Prospects of International Relations and Political science discipline of social sciences in Sindh Pakistan”
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“Prospects of International Relations and Political science discipline of social sciences in Sindh Pakistan”. All and sundry associated with the social science are aware about the significance of the International relations and political science in our country. The Department of International Relations at the Government Islamia Arts/Comm: College & Post Graduate Studies Centre is unique and highly distinctive in bringing together substantial elements of Politics and International Relations. Teaching and research on International politics are catered to the thirsty students of Sindh, Balouchistan and lower Punjab and offer an unusually broad, range of International Relations options. The Subjects of Social sciences are prime subject without which no any country can prosper and get due respect in the comity of nations. Unfortunately, these subjects have been deliberately neglected in the past. There is no dearth of talent in our country and the government has recognized its importance, decided to develop it by pooling all its resources and providing necessary incentives, and increased its national budget for education. The social scientist and the people of knowledge can play an important and crucial role to the world peace. They interact with the people of other nations and religions far better than others can. The annual economic growth rate of Pakistan is more than seven per cent at present only because of the people at the helm of social sciences such as the President of our country who is Masters in War Studies. The Prime Minister is a recognized economist and other top officials in the Foreign Office and Ministry of Economic Affairs. The growth rate of our country can be doubled with the active participation of the faculty member from universities and colleges equipped with the knowledge of international politics. As it is vindicated by the Foreign Secretary of State of USA Condoleezza Rice who was a Professor of International Relations in an American University. Our country can eliminate poverty ignorance disease and hunger by attracting Foreign Direct Investment by using tools of better diplomacy. Experts of international relations can provide guideline to the government on preparation of foreign policy based on needs and aspirations of people of entire Pakistan. 1 Definition of IR and Political Science and its Importance in present world. Political science is that branch which relates to the political life of man. George Bernard Shaw the famous dramatist and the thinker in the 20th century calls political Science as the sciences by alone civilization can be saved. The present world is passing through a tumultuous period ever since the dawn of the 1990s, with no signs of relenting. Nevertheless, in the present century and especially after 9/11 the nature and scope of International Relations has altered and a leader equipped with the knowledge of international politics can save and procure its nations strategic and economic interests. According to Palmer and Perkins, “The Study of International Relations is not a science with which we solve the problems of international life. At its best it is an objective and systematic approach to those problems.” Jeremy Bentham first used the term International Relations in the later part of Eighteenth century with regard to Laws of Nations. Consequently, the term got currency and used to define the official relations between two or more than two sovereign states. Some scholar and strategist even include the economic social and cultural relations amongst the states also within the purview of the subject. According to Hoffman “international relations is concerned with the factors and the activities which affect the external policies and the powers of the basic units into which the world is divided”. In the present era, the International Politics is the system and mechanics of decision-making that concerns the procuring of the national interest from other nations without injuring their national interest and raising and distribution of resources within the national boundary. As man is social animal of the world so are the international units. As man cannot live, alone so states cannot sustain individually. Therefore, like man state has to maintain relations with other states. The state has to maintain relations with other state for two reasons one to get benefit and the other factor is fear. The benefit is accruing from trade and cooperation in various vital fields. The fear of being subjugated by other big and strong states compels states to maintain relations. These factors started the history of international relations among states throughout the annals of history. It is a multifaceted field where every state has to take steps considering the wishes and aspirations of other states. Although every state is free to pursue independent foreign policy, yet it has to take into account the sentiments and anticipated repercussions of foe and friend alike. A Muslim country, like Pakistan has to look to brethren Muslim countries before formulating foreign policy. It has to consider the repercussions and annoyance of Muslim countries. In today’s interdependent world, even a Super Power is not free to take any action in the world politics without considering other global, regional powers, international and regional institutions. Because, it has to maintain diplomatic, commercial and strategic relations with other strategically located states. In recent time when USA concludes a Henry and Hyde nuclear pact with India bypassing and ignoring Pakistan, Pakistan showed its displeasure and protested against this deal. Subsequently, United States has to clarify its position, assured that balance of power in the region would not be disturbed, and USA will regard Pakistan as an ally and support its principled stand. When China and India normalized their relations, China also assured Pakistan that normalization of relation would not affect Pakistan’s relations with China and always support its stand and position. They have to consider the aspirations of Pakistan, which is suitable for them for many strategic reasons. Without Pakistan’s active cooperation, they are unable to preserve their vital strategic interest in the region. Significance of International Relations as an academic discipline in Pakistan In the present day, interdependent world the study of International Relations has enormous significance. It enables us to comprehend the basic motives