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THREAD: As I look back at 2020, some of the most intellectually satisfying experiences of the year have come from my conversations with experts on Pakistonomy.
After reflecting on the topics we covered, I've concluded that elite capture is the biggest crisis faced by Pakistan.
After reflecting on the topics we covered, I've concluded that elite capture is the biggest crisis faced by Pakistan.
Every other issue flows from this core issue, which has turned Pakistan into a kleptocracy.
From the petroleum sector to how the water economy functions, you see elites extracting rents across the economy.
The status quo truly does not care about Improving citizens lives.
From the petroleum sector to how the water economy functions, you see elites extracting rents across the economy.
The status quo truly does not care about Improving citizens lives.
Elites continue to enrich themselves while citizens find themselves paying a hefty price in the form of inflation, a rapidly increasing debt burden, and bleak prospects for their children -- a child born in Rwanda, on average, has better prospects than one born in Pakistan.
At the same time, the public discourse has been manipulated and hijacked by these very same elites. Across the aisle, they've created this facade of conflict that is framed as if it is about citizens.
Except it isn't.
It's about which elite group dominates this kleptocracy.
Except it isn't.
It's about which elite group dominates this kleptocracy.
The genius of this facade is that citizens have been divided into jiyalas, youthias, patwaris, so-called liberals, and more.
This serves elite interests.
After all, if the masses are glued to this drama, they won't have the capacity to figure out what's actually going on.
This serves elite interests.
After all, if the masses are glued to this drama, they won't have the capacity to figure out what's actually going on.
Having clarity on this has been extremely important in terms of informing my own perspective of what is and is not important.
What Maulana or Bilawal or Khan or Maryam said about their elite opponents isn't important.
That nothing has come out of the petroleum inquiry is.
What Maulana or Bilawal or Khan or Maryam said about their elite opponents isn't important.
That nothing has come out of the petroleum inquiry is.
Based on this clarity, here are my 2021 priorities as an analyst studying Pakistan's political economy:
- Continue analyzing how this kleptocracy furthers its interests
- Highlight its weaknesses
- Bridge divides to find agreement on people-centric issues
Share yours
- Continue analyzing how this kleptocracy furthers its interests
- Highlight its weaknesses
- Bridge divides to find agreement on people-centric issues
Share yours
PS - here’s the latest exhibit of what I was getting at.
Amnesty was sold as driver of growth and jobs for masses.
In reality, it’s a money laundering scheme to benefit those that are helping prop up the status quo. https://twitter.com/2paisay/status/1344014370880299012
Amnesty was sold as driver of growth and jobs for masses.
In reality, it’s a money laundering scheme to benefit those that are helping prop up the status quo. https://twitter.com/2paisay/status/1344014370880299012
