We’re nearing the end of 14-year-long messianic, demagogic judicial activism. Good riddance!

The Big Tech’s Big Rush. Are people being duped and led towards societal collapse and an authoritarian techno-capitalist future?

Romantic Nationalism and Fake History. Pseudo-archaeology has played a big role in constructing mythical histories that feed into imagined pasts that ultimately only aid the political aims of ultra-nationalism.

It is naive to continue idealising democracy without critiquing it from some awkward angles.

Populism thrives as a political style rather than a concrete ideology, merging theatrics and emotional appeal to captivate the masses. But it has also concocted a political narrative derived from middle-income drawing-room chatter.

I can’t see anyone distributing or eating sweetmeats after today’s verdict against IK and his wife. Quite unlike the way PTI guys were celebrating when NS was convicted and sent to jail. Arrogance always comes back to bite the arrogant.

The Politics of Boycotts and ‘Buycotts.’

THE CURSE OF 'COLLAPSOLOGY' Western political scientists and academics are often quick to label nations such as China and Pakistan as being ‘on the verge of collapse.’ But these are often ill-informed ‘predictions.’

The depoliticisation of chai dhabas.

The Self-Coup: Heads of state, such as Donald Trump and Yoon Suk Yeol, have instigated ‘self-coups’ in an attempt to hold on to power. But can the May 9, 2023 acts of violence in Pakistan also be classified as an attempt at a ‘self-coup’?

Defiant till the end. Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007) #27December

The notion that the West has tried to impose Westernisation and secularism in Muslim regions in the past few decades is largely flawed. The West has done much to ‘Islamise’/radicalise the populations of these regions for geopolitical purposes.

The Illusion of Authenticity. The term ‘authentic’ has evolved from a Romantic ideal into marketing gimmicks and aesthetic trends. In many cases, both at home and abroad, the search for authenticity often masks privilege, nostalgia and myth-making.

First it was Sri Lanka and then Bangladesh. And now Syria. 🤷🏾‍♂️ Insufferable.

Imran Khan must realise that political manoeuvres are planned according to an objective understanding of circumstances. Not according to one’s ego or reactive whims. 

Far from the madding crowd.

Religious Nationalism and its Discontents: Is religious nationalism a launching pad for theocrats?

How many ‘brave’ celebrity journos/anchors reporting from Parachinar and Kurram? None. Not glamorous enough.

خَتْم شُد ۔

Reading into Politics. Across history, politicians and statesmen have often found inspiration and political strategies in books. However, the age of ‘leader-readers’ now seems to be at an end.