Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Ravale Mohydin
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Two deaths and an empire
Many may not remember, but Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and 16th President, General Zia-Ul-Haq, was also killed in a plane crash in August 1988. With the recent death of Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, in a strikingly similar incident, it seems appropriate to pause and reflect on the circumstances surrounding…
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Pakistan’s electoral earthquake signals a new chapter with global stakes
This month witnessed a monumental election in Pakistan, hailed by many experts as a potential game-changer in the country’s history. Against a backdrop of significant and documented pre-poll rigging, international observers considered the election result to be predetermined, and major global news outlets reported it as so. However, in what…
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Enter AI: Shaping Pakistan 2024 elections and beyond
2024 marks a pivotal moment for global democracy as seven of the world’s ten most populous nations gear up for crucial elections. These nations, collectively representing nearly half of the world’s population, are on the brink of determining their future leadership and the trajectory of their countries. Simultaneously, 2024 has…
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Twitter’s acquisition by Elon Musk and the impact on the Global South
Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter has been tumultuous, to say the least. Twitter Verification has been rolled out and everyone interested in the service can pay $8 a month to get verified and receive benefits, such as the coveted blue tick, with a potential for higher visibility and reach on…
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Neoliberal values are not sustainable, and neither is the global system built on them
South Asia’s response to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine tells a story. It’s a story of how the responses of three countries — Pakistan, India and Bangladesh — to the tragedy unfolding in front of the eyes of the world reflect the limits of the neoliberal-inspired constructs of international…
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Soap operas, fatwas and censorship: the Turkey-UAE battle for hearts and minds
In early 2018, the Dubai-based, Saudi-owned, Middle East Broadcasting Centre (MBC) announced via UAE media that it was going to ban Turkish drama series, despite the soap operas’ massive popularity in the Arab world. Though there was no explanation provided, it was denounced by Turkish officials as a “political move”…