underlying the policies of various countries in international scenario and study reasons, which contributed to their ultimate success or letdown. It also enables us to have an insight into the problems facing the world and to unravel them rationally. Through the study of International Relations, we can analyse how USA and Russia became partner for peace after fighting inclement cold war. The study of International Relations is key to the progress as it helps build synergy to promote national economic interest. It helps build bridges across differences of geography, history, and civilizations. It reduces the chance of clash of civilization. It reveals the different ways in which state and society are organized in their respective physical boundaries. Its study also ensures equal opportunities and equality between the comity of nations and respect for the norms of international law. Those nations who accorded primacy to the study of International Relations are now reaping benefits. It imbibes the spirit of enlightenment and its knowledge is indivisible and incremental. A person equipped with the sword of International Relations can win the battle of minds and also be able to win the battles of economy, politics and power. He will be able to conduct interfaith dialogue and reduce disharmony. The study of International Relations teaches us how the European, American and Japanese model of political and economic governance succeeded. How they transformed their political culture and became world powers. The studies of IR help us to study social, economic, historical and political systems of other countries. It also reveals foreign policies of countries, their history of interaction and veracity of conduct of relations with other states. The study of IR teaches how to protect national interest in complex world politics. The study of IR has greatly contributed to the strengthening of feeling among the states that they must try to conduct their relations along peaceful lines and keep away from military pacts and alliances. In other words, they have come to realize that they must avoid policy of confrontation and adopt policy of cooperation and co-existence as adopted by the peoples Republic of China. This change of policy of cooperation is likely to go a long way in promoting feeling of universal brotherhood and elimination of wars from this chaos filled world. It will help mitigate misunderstanding prevailing in the minds of people of different religion. All the political and socio-economic problems facing the Muslim world and other entire humanity will be resolved justly and in a well-coordinated manner. 2, Development of IR in the World The International relations has old history. It existed with the commencement of state. In primitive time the states were so large that it could not even conducted its own internal affairs so that they deliberately ignored foreign relations. It actually started from Europe (Peace treaty of Westphalia 24 October 1648) and now no country can survive without pursuing it. Following the industrial revolution the world has considerably shrunk. The improvement in means of communication further brought the states closer and greatly contributed to the development of International Relations. As we know that International Relations was the branch of Political science but following the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) it acquired status of an independent discipline and even surpassed the Political Science after WWII. The scope of international relations has greatly expanded in modern times due to emergence of new states on the face of globe. In its nascent stage, it was concerned only with the study of diplomatic history, foreign policies and International Law. Its scope is constantly changing and acquiring more fields of study under its domain. In sixteenth and seventeenth century, it was different from today’s complex international Politics. State system is the starting point to the development of international relations. The state system has influenced the International field since last three centuries. The ambit of international relations has been the development and interactions of state. State has and will remain the domain of International Relations. However, the number and size of states will change. At the time of establishment of UN, there were only 51 countries while today in 2007 there are 192 countries. Therefore, the extent of IR has widened and extended to all sovereign and independent states of world. As we know that IR is the struggle for power to manipulate and impose will upon others. National power has remain the basic factor which gives a state a capacity or power to acquire national interest and at the same time it makes a state effective in international transactions. The Great Britain before the WWII had potential and power hence; it shaped the contours of world politics. However, after the WWII it lost its national power therefore, could not perpetuate its rule over its colonies. The USA has enormous national power and it is able to impose its will upon the weaker states. The former Soviet Union during the cold war has also enough national power to withstand the antagonist policies of USA. However, it could not withstand the onslaught of USA carried out with the help of Muslim world and buried in the mountains of Tora bora. After disintegration, it has not been able to pursue confrontational policy so that become partner of USA and adopted cooperative policy. The states interact through their foreign policies and thus, foreign policy in IR is like a charter containing the national interest showing the areas of agreeability and incompatibility. The foreign policy of countries has greatly contributed to the development of IR. Nationalism is the most significant factor for the development of modern IR. It has dramatically changed the classical nature of IR and has been responsible for the shifting of power from Europe to Asia, and America. The development of nationalism has affected the old form of imperialism and colonialism. The spirit of nationalism defeated the mighty empires of world and relegated them to secondary position. Still it is present in one or other shape. It continues to be an important aspect of International Politics. Nationalism forced the colonial states to occupy other rich countries to get resources for its people. Again, Nationalism united the subjugated masses against the Colonial powers and compelled them to accord independence to their states. US unilateralism is its new forms. In the post war period, diverse dynamic elements sprang up in international