The dilemma in a post-modernist world

It has always been identity of nations which have been driving them. The US always looks to itself as upholder of moral ethics associated with libertarian values and democracy. Even nations like India have a policy of being restrained and non-aligned as much as possible in the world conflicts. 

But today we are living in a hyper interconnected world not only in terms of economic interdependence but also on the social platform between individuals across the world. And this is something the nations who rules the roost till now constantly undermine.

For example, US was always tied in its identity of being the guiding light upholder of democratic values which is as per the Constructivism playbook. It was able to plant a discourse, using the Post structuralism school of thought, to the effect of us vs them in fight against terrorism or during the Iraq war. It had relatively successful in this moral framing up until the last decade where it waged wars in Libya, Syria albeit with a more covert method or Smart Wars as coined by Obama. But the same framing is not working in today's time.

In Ukraine war it finds it itself against odds with Russia which it has labeled as them and fits its moral framing. But in the same frame it also has likes of India which is dependent on Russian oil and somehow don't fit the us/them moral framing of the United States. The ensuing tarrif wars has put US in loggerheads with the Global south collectively which has nations who call themselves ally of the US and gain the framing goes wrong here. 

So, the post modernistic world is causing lot of problems to constructivist led framing of the identify and associated binary of nations especially the US. The world is much more entangled with deep network of economic and social webs which can't be unwrapped into different boxes.

From Internation Theory Class of 22-10-2025 - Dependency Theory - Marxism - Constructivism

Dependency Theory

We are living in times of dependence where the global south is dependent on the global north for technology and industries in turn supplying them with raw material for finished goods and human resource for services. The theory talks about subjugation of a periphery country by a core company economically (in today's terms) which give rise to inequality which harkens back to the main tenets of Marxism. Hence many countries stay with poor wages, exploitation by elite who act as intermediary for core countries in the peripheral countries who over a period of time run the entire country into chaos as can be seen in many African countries and the Latin America of the 80s specifically.

India is also a case where huge masses of population are poor with low wages, where there is the rich middle class & BPL divide. But India was also a case where it was imposed with conditions to improve its structure as part of the World Bank bailout in 1991 which ushered economic reforms. Our principles value system, social structure helped us tide over the phase. So, it also depends on the country on which such conditions are imposed to try break the dependency cycle.

Marxism

Marxism talks about no boundaries, open migration policies. It is against boundaries as it talks that boundaries create dependencies. It says the capital is free to flow but people are not able to move freely. It talks about migration will help economies as economies need labor. But doesn't this in turn cause income equality. It is important to look at what's happening in Europe and even China which is having rampant income inequality.

Constructivism

Based on the quote: " A state can thus not act contrary to its identity because this will call into question the validity of the identity, including its preferences. This issue might explain why Germany, despite being a great power with a leading global economy, did not become a military power in the second half of the twentieth century. Following the atrocities of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime during the Second World War"

As per constructivism, despite being economic powerhouse, Germany and Japan are shackled to their perception as pacificist state. They had committed grave war atrocities during WW2 post which they were imposed with a structure which made them more economy focused rather than military. So how can countries unshackle? Can we see Grexit? Can Germany become a militarized power? Does Japan re arm itself to counter threats from China or be dependent on US to come to rescue? How such countries go against their own public opinion to change their image or does their public want the image to be changed? This seems a very grave psychological issue as well

Intelligence of Countires

Let your friends overestimate you, because they will invest in your relationship & let your enemies underestimate you, so that you are ready for the sucker punch when they come for you

Belief

The erudite Javed Akhtar gave a useless answer to a question about Ramanujam being taught mathematics by God/ Gods utterances and his position on that as an Atheist. 

While won't belabor on the answer he gave, but there can be a better way to answer. An atheist is a belief system and if his belief in that helps him in his career, write good lyrics, win accolades then it's good for him. Similarly, if Ramanujam was devout Hindu, chanting Mantras of Vishnu, Shiva or Devi and it helps him formulate unparalleled Mathematical concepts, then his belief system is good for him. 

Again, even if you don't believe others belief, even that is a belief, till the time you are not pinching the other person. Even pinching is under tolerable limits for some religions particularly the eastern religions. 

Problem happens when the physical response goes towards picking knives and swords and inflicting grave harm and even death, which some belief systems have ingrained in them.  

Potential Maritime conflict: China & India

Due to the recent bonhomie evinced by Pakistan and US, instability in the CPEC corridor, China seems to be moving towards a maritime strategy.

Now China may be looking towards the Coco islands for a inroad via Myanmar to Soth China for its Energy lanes. India is also setting up its Nicobar base with eyes on Malacca strait and Chinese supply lines.

This might make the BoB very busy with Naval overlap, with both India and China trying to fight for a Naval Hegemony thereby raising a scenario of potential flashpoint in the zone.

What shapes the strategic culture of a nation?

Strategic culture is a heady mix of multiplicity of factors like geography, socio-religious, political leadership, history and culture. But I believe lot of it stems from the geography itself. As Tim Marshal put in his book, "Prisoners of geography", West induced "boundaries" which had been created during the retreat of colonial era have e.g. forced societies to become heterogeneous arrested along with population with differing ideologies which often lead to strategic conundrum for the nation itself which may at times lead to conflicts (e.g. Ethiopia / Eriteria case). Also, boundaries tend to create minority group which some neighboring countries might use as strategic asset (e.g. Russia using Russian minorities in Donbas region & Crimea) to shape their strategic culture)

Why Pakistan is indefatigable despite its delusions

Pakistan is strange state and a strange community of people. The expressions of people of Pakistan in general seems to be the expression of the majority Pakistani Punjabi and too an extent the Pashtuns who have been embedded with the Pakistani Punjabi psychology. But still, we can keep the regional psychology which overwise on its total aggregate psychology apart. 

A classic case which exhibits the societal flaw is the recent Asia cup. Having been beaten comprehensively despite the final humdinger, Pakistan continues to remain upbeat. An example being a cricketer who flaunted the controversial AK-47 celebration in a defeated cause, being feted for his performance and his Gun imitation being exemplified for an ad campaign with a sticker of the gun for a branding deal. 

It continues to show that for Pakistanis it's the wounded hard fought returned soldier which matters despite defeat. For he will be surely sent back to the frontlines even though it may be a sacrifice since as per Pakistan it's for the Allahs cause. 

On the political side of things their FM is still ecstatic in response to Indian Army Chiefs warning assertions to Pakistan in case it tries to do any mischief in the future. As per the FM the nation was born out of Allah's will and Allah will surely set them apart in the future despite the chest thumping around "6-0".

As a podcaster rightly said in his show, India has to be right and win every time against Pakistan be it in the military arena or sports arena but for Pakistan they just need to win once (and even that does not matter as per the example of the cricketer) , and it will be enough to rally them in in the delusion or illusion of the "God" promised victory eventually . How do you fight back such a thought?