Daniel McDowell’s book Bucking the Buck: US Financial Sanctions and the International Backlash against the Dollar is a notable addition to the literature on the de-dollarisation trend and its underlying motives. In it, McDowell critically analyses the influence of the overuse of economic sanctions by the United States (US)
[WPPV-TOTAL-VIEWS] views
A shift towards solar power use has been taking place across Pakistan recently, as declining prices of solar panels, coupled with frequent hikes in electricity tariffs, have galvanised end-consumers to embrace solar solutions. However, this rapid pace of solarisation has sparked concerns within some policy-making circles. Speculations regarding policy changes affecting solar photovoltaic (PV) participants
[WPPV-TOTAL-VIEWS] views
From the moment an individual wakes up in the morning to the time s/he sets the alarm for the following day - and even while sleeping, one’s life is now being captured in a continuous loop of digital surveillance via tech gadgets. Individual actions, interactions, preferences, and nearly every aspect of the digital life is being monitored and converted into data points. This surveillance extends to personal data from sources such as search history, social media platforms, web page views
[WPPV-TOTAL-VIEWS] views
Situated in the heart of South Asia and central to significant economic corridors,
Pakistan’s ambition to enhance regional connectivity and integration is
contingent upon a foreign policy that adeptly navigates ever-evolving geopolitical
dynamics. These include the Sino-US rivalry, instability in Afghanistan, India’s
aggressive posture, and the emerging Iran-Saudi Arabia pact. This Working
Paper aims to provide an analytical overview of how
[WPPV-TOTAL-VIEWS] views
Many societies today face the economic problem of an “outsized” banking system, too powerful in its influence and too distortionary in its impact for the rest of the economy to function properly. In the United States, this problem is often framed as “Main Street vs. Wall Street,” and I have discussed the repercussions of the matter during
[WPPV-TOTAL-VIEWS] views
Cyber warfare has revolutionised contemporary warfare beyond traditional direct military engagements by using non-kinetic means to achieve defined military objectives. It plays a critical role, from intercepting enemy communications to degrading critical infrastructures. Moreover, cyberwarfare provides cost-effective, covert,
[WPPV-TOTAL-VIEWS] views
‘Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds,’ said J. Robert Oppenheimer after realising that his pivotal role in the making of atomic bomb could be ruination for humanity. In contemporary times, technologically driven Revolutions in Military Affairs (RMA) are increasingly displacing human roles in the military,
[WPPV-TOTAL-VIEWS] views
In the escalating theatre of great power competition, semiconductors have emerged as indispensable actors. These tiny components, often smaller than a fingernail, are the backbone of a wide array of applications, from communications and aerospace to automobiles and advanced weapon systems.
[WPPV-TOTAL-VIEWS] views
Cyberspace is commonly defined as ‘the online world of computer networks, particularly the Internet.’ Its utilisation spans both personal and professional domains, encompassing activities from entertainment and communication to business and the arts, thereby accommodating the full spectrum of contemporary human endeavours
[WPPV-TOTAL-VIEWS] views
Like the other facets of life, the news media industry has not remained stagnant to rapid digitalisation and internet penetration. The mainstream news media has traditionally been seen as the watchdog in any democratic set-up. However, the advent of the internet revolutionised the media industry landscape.
[WPPV-TOTAL-VIEWS] views