Nadeem F. Paracha

SMOKERS’ CORNER: A HOLLOW MARCH Sectarian outfits in Pakistan, such as the TLP, remain outsiders to the ideological lineage of the Palestinian struggle they claim

A Hollow March.

Sectarian outfits in Pakistan, such as the TLP, remain outsiders to the ideological lineage of the Palestinian struggle they claim to defend.

www.dawn.com/news/1949533...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: HASHTAG HEROES In the age of social media, ‘heroes’ rise and fall in the blink of an eye. From terrorists to influencers, from activists to

In the age of social media, ‘heroes’ rise and fall in the blink of an eye. From terrorists to influencers, from activists to politicians — societies routinely construct, romanticise and discard their chosen symbols of virtue and rebellion.

www.dawn.com/news/1948153...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: WHEN SECULARISM BECOMES SACRED Secular ideas, when imbued with sacred meaning, turn politics into a ‘moral mission’ and reshape democracy’s character in the

Sacralising politics.

Secular ideas, when imbued with sacred meaning, turn politics into a ‘moral mission’ and reshape democracy’s character in the process.

www.dawn.com/news/1944992...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE MYTH OF POPULIST UPRISINGS In truth, populist uprisings are clashes between rival elites, each cloaking its power struggle in the language of mass resistance.

From the US, and Brazil to Pakistan, populist uprisings have been framed as revolts of the people against ‘corrupt elites.’ In truth, these were clashes between rival elites, each cloaking its power struggle in the language of mass resistance.

www.dawn.com/news/1933832

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE EMERGING NEW GLOBAL ORDER Countries such as China and Pakistan are stepping into new roles following the rise of multi-polar realism and the crumbling of the illusions of Western democracy.

The Emerging Global Order.

While Western nations and institutions still cling to a fading post-WWII framework, even as the ground beneath them shifts, countries such as China and Pakistan are stepping into new roles following the rise of multi-polar realism.

www.dawn.com/news/1925243

SMOKERS’ CORNER: SEDUCED BY THE SPOTLIGHT From viral videos to populist protests, fame in today’s world is fast, frequent and fleeting. But the pursuit of attention,

From viral videos to populist protests, fame in today’s world is fast, frequent and fleeting. But the pursuit of attention, even in the political arena, can lead to distorted priorities and the manipulation of genuine causes for personal visibility.

www.dawn.com/news/1908206...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: MANUFACTURING POPULISM Far from being a spontaneous uprising of the people, modern populism has evolved into a carefully curated performa

Manufacturing Populism.

Far from being a spontaneous uprising of the people, modern populism has evolved into a carefully curated performance that is produced, packaged and sold by the very elites it claims to oppose.

www.dawn.com/news/1906889...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: SWALLOWING THE LEFT The middle classes, in both the Global North and South, have co-opted the Left’s ideological tools to serve their own upwar

The middle classes, in both the Global North and South, have co-opted the Left’s ideological tools to serve their own upward mobility, while leaving the working class at the mercy of far-right populism.

www.dawn.com/news/1903783...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE FREE SPEECH PARADOX The concept of ‘free speech’ is celebrated as a cornerstone of democracy, yet history shows that it has always been controversial

The Free Speech Paradox

The concept of ‘free speech’ is celebrated as a cornerstone of democracy, yet history shows that it has always been controversial, contradictory and weaponised by different groups for their own ends.

www.dawn.com/news/1902064...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: HARD STATE, SOFT STATE For decades, nations plagued by terrorism and political instability, such as Pakistan, have tried to project a ‘soft image’ to the

Hard State, Soft State.

www.dawn.com/news/1901103...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE BLA RECKONING The banned Balochistan Liberation Army’s journey from radical student activism to a well-equipped militant force mirrors the

BLA’s journey from radical student activism to a well-equipped militant force mirrors the shifting sands of South Asian politics. Its historical trajectory, ideological mutations and potential role in an impending regional conflict need to be reckoned with.

www.dawn.com/news/1899645...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: YEAR ZERO IDEOLOGY In an age where historical narratives are increasingly weaponised and distorted to serve contemporary agendas, are we

The Year Zero Ideology.

In an age where historical narratives are increasingly weaponised and distorted to serve contemporary agendas, are we erasing the past instead of learning from it?

www.dawn.com/news/1898097...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN! Cricket’s greatest captains have always harboured the ability to galvanise their teams when the odds seemed to be against them.