field, which have not only complicated the study of international relations but also widened its scope. The UNO was established to save the succeeding generations from the scourge of war. The scope of IR extended and it brought within its domain the functioning of International institution and its role of maintaining world peace. Inclement cold war started between two super powers because of suspicious policies pursued by two super powers. The Communist and socialist philosophy was gaining ground and Communist revolution was established in China. The Eastern European countries were fallen to Socialist philosophy. The US in order to contain this ideology established alliance system, such as NATO (49), SEATO (Sept 54), and CENTO (Feb 55). The former USSR also established WARSAW pact (May55). These pacts were basically aimed to annihilate each other. Third world countries emerged, following the initiation of decolonization process by the United Nations. The destruction of European powers forced them to relegate occupied territories. The push by former USSR also helped these poor and subjugated countries to get freedom from colonial powers. The former Soviet Union itself disintegrated in December 1991 and Muslim Central Asian republics emerged on the map of world. The new regional groupings in various parts of world like ASEAN (August 67), SAARC (December 85), ECO (85 Expanded in November 92), OIC, NAFTA, and EU was established to get maximum benefit. In recent past new war against terrorism has been launched following the destruction of World Trade Centre. The scope of international Relations has shifted from state to state relation to state and non-state actors. It is evident that IR has extended to new undefined boundaries. The UN has acquired new authority and the sovereignty of nation state is eroding in the name of human rights, nuclear proliferation, and democratization of countries and curbing the civil wars. The study of IR in Pakistan also acquired importance following the politics of pacts and war with India for survival. 3, Influence of IR on domestic politics. A minor incident occurring in distant part of world can influence the country to alter foreign policy and even domestic policy. These events leave indelible impression on the domestic politics of many countries. Country can take U-turn under the pressure of global powers to serve their interest even inimical to ones national interest. It influences and forces the backward countries to emulate foreign policy that help other countries to prosper economically and became politically stabled. In the present era International system exert pressure on the national governments to accord top priority and energies on economic development, education, elimination of poverty and advancement in the field of health, social justice and fair play. We see that United Nations, UNICEF, UNESCO and WHO and other International institutions exert enormous pressure on the dictatorial government to give more funds to the development of social sectors otherwise their priority is on the preservation of territorial security rather than human security. As a corollary, these governments reluctantly accord and divert more funds from defence to social sector. It also influences the countries to follow the path of modernism and democracy. The Eight Millennium Development Goal set by the United Nations is vindication of this positive pressure on the Asian and African countries. All countries are endeavoring and pledge to achieve these goals. It is the enormous pressure of International system that Afro-Asian countries are according priority to the development of soft sectors otherwise the poverty would have multiplied manifold as their governments priority is different. Diplomacy in the world deters rulers of third world from pursuing dictatorial anti poor people policies. The domestic politics following the control of Democratic Party in the congress of US congress coerced the omnipotent Bush administration to change its foreign policy. In the domestic level of analysis, the domestic politics of many countries also influence the international Politics. Scholars look at how international relations are influenced by domestic actors, non-state actors including special interest groups, political organizations, and government agencies. The domestic level of analysis is also called the state or societal level. 4Need of international Relations discipline in Sindh. The need or urge of study of international relations is all the more greater in modern times than it ever was in the past ages. Modern era is confronted with many and varied international disputes such as terrorism, unresolved political dispute especially affecting Muslim world, nuclear proliferation and nuclear hegemony perpetuated by super powers. The majority of humanity is confronted with hunger, poverty socio-economic inequality and fatal diseases. In this increasingly interdependent world its study is essential for human survival and human progress. It reveals how men and nations tend to interact in given situation and so tell us what conditions should be encouraged and what conditions discouraged if we are to promote international harmony and well-being The ordinary and majority people are ignorant of formulation and process of Foreign Policy of country. It is a fact that due to its global importance this subject has superseded other important discipline. It has been deliberately ignored in the intermediate and college level. The majority 73 per centage of students is enrolled in Colleges and only 3% are enrolled in universities, which include Science subjects from 3 %, 2% are enrolled in social science. Therefore, majority students and teacher of Science and other Social science subject are ignorant of its utility and relevance, such as teachers of Muslim History, Islamic Culture, languages and Economics. The job-oriented examination from clerical level to Competitive level examination mostly comprises the topics of International Relation or relations of country with global countries while these are not taught in majority of subjects of social sciences and sciences. No student can pass any examination for job without the knowledge of this important subject. Therefore, it is the dire need of people of Sindh to acquaint themselves with the knowledge of International Relations, as it will help them to compete with developed provinces of Pakistan. 