On October 20th, 2011, the Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies was honored to host renowned expert Dr. Hassan Abbas, professor of International Security Studies at National Defense University, for a lecture titled, “Who Will Determine the Future of Pakistan - Extremists, Liberals, or the Military?”.
As a former police officer in Pakistan, Abbas offered great insight into the polemics of the country’s political scene and stressed the need for policymakers and students alike to broaden their scope when analyzing the complex dynamics of Pakistani society.
“Our understanding of global issues today is overly security-driven,” Abbas argued. “We must also recognize then that the larger perspective we have, because of looking only at security issues, is narrow and is not sufficient for understanding the larger context.”
His speech touched on recent developments in Pakistan such as the work of liberal student movements, the tweaking of military policies, and the spike in extremist actions, all of which have shaped the country’s situation today.
Abbas also discussed the nature of the strategic relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan, noting how the bonds between the two countries can become stronger.
“We often think that our message of carrots and sticks will work. It may work in ordinary circumstances, and when we observe that these carrots and sticks aren’t working, we re-frame the message. My suggestion is to also think of the essence of the message. I’m not saying that we go for strategic defeat, I’m offering a creative adjustment of interest.”
Dr. Abbas further emphasized that despite the challenges posed by extremist groups and the military apparatus, there is tremendous hope for Pakistan, with the country’s future truly in the hands of the young generation.
“The ultimate power and authority and the agent of change is always the ordinary people,” Abbas stated. “We have invested so much in institutions. We have looked through the lens of power structures in such a consistent fashion that we are no more able to see the ordinary people who stand behind these institutions.”
To watch Hassan Abbas’ lecture, click below.
The event was co-sponsored by the Center for Global Studies, Department of History and Art History, Program for Global Affairs and Pakistani Student Association.
October 21, 2011
