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PAKISTAN VERSUS THE LAST SUPERPOWER
Khalid Duran
http://www.worldandi.com/education/2001/March/9.htm
Pakistan’s affairs often seem dwarfed by those of its neighbors, India and China. Yet smaller countries can have a large effect on world events. What is the political situation in Pakistan, and how can it influence the United States and other world powers? Author Khalid Duran explores this topic in THE WORLD AND I in March 2000 issue.
1. In a class discussion, analyze the title: "Pakistan Versus the Last Superpower: A Former U.S. Ally Moves Toward Jihadism and Isolation." What does it suggest about the outlook and mind-set of Pakistan? What is Pakistan’s view of how the rest of the world sees it? Who is the "last superpower," and why is it referred to in this way?
2. How does Pakistan’s geography contribute to its national policies?
3. What is the history and current status of Pakistan’s relationship with the United States? How have U.S. ties with India changed this relationship? Explain.
4. What role does Kashmir play in the affairs of Pakistan? Give two reasons why Pakistanis maintain that Kashmir should be a part of their country.
5. What role did the Pakistanis play in the war in Afghanistan? What is the Taliban? What relationship does it have to Pakistan? Why is Afghanistan considered strategically important to Pakistan?
6. Two political/religious movements have had a great effect on Pakistani politics.
a. What is Islamism? What is jihadism? What roles do they play nationally?
b. What is the main jihadist organization called? What class in Pakistan supports it? How does it maintain its importance in Pakistan? What groups in Canada and the United States are affiliated with it? What is its connection to terrorist organizations?
7. Duran compares conditions in Pakistan to those in North Korea.
a. What are the parallels between the two countries? What are the differences? Do you agree with Duran?
b. Which other country is most similar to Pakistan? Explain.
8. What kind of power does the military hold in Pakistan? Is it recent or ongoing? Has this power been good for the country? List three factors that influence the hard-line positions of Pakistan’s military leaders.
9. What are the prospects for change in Pakistan? Which Pakistanis oppose the present militarist and jihadist policies? Can General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s present leader, lessen the influence of the jihadists? Is civil war possible in Pakistan? Explain. (Visit www.csis.org/saprog on the Web, and read "Pakistan: Musharraf’s First Hundred Days," dated March 1, 2000.
PAKISTAN VERSUS THE LAST SUPERPOWER
Khalid Duran
http://www.worldandi.com/education/2001/March/9.htm
Pakistan’s affairs often seem dwarfed by those of its neighbors, India and China. Yet smaller countries can have a large effect on world events. What is the political situation in Pakistan, and how can it influence the United States and other world powers? Author Khalid Duran explores this topic in THE WORLD AND I in March 2000 issue.
1. In a class discussion, analyze the title: "Pakistan Versus the Last Superpower: A Former U.S. Ally Moves Toward Jihadism and Isolation." What does it suggest about the outlook and mind-set of Pakistan? What is Pakistan’s view of how the rest of the world sees it? Who is the "last superpower," and why is it referred to in this way?
2. How does Pakistan’s geography contribute to its national policies?
3. What is the history and current status of Pakistan’s relationship with the United States? How have U.S. ties with India changed this relationship? Explain.
4. What role does Kashmir play in the affairs of Pakistan? Give two reasons why Pakistanis maintain that Kashmir should be a part of their country.
5. What role did the Pakistanis play in the war in Afghanistan? What is the Taliban? What relationship does it have to Pakistan? Why is Afghanistan considered strategically important to Pakistan?
6. Two political/religious movements have had a great effect on Pakistani politics.
a. What is Islamism? What is jihadism? What roles do they play nationally?
b. What is the main jihadist organization called? What class in Pakistan supports it? How does it maintain its importance in Pakistan? What groups in Canada and the United States are affiliated with it? What is its connection to terrorist organizations?
7. Duran compares conditions in Pakistan to those in North Korea.
a. What are the parallels between the two countries? What are the differences? Do you agree with Duran?
b. Which other country is most similar to Pakistan? Explain.
8. What kind of power does the military hold in Pakistan? Is it recent or ongoing? Has this power been good for the country? List three factors that influence the hard-line positions of Pakistan’s military leaders.
9. What are the prospects for change in Pakistan? Which Pakistanis oppose the present militarist and jihadist policies? Can General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s present leader, lessen the influence of the jihadists? Is civil war possible in Pakistan? Explain. (Visit www.csis.org/saprog on the Web, and read "Pakistan: Musharraf’s First Hundred Days," dated March 1, 2000.
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