What is the affiliation between the political orientation and the race in the U.S?

What is the affiliation between the political orientation and the race in the U.S?

I have become preoccupied with this question since the last election in the U.S. A.  Before that, I believed that political debates in this country are all about social policies, class, the international stand of each lead nominee of the two parties and narrowly liberal values. However, with the 2016 polarized campaign, I found out how much important is the race and political affiliation in this country which is supposed to be the beacon of liberal democracy.  This class is a great opportunity to examine the given topic through a research-based understanding.

Given the dominant rhetoric in the U.S politics especially of now, I believe that the minorities such as African-Americans are more pro-democrats because they are more open and liberal toward diversity and inclusion. In contrast, the rural whites and those who live in smaller towns are pro-republicans because they think Republicans are more patriotic than Democrats.  

According to a U.S. Census Bureau, the African-American turnout in 2016 election decreased and in contrast, the white turnout increased. [i] However, the same research states that the African-American turnout increased in two previous elections that Obama was the nominee of the Democrats and he was racially African-American. [ii] Further, there are myriads of articles, commentaries and sources that support this hypothesis. Along this course, I am going to share my findings and the focus is to use the secondary data for learning purpose.

To wrap it up, I believe that there is a strong linkage between political orientation and race in the U.S politics and this paper is going to immerse deeply into the context of the topic.

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[i] Krogstad, J. M., & Lopez, M. H. (2017, May 12). Black voter turnout fell in 2016, even as a record number of Americans cast ballots. Retrieved October 14, 2017, from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/05/12/black-voter-turnout-fell-in-2016-even-as-a-record-number-of-americans-cast-ballots/

[ii] Ibid 

A Review of "World Order"

A Review of “World Order”

The World Order was written in 2014 by Henry Kissinger a veteran U.S diplomat who has served in the U.S foreign apparatus for years. According to his bio, he has served as the national advisor and secretary of state during Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford administrations and also he has provided advice to many other American presidents on issues of foreign affairs.

He is the winner of 1973 Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Medal of Freedom in addition to other awards. He is a prolific writer and has penned down a series of other books on foreign policy and diplomacy such as A World Restored…, Nuclear Weapon..., The Necessity for Choice…, The Troubled Partnership…, American Foreign Policy, White House Years, Years of Upheaval, Diplomacy, and Years of Renewal, Does America Need a Foreign Policy, Ending the Vietnam War…, and Crisis…

Summary of the book

This book contains 377 pages (except the endnotes and index) which begins with an introduction questioning the world order followed by a glimpse on diversities of the world order and two prevalent pillars of world order within Westphalian Systems such as legitimacy and power.

Introduction and Chapter One

Generally, the book comprises an introduction, 9 chapters, and a conclusion. Under each chapter, there are subtitles. For instance, chapter one begins with the “Europe: The Pluralistic International Order”. It discusses the peculiarity of the European Order, the thirty years of sweeping war ending by Westphalian Accord and finally legitimacy. This chapter elaborates the Peace of Westphalia, the Operation of Westphalian System [i], the French Revolution and its aftermath.

Chapter Two: The European Balance of Power System and Its Ends

It begins with a subtitle as “The Russian Enigma” which provides an account of Russian Invasion of French and ending Napoleon. It goes further and pinpoints an era which Russia plays a unique role in Europe and disturbs the Westphalian Order with encroachment and expansion. As a result of Russian rise in the Europe, other major players are almost overturned and the Westphalian Order ends. A new order comes in place under the “Congress of Vienna”. It is followed by other subtitles such as “the Premises of International Order”, “Metternich and Bismark” (two key figures in shaping the new order), “The Dilemma of the Balance of Power”, “Legitimacy and Power Between the World Wars”, “The Post-War European Order” and “The Future of Europe”.

“Chapter 3: Islamism and the Middle East”

It begins with “ A World in Disorder”, followed by “The Islamic World Order”, “The Ottoman Empire….”, “the Westphalian System in the Islamic World”, “Islamism: the Revolutionary Tide-…”, “the Arab Spring and the Syrian Cataclysm”, “The Palestinian Issue and International Order”, “Saudi Arabia” and “The Decline of the State”. It gives a clear picture of the Islamic world ravaged by radicalism.