5,Benefits of its teaching and research in Pakistan and Sindh Benefits of teaching of international relations and research in Pakistan and especially in Sindh are enormous. Teaching and research in this subject is sin quo non-for the understanding of world politic and logical response to it. There is dire need of research in this subject, as the foreign policy does not reflect the true aspect of a collective sprit of a nation. It is evident that there is wide cleavage between rulers and the people of Sindh. Scholars of international Relations and the people of knowledge can present case of Pakistan and play an important role to the promotion of world peace. They can interact with the people of other nations far better than the government and their functionaries. The federal government should give training to the teachers of universities and colleges of Sindh so that the feeling of one nation emerges and reflected it the foreign policy. In return, these teachers will present the true aspect of foreign policy to the wide majority of people. The people of Sindh would be able to understand social, economic and foreign policies of other global and regional countries. Contribute to formulation of rational Foreign Policy in order to achieve national economic and strategic interests. its study will help eradicate poverty, hunger, disease, got familiarity with the concept of Enlightened Moderation. It will teach the middle way to achieve vital economic and strategic interest from other countries. The regional organizations like South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and Economic Cooperation Organisation should help for its promotion in respective countries and introduce it in intermediate level so that the people of these 17 countries would come close to each other thereby regional peace and harmony will prevail. It will help assess the significant role being played by the UN and its agencies in the Socio-economic field and peace in the world. The people of Sindh and Pakistan are more liberal and responsive to international occurrence and comprehend changing scenario. The people of Sindh will come at par with the people of Pakistan. The sense of deprivation will be mitigated and the state will solidify. Pakistan has extended its relations with all powers of world therefore its study got importance. It is now biggest discipline in all universities and colleges of Pakistan. No student can pass any competitive examination without its extensive study. The people of Pakistan are aware of its importance therefore they are enrolling their offspring in this vital field. All job-oriented tests include Knowledge of world while only superficial Pakistan Movement is taught in colleges. No Job oriented study is offered in colleges only IR can cater to the needs of this crucial field. 6, Suggestions for development of International Relations discipline in Pakistan and Sindh Following rational and practicable suggestion and recommendations are proffered for the enhancement and development of International Relations discipline in Sindh. As we know that during last 56 years Pakistan’s foreign policy was prepared by those who were not qualified, enough to formulate important national and international policies hence could not comprehend the intricate international politics. Due to failure in transacting the real essence of diplomacy our rulers lost the battle of talk with global powers. Our country dismembered in 1971. The foreign policy makers were aligning them with inimical forces only to get their perceived national interest. It is a pity that international relations as a subject was deliberately neglected by governments since inception of Pakistan and unlike other countries establishment of think tanks comprising academicians and experts were also ignored. The developed countries promote the establishment of think tanks where all national and international issues are discussed in a free democratic way. In first world the government take feed back from think tanks comprising of scholars, academics and then formulate the foreign policy while in our country their development was impeded in the name of national interest and suppressed. While a brotherly Muslim country Malaysia prospered by adopting a foreign policy proffered by academicians and experts in international relations. Universities of our country are producing a good number of Masters in International Relations. They are not getting employment on the basis of Masters in International Relations in any government department or financial institutions and in the Education fields due to outdated policies of provincial governments of appointing teachers in saturated fields or unnecessary discipline. The subject of IR should be introduced at intermediate level instead of foreign languages, or merge with Pakistan Study and Civics subject, which is to some extent, is relevant to it. Merger of both Subjects in Sindh is essential as in other provinces it has been under one department. The government should appointment Lecturers and Professors of this discipline into Colleges. The HEC should promote and contribute for writing of new books of IR by Pakistani nationals in which Pakistan’s politic should reflect and reveals gains and loss by the all governments since independence. Conclusion Pakistan and the Islamic world can regain its past glory by acquiring economic and political stability through promotion of social sciences including international relations. Through the extensive understanding of International Relations, we can drag ourselves out of the quagmire of poverty and social backwardness through individual exaltation and collective socio-economic emancipation. What we need today is self-introspection. We have been left far behind in social, moral and economic development only because we are unable to comprehend world politics and forced to think myopically. Unfortunately, during our decline we remained in our own shell and refused to learn from others. We thus reached the present depths of despair and despondency. We need to face stark realities. The path of knowledge will lead us to our past glory and also show the light to progress and development acquired by the world. The time for renaissance has come. The way forward is to head towards enlightenment and concentrate on human resource development, poverty alleviation, education, health and social justice through the enhancement of social sciences. Professor Abdul Qayum Mangi Assistant Professor of International Relations Post Graduate Studies Center @ Governmaent Islamia Arts College Sukkur.
Professor Abdul Qayum Mangi
Assistant Professor &Head Department of International Relations
Post Graduate Studies Center @ Government Islamia Arts College
Sukkur. PH 0715614748, Mob 03337176520
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