Pakistonomy

In this episode, Uzair talks to Zaigham Khan about the ongoing polycrisis in Pakistan and the path forward. We focused on the structural drivers of this conflict, in particular the breaking down of the post-Zia social contract that has sustained Pakistan’s political economy for decades. Zaigham argues that the PTI’s popularity is a symptom of the underlying breakdown of this social contract and that repression is unlikely to yield any sustainable stability in the country. We also discussed why fundamental reforms of the political economy are needed to even sustain the various elite factions ruling the country today. Zaigham Khan is an anthropologist and political analyst. You can follow him on X @zaighamkhan. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:45 What is causing the crisis? 8:50 PTI’s conversion to constitutionalism 18:30 Elite conflict in Pakistan 28:50 Can same page be sustained? 33:45 Why are the elite fighting within? 42:10 Breakdown of the status quo 46:50 Establishment view on repression 56:20 Reading recommendations Reading recommendations - The Alif Laila and other mythological books - Masnavi by Rumi - Political Conflict in Pakistan by Dr. Mohammad Waseem

In this episode, Uzair talks to Faysal Itani about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. We talked about the current state of play, the strategic goals for both sides, and the role of the United States, Iran, and other powers. Faysal Itani is a Senior Director at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy. He is also an adjunct professor of Middle East politics at Georgetown University. Itani was born in and grew up in Beirut, Lebanon, and has lived and worked in several Middle East countries. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:45 Current state of play 21:10 Washington’s appetite for regional conflict 29:10 Role of US politics and elections 33:25 Key risks to watch 37:40 Role of China and Russia 41:40 Reading recommendations Reading recommendations: - Warriors of God by Nicholas Blanford - The Iron Wall by Avi Shlaim - History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides

In this episode, Uzair talks to Zahid Hussain about the latest in Pakistan, where the Sharif government has announced it will seek to ban Imran Khan’s PTI. This is a dangerous move and Zahid helps us understand why this reflects the ruling regime’s weakness. We also talked about internal politics within the Pakistan Army and why this confrontation is headed in a very dangerous direction for Pakistan. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:45 PTI ban reasons 14:05 Surveillance in Pakistan 19:20 Supreme Court v. Establishment 28:30 Internal politics of the army 37:00 What comes next?

In this episode, Uzair talks to Gilles Verniers about the recent French parliamentary election results. With many expecting gridlock in Paris, Gilles helps us understand what the results mean and what comes next for the country. Gilles Verniers is Karl Loewenstein Fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at Amherst College, and Senior Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi. He also holds affiliations with the Centre for Advanced Studies of India at UPenn, and the Centre de Sciences Humaines in New Delhi. His research focuses on Indian electoral and party politics, political representation, women and minorities participation in politics and India’s democratic trajectory. He regularly contributes to various Indian media and was based in Delhi from 2005 to 2023. He graduated from Sciences Po, Paris. You can read his recent pieces on the elections here: - https://m.thewire.in/article/world/france-election-far-right-marine-le-pen-macron - https://thewire.in/world/france-dodges-a-bullet-for-now-but-sinks-in-uncertainty Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:05 Understanding the differences in the groups 9:30 The normalization of the far-right 20:40 Lack of coalition culture in France 30:05 Personalization of acrimony 33:01 The left’s agenda and its foreign policy 38:20 Reading recommendations Reading recommendations - Cas Mudde, The Far Right Today (2019) - James Shields (2007), The Extreme Right in France: From Pétain to Le Pen

This episode is about assessing Joe Biden’s foreign policy as it relates to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. While not a whole lot has changed in terms of the substance of US policy towards Palestine and Israel, a lot has indeed changed in terms of the political discourse in Washington. Uzair talked to Matt Duss about these developments and the long-term implications of Biden’s foreign policy choices. We also talked about the prospects for a broad agreement with Saudi Arabia, and the ways in which communities can engage at the grassroots levels to influence foreign policy. Matt Duss is Executive Vice-President at the Center for International Policy. The Center for International Policy is a woman-led, progressive, independent nonprofit center for research, education, and advocacy working to advance a more peaceful, just, and sustainable U.S. approach to foreign policy. Before joining CIP, Duss was a visiting scholar in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. From 2017-22, Duss was foreign policy advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt). Duss’s work has been widely published, including in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, The Nation, The American Prospect, and Foreign Policy. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:20 What has changed in Washington? 5:20 Role of AIPAC 8:40 America’s leverage over Israel 12:20 Impact of the presidential debate 18:35 Long-term implications of US choices 22:10 Saudi-Israel normalization 27:10 Key risks on the horizon 30:30 What can we do to change policy? 32:45 Reading recommendations Reading recommendations - The Price of Peace: Money, Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes by Zachary D. Carter - Miles: The Autobiography by Miles Davis and Quincy Troupe

