Nadeem F. Paracha

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE DEATH OF FEUDALISM

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE DEATH OF FEUDALISM

Contrary to popular mainstream narratives, feudalism in Sindh has long been in decline as a new middle class and urban elite are reshaping the province’s political and economic landscape. Updated 20 Apr, 2025 09:58am
SMOKERS’ CORNER: SWALLOWING THE LEFT

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 Published 13 Apr, 2025 07:50am
SMOKERS’ CORNER: HARD STATE, SOFT STATE

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 world. Updated 30 Mar, 2025 10:29am
SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE BLA RECKONING

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE BLA RECKONING

The BLA’s historical trajectory, its ideological mutations and its potential role in an impending regional conflict need to be reckoned with. Updated 23 Mar, 2025 10:10am
SMOKERS’ CORNER: YEAR ZERO IDEOLOGY

SMOKERS’ CORNER: 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? Published 16 Mar, 2025 06:33am
SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE END OF HISTORY?

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE END OF HISTORY?

With the resurgence of populism, electoral authoritarianism and new economic conflict, is liberal democracy now eating its own tail? Published 16 Feb, 2025 06:13am
SMOKERS’ CORNER: BIG TECH'S BIG RUSH

SMOKERS’ CORNER: BIG TECH'S BIG RUSH

Tech advancements come with the notion that they're liberating people from old forms of capitalism. But are people being duped and led towards an authoritarian techno-capitalist future? Updated 09 Feb, 2025 09:37am
SMOKERS’ CORNER: WESTERN BLIND SPOTS

SMOKERS’ CORNER: WESTERN BLIND SPOTS

As the far-right gains momentum across the West, Western academics long fixated on ‘fragile democracies’ in the Global South are now grappling with the cracks emerging within their own democracies. Published 26 Jan, 2025 06:55am
SMOKERS’ CORNER: POPULARISING POPULISM

SMOKERS’ CORNER: POPULARISING POPULISM

Populism thrives as a political style rather than a concrete ideology, merging theatrics and emotional appeal to captivate the masses. Published 19 Jan, 2025 07:37am
SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE SELF-COUP

SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE SELF-COUP

Can the May 9, 2023 acts of violence in Pakistan also be classified as an attempt at a "self-coup"? Updated 29 Dec, 2024 10:20am
SMOKERS’ CORNER: THE EVOLUTION OF PARTIES

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. Published 08 Dec, 2024 06:55am