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News - 26th March, 2008
VC and Malaysian Professor visits UBIT | Seminar at Area Study Center | Seminar at Intl. Relations
Seminar at department of International Relations
“The Department of International Relations is certainly a prized possession of University of Karachi; it is fast turning into a standard institution of learning”. These views were expressed by Prof. Dr. Qasim Raza Siddiqui- Vice Chancellor University of Karachi- at a seminar on “the State of International Relations in Pakistan” organized by the Department of International Relations in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission and Hanns Seidel Foundation, Islamabad on 26th March 2008. He further added that great progress was expected if the same commitment was sustained in future.
Prof. Dr. Akhlaq Ahmed- Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi- said in his address that the study of International Relations was very essential for understanding the world. The findings of scholars are immensely useful for policy makers because no country in the world can now afford to be isolated.
Prof. Dr. Shamsuddin- Dean, Faculty of Arts, Karachi University- said in his inaugural address that history presents us certain very genuine examples of peace loving people in the world; the Prophet (PBUH) being a bright example.
Dr. Imtiaz Ahmed-Professor at the Department of International Relations, Dhaka University, Bangladesh- gave an exploratory survey of the process of globalization in the world. He spoke extensively upon the increasing intensity, depth and influence of interconnectedness taking place at the global level. He said that there was a need to delink ourselves from the Westoxicated mentality that impedes creative exercise of intellect. The discipline of I.R. is highly Eurocentric and is affecting the process of development of the developing part of the world.
Prof. Dr. Moonis Ahmar- Chairman, Department of International Relations, Karachi University- emphasized in his inaugural address that Department of International Relations was actively engaged in the vibrant pursuit of research and indigenous thinking on various issues confronting the world in general and Pakistan in particular. Dr. Moonis further added that the Department was extending its base and has decided to introduce MS program in near future. He said that commitment and zeal are needed to overcome all obstacles in teaching and research.
Prof Dr. Tahir Amin-Chairman, Department of International Relations, Quaid-e-Azam University- in his paper stated that the hegemonic system of the Western world was prevalent in global politics. The need is to comprehend and then to produce alternate structures of influence so that the marginalized and the deprived could have a say in global affairs. He highlighted the fact that the economic and the political influence of the developed world was almost insurmountable. Therefore, the indigenous theorization in Pakistan and South Asia should specifically take into account their unique position in the global scenario.
Mr. Farhan Hanif Siddiqi-Lecturer, Department of International Relations, Karachi University-adequately explained the theoretical development of the discipline of International Relations over a period of almost 100 years. He elucidated several theoretical traditions like liberalism, realism, Marxism, Dependency and Interdependence. He further added that theoretical insights should be more based upon objective understanding of facts rather than subjective projections.
Mr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal-Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, Quaid-e-Azam University- said in his paper on strategic side of I.R that the field of strategic studies was important for a country like Pakistan but there must be a greater emancipation as far as perspectival freedom is concerned; he mentioned the influence of certain institutions in policy making and policy implementation as far as strategic issues and interests of Pakistan are concerned.
Prof. Dr. Mehtab Ali Shah-Department of International Relations, Sindh University Jamshoro- said that the old debates in I.R. are now outdated and they have to be replaced with newer ones. He said that issues of nationalism and state security have overshadowed issues of human security in the discipline of International Relations in Pakistan. He emphasized over the need of greater exposure to the newer ideas developing in the field of IR.
Prof. Dr. Adnan Sarwar Khan- Chairman, Department of International Relations, University of Peshawar- said that the classroom environment plays a vital role in the student’s intellectual development. He was of the view that a teacher has to primarily be a motivational influence for the students’ to follow. He said that the comparison between the past and the present tells us that in some areas there is degeneration whereas in some we witness rising signs of hope; a great interest is now observable as far as IR is concerned in Pakistan.
Mr. Faheemuddin- Lecturer, Department of International Relations, University of Karachi- said in his paper on “Teaching methods of IR in Pakistan” that IR was a highly interdisciplinary discipline which borrowed heavily from other disciplines. He added that theoretical dimensions in IR in Pakistan needs to be re-evaluated; the issues of development are far more relevant to the developing world than the intellectually luxurious debates on postmodernism and discourses of knowledge. European experience of development is not thoroughly replicable in the developing world because three most important things- Industrial Revolution, Democracy, Secularism- are not found in any developing country in its true essence. Therefore, Western experience of development cannot be a panacea to the problems confronted by the less developed countries.
The sessions were followed by a lively question and answer sessions and shields were given to speakers at the end of the program.
