Crisis of Good Governance in Pakistan: Need for Reforms

and Institution Building

Outline
Introduction
Pakistan suffers from a severe crisis of poor governance; this impacts the state’s ability to
provide basic necessities to its people; a weak democratic structure, centralized power relations
and weak institutions lie at the heart of this crisis; reforms must be made in the political,
administrative and economic fields and institutions strengthened to improve governance in the
country
Defining governance
1. The UN definition
2. The eight pillars of good governance:
a. Participatory
b. Rule of law
c. Effective and efficient
d. Transparent
e. Responsive
f. Equitable and Inclusive
g. Consensus oriented
h. Accountability

The crisis of good governance in Pakistan

1. A weak democratic structure
2. Weak and poorly developed local governments
3. Lack of participation of women and minorities in the democratic process
4. Corruption in the public sector
5. The failings of public sector institutions: PIA, the Steel Mill as examples
6. Ineffective tax regime
7. A lack of respect for the law
8. The failings of the police and of law enforcement agencies

What lies at the heart of this crisis?

1. Pakistan’s inability to cement democracy in the country
2. A skewed civil-military dynamic
3. Over-centralization of power and deliberate weakening of local governments
4. The conflict between the center and the provinces
5. Inability to carry out land and tax reforms
 6. Lack of merit and corruption in the public sector
7. Lack of civil service reforms and the ‘officer’ culture plaguing the civil service
8. A debt crisis that has paralyzed public spending in the country

How to improve governance in Pakistan

1. Decentralizing power and strengthening local governments
2. Maintaining a cap on election campaign funding
3. Reforming the police and the civil service
4. Reforming other state institutions
5. Undertaking land reforms and redefining Pakistan’s tax regime
6. Improving education and giving the people a greater say in the decision making process

Discussion: governance in Pakistan will only improve if power is decentralized to the lowest
rungs of hierarchy, and when money and prestige no longer determine the outcome of elections
Conclusion
Poor governance has a significant impact on Pakistanis and on their lives; ending the crisis
requires reforming Pakistan’s political and economic structures; more transparency and
accountability will only occur by giving more voice to the people and allowing them to
determine their own destinies

Being a Minority is a Fate No One Wants, Can Nationalism

Really Be Inclusive?
Outline
Introduction
Nationalism is predicated on exclusion and marginalization of certain communities; minorities
do not have the same privilege or access to resources majority groups do; nationalism has once
again come to the fore because of the 2008 financial crisis; nationalism is inherently exclusive
and thus requires checks and balances to protect minorities
Defining nationalism
An intense sense of pride and superiority towards one’s own nation, ethnicity or community;
difference between nationalism and patriotism
Different types of minorities
 Ethnic communities
 Religious communities
 Racial communities
  Linguistic minorities

The exclusive nature of nationalism and why being a minority is a fate no one wants
 Racism
 Political and religious exclusion
 Limited access to jobs and economic resources
 Minorities are often victims of severe violence
 Bias in the judicial system

Examples of exclusive nationalism

 Donald Trump and the visible face of racism in the United States
 India and the oppression of Muslims
 The rise of the far right in Europe

Why is nationalism exclusive

 The nature of the nation state
 The need for a national identity and culture
 Capitalism, economic inequality and blaming the ‘other’

How to make nationalism more inclusive

 Finding a common solution to the world’s economic problems
 Strengthening the United Nations and global cooperation
 More cultural and political interaction

Conclusion
Nationalism is a sentiment that seeks to marginalize the ‘other’; capitalism and the economic
crises of 2008 led to the rise of nationalist parties in the West and in India; it is essential to find
economic and political ways to make nation-states more inclusive