“Chapter 4: The United States and Iran”

This chapter discusses … and heavily concentrates on Iran’s stance on “Arab Spring” as “Islamic Awakening” as a sign of opposing to Western outlook, then it shifts to historic Iran where it was a dominant civilization in the Middle East and it was not expected to become a haven of Islamic radicalism. In a deeper sense, it discusses the Khomeini Revolution; the influence of Qutb’s thought and promptly transfers to nuclear agenda of Iran. A fair portion of the chapter is allotted to this phenomenon.

Chapter 5: The Multiplicity of Asia

This chapter talks about the homogeneity of European countries to one another and the heterogeneity of Asian countries from the viewpoint of power equilibrium. Specifically, the chapter illustrates Japan and India as examples of the Asian variety.

“Chapter 6: Toward an Asian Order: Confrontation or Partnership”

The chapter discusses China’s distinct position in Asian international order and then shifts to a debate on China’s role in the World Order. Finally, under “A longer Perspective”, Chinese-U.S relation is discussed in detail and mostly in favor of the U.S.

 Chapter 7: “Acting for All Mankind: the United State and its Concept of Order”

This chapter portrays the U.S’s role in the world stage in the wake of World War I when Europe is inflicted by a devastating war and the U.S is safe and evolves to a dominant country in the world. The chapter analyzes the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin Roosevelt and the New World Order.

Chapter 8: The United States: Ambivalent Superpower

This chapter embarks on the beginning of the Cold War, continues to Strategies of Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam and the Breakdown of the National Consensus, Richard Nixon and International Order, the Beginning of renewal, Ronald Regan term and the End of Cold War, the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars and the purpose and the possible.

Chapter 9: Technology, Equilibrium and Human Consciousness

This chapter discusses the emergence of the nuclear age, challenges, proliferation, Cybertechnology and human factor and the foreign policy in the digital era.

Conclusion: World Order in our time?

Evolution and where we will go from here. In contrast to the conventional approach, the “Acknowledgement” is added at the end of the book.

o   A General Evaluation of Strength and Flaws

1.       Strengths

A historical outlook to the world

Overall, this book is very informative and depicts the main theme historically. It looks sometimes more like a history rather a debate on World Order. Anyhow, it is totally worth reading. Even those whose profession is not foreign policy or politics needs to have a general view of how the world has come so far in term of peace, order, and conflict.

Balance of power is important

There is an implication in Balance of power. After thirty years of war, European countries made a peace in Westphalia. According to Kissinger’s view, this peace and order were kept because of the balance of power in Europe.[ii] None of the nation-states was as powerful as to overrun others.  I think this balance of power is important everywhere in any context. Take it as an example in a country with diverse ethnic groups. If one ethnic group controls the power, economy, military, and everything, then there is a huge danger of exclusion, monopoly, and potential conflict. However, if every ethnic group has a fair share of power, grasp on economy and decision-making, there is less possibility of tension and conflict. At least, it has a direct implication in countries like Afghanistan.

2.       Flaws

All the roads do not lead to the U.S

However, it carries a biased spirit of the U.S supremacy in all over the content. Time to time, it refers to human rights and the issues like that as a U.S obligation that has protected so far while there are numerous instances that the U.S has violated such principles more than the others. If today, human rights and other universal values have changed to some disgusting toy, it is all because of misuse of these lofty terms as a means of intervention or else. In short, the tone of the book attributes all masterwork to the U.S and all the culprits to others while from the eye of a Non-U.S citizen, it looks quite the opposite. [iii]

Minimizing the World Order to the Peace of Westphalia and Western Order

Despite the importance of Westphalian Peace and accord, it would be a huge mistake to conclude it an overarching world order as it was only practiced in Europe and had no world impression. The Europe of the 1640s, was a dominant culture and civilization that whatever they had done, it should have affected globally. Yet, Henry Kissinger takes it for granted as an era which the history begins from. This generalization reminds us to think about the so-called World War I and II and questions them not as world wars but as European Wars. 

What about the rest of the world? Aren’t they a part of this globe that their wars and peace are not counted significant? This is so biased and discriminatory a look to the world.

Citation

 In the U. S education system, if a student fails to cite a source or does not rephrase a word from someone else in addition to the citation, he may face consequences and his work is not counted genuine. However, this book has few citation and it is not based on either of the citation trends (or in a loose sense, schools of citations). Again, in the U.S education system, if you state a story or an experience, you should give a reference to that even if it is your own words and experience. In this book, there are few references to claims or discussing themes. I don’t know, it may be because of his fame or else that reference is not a matter in this book.