There has been a lot of confusion about the recently-announced Azm-e-Istehkam effort, which was initially dubbed as an operation but later revised to be a vision by the Sharif-led government. To talk about what the state is trying to do and to better understand the growing security crisis across Pakistan, Uzair invited Iftikhar Firdous to the podcast. Iftikhar is founder and editor of The Khorasan Diary, an organization that closely follows security issues in the region. We talked about the role of China and the Afghan Taliban in the ongoing crisis, the regional dynamics at play, and why the political division across Pakistan is exacerbating the crisis. If you want to stay on top of these topics, follow Iftikhar at @IftikharFirdous. You should also follow The Khorasan Diary at @khorasandiary and subscribe to their YoutTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/TheKhorasanDiary Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 2:20 What is Azm-e-Istehkam? 14:40 Militancy and illicit economy 26:20 No-go areas and growing insecurity 40:10 Chinese demands from Pakistan 46:02 Relationship with Afghan Taliban 53:10 Regional security dynamics at play

Shehbaz Sharif’s government has put forward a new budget for the upcoming fiscal year, setting off a debate on more taxes, government spending, and economic reforms. As parliament debates the budget, some things may change about the exact numbers. But to discuss what has been put on the table, Uzair spoke to Ammar H. Khan about what this budget signals and why it pursues a “deepening” of the tax net, as opposed to a widening. We also talked about the energy sector and why prices are being reduced for industrial consumers of electricity, as well as Ammar’s views on what he calls the heartland strategy. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:30 Budget takeaways 7:10 Pension reforms 10:30 Power subsidies 15:10 Inflation and salaried class 20:30 Digitization and taxes 26:16 Why are cash handouts criticized? 28:05 Electricity tariffs for industry 38:40 Heartland strategy and its issues

Kathy Baughman McLeod discusses the impact of heatwaves in South Asia, highlighting the need for preparation and policy changes. Topics include understanding heatwaves, solutions like cool roofs, and adapting to the new climate. Reading recommendations focus on climate change and its societal implications.

The world’s largest elections are over and they have delivered a surprise in India. While we will get more detailed analysis in the coming days, what is for certain is that the elections mark a return to coalition politics in the world’s largest democracy. Uzair spoke to Rahul Verma about what the results mean for India, Narendra Modi, and the country’s democracy. We also talked about what the BJP and Congress got right, what they are likely to do next, and the role of coalition allies moving forward. Rahul Verma is Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, and Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science, Ashoka University, Sonipat. He has a PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. His research interests include political representation, political parties, and voting behaviour. He is a regular columnist for various news platforms, and a regular TV commentator on elections, party politics, voting behavior, and public opinion polls. His book co-authored with Pradeep Chhibber, Ideology and Identity: The Changing Party Systems of India, develops a new approach to defining the contours of what constitutes an ideology in multi-ethnic countries such as India. He recently co-edited a volume with Sudha Pai & Shyam Babu - Dalits in the New Millennium. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:30 Key takeaways from the elections 8:30 Has Hindutva reached its peak? 21:30 Return of coalition politics 29:10 Scope for reforms in a coalition 33:50 What to look for in the near-term 38:47 Reading recommendations Reading recommendations: - Coalition Politics and Economic Development: Credibility and the Strength of Weak Governments by Irfan Nooruddin - Ideology and Identity: The Changing Party Systems of India by Rahul Verma and Pradeep Chhibber - Raag Darbari by Shrilal Shukla

In this episode, Uzair talks to Abdul Moiz Jaferii about the ongoing cases in Pakistan’s superior judiciary. We focused on the wiretapping case being heard by Justice Babar Sattar, cases related to Imran Khan, and the broader implications of the supposed standoff between the establishment and the judiciary. We also focused on the political ramifications of these cases through the summer and whether Imran Khan will be out of jail in the next few months. Abdul Moiz Jaferii is a lawyer and tweets @jaferii Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 1:30 The latest at the courts 7:30 IHC’s letter to Justice Isa 15:00 Illegal wiretapping case 33:30 Political ramifications 39:00 Will Khan be out soon?