Cricket’s greatest captains have always harboured the ability to galvanise their teams when the odds seemed to be against them. Pakistan’s abysmal cricket team is, once again, in desperate need of such a leader

www.dawn.com/news/1896645...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: REPEATABLE TRANSGRESSION History has shown that transgressions by and against the state, when left unpunished, tend to resurface with greater intensity.

Repeatable Transgression.

History has shown that transgressions by and against the state, when left unpunished, tend to resurface with greater intensity.

www.dawn.com/news/1895134...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: FAITH IN FALSEHOODS Despite the progress of science and reason, myths and conspiracy theories continue to thrive — even among educated people.

Faith in Falsehoods.

www.dawn.com/news/1893623...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE END OF HISTORY? Fukuyama’s famous thesis was meant to signal liberal democracy’s ultimate victory over all other political ideologies. But

The End of History?

Fukuyama’s famous thesis was meant to signal liberal democracy’s ultimate victory over all other political ideologies. But with the resurgence of populism, is liberal democracy now eating its own tail?

www.dawn.com/news/1892164...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: BIG TECH'S BIG RUSH Technological advancements come with the notion that they are liberating people from the old, soulless forms of capitalism. But

The Big Tech’s Big Rush.

Are people being duped and led towards societal collapse and an authoritarian techno-capitalist future?

www.dawn.com/news/1890662...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: ROMANTIC NATIONALISM AND FAKE HISTORY Pseudo-archaeology has played a big role in constructing mythical histories that feed into imagined pasts that ultimately only aid the political aims of ultra-nationalism.

Romantic Nationalism and Fake History.

Pseudo-archaeology has played a big role in constructing mythical histories that feed into imagined pasts that ultimately only aid the political aims of ultra-nationalism.

www.dawn.com/news/1889117...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: WESTERN BLIND SPOTS As the far-right gains momentum across the West, Western academics long fixated on ‘fragile democracies’ in the Global

It is naive to continue idealising democracy without critiquing it from some awkward angles.

www.dawn.com/news/1887627...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: POPULARISING POPULISM Populism thrives as a political style rather than a concrete ideology, merging theatrics and emotional appeal to captivate the

Populism thrives as a political style rather than a concrete ideology, merging theatrics and emotional appeal to captivate the masses. But it has also concocted a political narrative derived from middle-income drawing-room chatter.

www.dawn.com/news/1886094...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE POLITICS OF BOYCOTTS AND BUYCOTTS As youth-driven activism links consumption with ethics, many local alternatives are thriving by aligning themselves with

THE POLITICS OF BOYCOTTS AND BUYCOTTS.

During boycotting campaigns, many consumers choose products based on the politics of the product than the product as material object.

www.dawn.com/news/1884532...

The principle upon which the existence of all youthia YouTubers stands, is …

‘I lie, therefore I am.’

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE CURSE OF 'COLLAPSOLOGY' Western political scientists and academics are often quick to label nations such as China and Pakistan as being ‘on the

THE CURSE OF 'COLLAPSOLOGY'

www.dawn.com/news/1883075...

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE SEIF-COUP Heads of state, such as Donald Trump and Yoon Suk Yeol, have instigated ‘self-coups’ in an attempt to hold on to power.

The Self Coup.

www.dawn.com/news/1881733...

“Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic state ruled by priests. We have many non-Muslims — they are all Pakistanis …”
M.A Jinnah, February, 1948.

Happy Birthday Mr. Jinnah, and Merry Christmas to all.

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE MYTH OF 'WESTERNISATION' The notion that the West has tried to impose Westernisation and secularism in Muslim regions in the past few decades is largely flawed.

The Myth of Westernisation:

The notion that the West has tried to impose Westernisation and secularism in Muslim regions in the past few decades is largely flawed. In fact, the West has done everything it could to ‘Islamise’ populations of these regions.

www.dawn.com/news/1880149

Special Richard Grenell edition now available.

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE ILLUSION oF AUTHENTICITY The term "authentic" has evolved from a Romantic ideal into marketing gimmicks and aesthetic trends.

The Illusion of Authenticity.

The term ‘authentic’ has evolved from a Romantic ideal into marketing gimmicks and aesthetic trends. In many cases, both at home and abroad, the search for authenticity often masks privilege, nostalgia and myth-making.

www.dawn.com/news/1878873

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE EVOLUTION OF PARTIES Across history, political parties have had to learn to balance their incipient ideology with pragmatism in order to ensure mainstream appeal and survival.

Imran Khan must realise that political manoeuvres are planned according to an objective understanding of circumstances. Not according to one’s ego or reactive whims. 

www.dawn.com/news/1877380...