis in Bangladesh
An approaching constitutional quagmire in Bangladesh has escaped international attention but threatens the Country’s political, constitutional and social order.
At the center of the domestic political upheaval is the 5th Amendment to the Constitution of Bangladesh. In April 1979 the Legislature in Bangladesh ratified the 5th Amendment which provided that all amendments, additions, modifications made in the Constitution during the period between August 15, 1975 and April 9, 1979 were valid and would not be called in question before any judicial body of the country. In simple terms all the acts and decisions of the martial law period were legalized and insulated from any judicial inquiry. The martial law administrator during this period, Zia-ur Rehman, had sought to constitutionally validate his coup in which he had usurped power from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In August 2005 in a landmark ruling the High Court had held the 5th Amendment as illegal and unconstitutional. The Central Government, comprising of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist Jamaat-i-Islami moved a petition in the Country’s Supreme Court challenging the Court ruling. The Court order was stayed and discussions on the 5th amendment rescinded to the political backburner. In early May this year the Awami League (AL) Government has cancelled the petition for staying the 2005 Court ruling thereby paving way for Constitutional chaos in the country. Click to continue…
Can Pakistan’s Public Diplomacy Get Any Better?
This is how Pakistan sought to convince the American public about its commitment in combating terrorism. The above poster was majestically placed on page 5 of the Wall Street Journal print edition on May 8, 2009. Two days after interacting with President Karzai and President Obama in the AFPAK strategy Summit, President Zardari addressed the concerns of the American public through this message. Here’s what the poster reads:
The U.S.A. and Pakistan can defeat terrorism together and bring prosperity to the Pakistani people. Pakistan is in the trenches; Pakistan is on the frontlines. Pakistan is protecting the entire civilized world. 1700 soldiers killed. 35000 civilians killed. Tens of thousands maimed. This is Pakistan’s war. This is Pakistani blood. But Pakistani should not stand alone. President Asif Ali Zardari has pledged to “wipe out the cancer of terrorism before it infects the entire planet.” The U.S.A. and the world must stand by Pakistan’s side in this decisive battle against the terrorists. The U.S. A. and Pakistan. Together in battle. Defeat is not an option.
The poster is sponsored/supported by AES Corporation, GE, Oil and Gas Development Corporation, Pakistan Electric power Company Limited, Pakistan Petroleum Limited, Pakistan State Oil, PTV Global, Water and Power Development Authority.
This grand public diplomacy exercise throws up some questions:
1. Why has President Asif Ali Zardari pledged to combat terrorism? I thought Pakistan was a Parliamentary democracy where the Prime Minister represents the will of the people. This excessive emphasis of personalities rather than institutions is the most important factor impeding the growth of stable democracy in Pakistan.
2. Why is a cash-strapped country like Pakistan running half page ads in top of line U.S. dailies like the WSJ? The U.S. public will be better convinced of Pakistan’s commitment if the country’s resources are directed at acting against terrorists rather than publicizing intentions.
3. Finally, if Pakistan is protecting the entire civilized world then why is only 38% of NWFP and surrounding areas under full control of the Pakistani Government? Pakistan needs to get rid of this ‘global guardian’ psychology and combat terror more as a national survival priority rather than an international obligation.
Pakistan needs to understand that public diplomacy is an explanation for national policy, not a substitute.
Beyond the Media Limelight an Afghan Woman Fights for Justice
At a time when international media attention was focused on the incident of a young girl being flogged by the extremists in Pakistan and protests were underway against a law regulating rights of Afghan Shiite Women, a young Afghan girl was battling for justice. Her battle is not yet over and surprisingly she is pleading her case in South Asia’s most vibrant democracy – India. Will Sabra Ahmadzai get justice?
Kerry-Lugar Bill: An Opportunity for Democratic Pakistan
The Kerry-Lugar Bill, presented before the Senate yesterday, seeks to apply the Afghanistan prescription suggested in Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea to Pakistan. The very title of the book is a suggestion on the best strategy to be pursued in Afghanistan: the Western style of speeding up operations doesn’t work; slowing down and building relationships would help to achieve the desired objectives. Though slowing down is not an option in Pakistan but building relationships is a viable strategy and this is what the Kerry-Lugar Bill intends to do. In the words of John Kerry, the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act (Kerry-Lugar bill) seeks to “fundamentally change America’s relationship with the people of Pakistan.”
[Photo Courtesy: Boston Globe, May 5, 2009]
The most important element of the proposed bill is the repeated reference to the ‘people of Pakistan’. U.S. commitment to the needs of Pakistani people is proposed to go beyond the fluctuating government to government relationship. The people of Pakistan cannot be punished for the inability of their Government to optimally utilize U.S. military aid to counter terrorism. The justification for reducing and conditioning military aid to Pakistan is as strong as the rationale for increasing non-military aid to the country. Click to continue…