AJAR | Asian Journal of Academic Research (ISSN: 2790-9379)

The State and Social Contract in Afghanistan: A Historical Analysis

Sajjad Hussain — 2024-07-10

This research is a historical analysis of the complex and evolving relationship between the state and society in Afghanistan through the lens of social contract theory. The research discusses how external interventions and internal enforcement mechanisms have imposed state structure on Afghanistan’s multi-ethnic and tribal society. Through the theoretical framework of classical social contract theory and the state-building model by the OECD, the research assesses how the above variables have affected political development in Afghanistan. The qualitative historical analysis in the research, based on secondary sources, traces the trajectory of formation of a modern state in Afghanistan from the early encounters in the 19th century up to the collapse of the U.S.- backed Afghan Republic in 2021. It finds that external interventions have consistently failed to create a sustainable social contract since most of the state-building efforts were often exogenous to Afghan society’s complex socio-political realities. Instead, such processes have encouraged centralized governance arrangements driven by a few elites, with heightened ethnic, tribal, and religious fragmentation leading to the undermining of state legitimacy

Unveiling the Coloniality of Education: A Post-Colonial Critique and Decolonizing of Education in Pakistan

Uzma Siraj — 2024-07-10

Contemporary educational system of Pakistan is based on Euro-American and Eurocentric civilizational identity perpetuating colonial legacy. Decolonization posits that colonial power structures persist despite independence, necessitating opposition and change. A prominent place in the decolonial discourse is occupied by education. The important part that universities play "in grounding systems of knowledge production and perpetuating coloniality" is acknowledged in this debate. Curriculum and pedagogy are especially recognized as "sites of coloniality within and outside of higher education" that have the potential to either legitimize or marginalize knowledge production systems. A critical discourse analysis of educational policies, curricula, and pedagogies in Pakistan was conducted to uncover the colonial legacy. The study revealed that Eurocentric perspectives dominate educational practices, marginalizing indigenous knowledge systems. This perpetuates inequalities in knowledge production and access. From a postcolonial perspective, the persistence of colonial legacy in education reflects the ongoing struggle for epistemic justice. Decolonizing education requires a critical examination of power structures and knowledge production systems, ultimately promoting intellectual autonomy and inclusivity. This study contributes to the growing discourse on decolonizing education in postcolonial nations, emphasizing the need for a decolonizing agenda in Pakistani higher education.

The Evolving Regional Geopolitics: Connectivity Between Pakistan & Central Asia

Ihtisham Arif — 2024-07-10

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 presents both opportunities and challenges to the regional states in terms of regional peace, stability, connectivity and economic integration. This study explores the historical context and evolving regional geopolitics which has concerns but still has opportunities to enhance connectivity projects between Pakistan and Central Asia by involving the economic interests of China. The study uses the lens of complex interdependence theory to analyses the data, acknowledging numerous channels through which states are interconnected. Furthermore, the study underscores the pivotal role of Afghanistan's stability in defining the scope of economic activities between the two regions. It examines the critical importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for promoting economic cooperation and the challenges posed by the legitimacy of the new Taliban government. The analysis further delves into the implications of these dynamics for Pakistan and the Central Asian Republics (CARs), highlighting the opportunities and obstacles for deeper regional collaboration.