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[i] Westphalian Order has brought about peace and balance of power and multi-polarity in Europe for one century and a half

(1648- to almost 1790  (because before the Vienna Congress, it took 25 years of disorder and the Congress of Vienna was held in 1815)

[ii] Kissinger, H. (2014). World Order. New York: Penguin Press. P 12

[iii] Kissinger, H. (2014). World Order. New York: Penguin Press. Pp 1-2

Few Links to be archived

http://www.unamn.org/blog/model-un-conference-draws-225-students-with-a-passion-for-international-affairs
http://www.unamn.org/blog/mun-conference-draws-students-with-passion-for-international-affairs
http://www.mary.org/news-events/events/journey-refugees-and-immigrants#.WU2MIuyGPDe
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208102050338437&set=pcb.10208101330360438&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208101995697071&set=pcb.10208101330360438&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208101996137082&set=pcb.10208101330360438&type=3&theater

The Confluence of Eyes

I am stunned for a while looking at her and racking my brains to recall her name and why I have been looking for her all along. No, it is not good to ask her now, I thought. It is an open discussion in the conference. I will talk to her with a trick in the tea break.

In the meantime, despite I am digging my memory, I have to prepare the Resolution for the conference; therefore, I go down to my suite which is in the 4th floor of the Continental Hotel. Wrapping up the first draft, I swiftly go up to the conference hall. My eyes are curiously after her among the throngs of others who are giggling in the tea break with one another. I can’t see her here so that I make my way toward a bunch of women who are in the other corner. I cannot find her here either. She is in rest-room, I guess. Waiting for a while, I ask one of the ladies if all women are still here and no one has left the conference before it gets ended. I pretend serious just to hide my exploding preoccupation for her. They are not sure if everyone is aboard.

After a long effort, pulling my eyebrow up and down, I can’t still remember her name but I remember now where I have met her before. She was my student in an English class a few years ago. She was so gentle and kind and I was impressed by her but, as an instructor, I was not able to engage in a private talk.

I think that I missed a great opportunity today. Returning back to my corner office which resembles now to a cage, I plan to go home. On next day in the morning, when I am dropped off the car by the gate of the office, I am stunned again. She and a number of women get off a 4Runner and stand by the gate too. I greet them and swipe my card. She explains that the women leaders from the region are invited by our office to have a tea and know each other more.

On the way to the meeting room, we exchange our business cards. Thank God, at least I get a contact.

Book Review (Part One)

Fixing Failed States (Let’s see how he fixes a failed state like Afghanistan)[1]

A Framework for Rebuilding a Fractured World

In the dawn of 2015, I finished reading a prominent book under FIXING FAILED STATES penned by Ashraf Ghani and Clare Lockhart; the first one, current president of Afghanistan and the then employee of the World Bank and lecturer at John Hopkins University, Kabul University and Finance Minister of the country in the year following 9/11. The Latter, an employee of World Bank and the Director of Institute for State Effectiveness, one of the writers of Bonn Agreement and one of the developers of National Solidarity Programs in Afghanistan. Both of them have rich background in international scene practically and theoretically.

This book is not just as its name indicates, but it is both accounts of successes and failures of states. It illustrates the rising story of some states which were deemed to failure in the eyes of the others while on contrary, some states which were taught to be the stars of a given regions descended in chaos and anarchy due to dysfunctional apparatus called state.

به کجای این دموکراسی بیاوزیم قبای ژنده خویش را؟

در تاریخ ۹ اسد ۱۳۹۲ جمعی از نهادهای مدنی کنفرانسی مطبوعاتی را در معبد سیک های افغانستان در کارته ‍‍‍پروان کابل برگزار کردند که طی آن پرده از وضعیت رقت بار اقلیت های مذهبی هندو و سیک برداشته شد.

I did not want this (2)

The following is a memoir of my life which would be published in some series. 

On the way to Pakistan, I witnessed too many insults and cruelties to Hazaras. Being a Hazara was an unforgivable crime. Our nose was the matter of joke, our dialect was harshly satirized, and our culture, conduct and everything related to us were subject to insult and sarcasm. Finally, we passed the Chaman border of Pakistan by paying the dealers as we were Hazaras, though for the rest of Afghans, there was an open border no need of identity or else. We stayed in Quetta for some days and my companions were fooled by human traffickers and asked me to go to Iran. I hated Iran as I had heard numerous shocking stories about Iranian government conduct with Afghan refugees. Eventually, they were about to move toward Taftan border between Iran and Pakistan. I was just so frustrated and desperate.  If only I had had Rs.200; I would have gone to Karachi and would have saved those wasted years in Iran working as underemployed laborer. Sometimes, a life can be saved or shaped only by Rs.200.

