China’s Deepening involvement in South Asia and the Gulf States

ContextIn an endeavor to understand the emerging geopolitical realities, PoliTact partners with leading thought centers to understand the longitudinal multi-faceted tangents of a particular theme. One such topic is the political, security, and economic interconnections between South Asia and the Gulf States, and one of the subsets, Pakistan and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This relationship…

Read More

Grand Delusion: The Rise and Fall of American Ambition in the Middle East

“Grand Delusion” by Steven Simon provides a timely analysis of the dynamics that shaped American foreign policy in the post-Cold War era in the Middle East. The major theme of “Grand Delusion” revolves around the notion that American policymakers suffered from a persistent delusion that military force alone can bring about sustainable change and security…

Read More

The IMF Dilemma

In the words of Richard Woolf, the modern world is a story that has been repeated through centuries and that story is that of self-interest, selfishness, lust for power and complete disregard for mutual progress, magnanimity and dignity. Mankind has established many institutions with the mindset of egalitarianism and economic progress such as the United…

Read More

19 Q & A – Islam

IntroductionThe ongoing discourse surrounding Islam in contemporary times has revealed numerous discrepancies as diverse religious authorities strive to define the permissible and prohibited aspects in Islam. As a consequence, religious communities often find themselves growing increasingly distant from the foundational scripture the Quran, constructing ethical frameworks and principles based on a myriad of supplementary sources….

Read More

Walking the Tightrope

As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s plane touched down on Chinese soil, it was apparent that the welcome – or lack thereof – was symbolic of the frosty state of relations between the two superpowers. With no red carpets, no traditional greetings, and notably, no high-level Communist Party of China (CPC) officials present at…

Read More