I did not want this (1)

The following is a memoir of my life which would be published in some series of parts. 

When I was studying hard enough to become someone who I dreamed, I never thought that life has so many complicated faces in reality. My entire education has a very sad, adventurous and strange story. I never had the luxury of having any support that most of the children have in this world in their childhood.

I studied my primary school with gaps and interruption in my district school. Some years I was laboring for helping my family in the village. Once, my father bought a falcon. He fed it for almost 4 months with lamb and goat meats until the falcon dealers camp in Qarghanato of Bamyan. Finally the time came and my father called me in a morning to give up the work which I was busy with in the plantation. He ordered my mother to give me two pairs of cloths as I was having a journey ahead. Later on I found out a cage on my shoulder inside of which was the falcon. My father was riding his mare horse and while I was stepping after the horse, I was changing the cage from left shoulder to right and vice versa as it was heavy to my capacity. Finally, after 4 days we arrived in Qarghanato of Bamyan where there were white tents in everywhere specially in far-reaching corners of the desert. Our falcon had a flaw; one of its wings was damaged during hunting.

بر سر چند راهی

این روزها در کلاس ویبلاگ نویسی می آیم و می خواهم با درگیر شدن با ویبلاگ نویسی پس به خط نوشتن و خواندن برگردم. از سال 2010 میلادی که برای ادامه تحصیل به هند رفتم و حتا قبل تر از آن دست از نوشتن و خواندن جدی برداشتم و آن هم چند دلیل داشت: 

1. نوشتن در این کشور به یک کار تجملی می ماند؛ کاری که اگر آب و نان و کار و مقام و شهرت داشتی می توانی از سر تفنن و دست و پا کردن جایگاهی در بین اهالی فرهنگ و ادب بنویسی و اگرنه از گرسنگی و گمنامی و احساس حقارت روانت آزرده خواهد شد و سر به بیابان خواهی زد. 

2. نوشتن در این کشور برای تو هیچ معیشیتی نمی دهد. اگر کمی انگلیسی و دو برنامه کمپیوتر بلد باشی و یک واسطه خوب هم داشته باشی؛ از نویسنده ای که خیلی خوب هم می نویسد و ده ها مساله را می فهمد، به مراتب معیشت و جایگاه اجتماعی بهتر داری.
3. و چندین دلیل دیگر.

اما بدون نوشتن، آدم به آب ایستاده ای می ماند که به گفته هوشنگ شفا "در ملال آبگيرش غنچه لبخند ميميرد/ آهوان عشق از آب گل آلودش نمي نوشند/مرغكان شوق در آيينه تارش نمي جوشند".
اما نوشتن و آنهم نوشتنی که در خور مطالعه باشد، کار ساده ای نیست. کسی می تواند بنویسد که همزمان مطالعه نیز کند. افزون بر این، از بسیاری لذایذ دیگر مثل چکر، خوشگذرانی، لم دادن و استراحت کافی نیز باید درگذرد. زیرا، نوشتن کار عمیق فکری است. باید خلوت با خود را نسبت به حشر و نشر با جمع ترجیح داد. ورنه نوشته ای که کسی بخواند و حرف نو و جدی ای در آن بیابد بیرون نخواهی داد. این است که خود را فعلا بر سر چند راهی احساس می کنم. لذت نوشتن و خواندن برای من از همه حظ و حال های دیگر بیشتر است؛ اما معیشت و حیثیت اجتماعی از طریق نوشتن هرگز در افغانستان به دست نمی آید. ممکن است خیلی ها تو را به عنوان یک نویسنده احترام کند و جایگاهی در بین اهالی فرهنگ بیابی؛ اما هرگز برای تو نان و نامی نمی شود که در اجتماع خودت با آن با دیگران یکسان نگریسته شوی. برای این امر، باید در جایی کار کرد و خود را با شرایط محیط کار وفق داد تا از آدم های عادی این جامعه در نزد دیگران پس نمانی. در سال نو(2013)، تصمیم به دگردیسی گرفته ام، اما دیده شود که کدام سو مرا بیشتر مجذوب خود می سازد. هنوز هم بر سر چند راهی ام!!

How federalism is interpreted in Afghanistan?

Federalism is an academic concept, and I am fascinated by its ability in decentralizing and engaging the people more in democracy. In the context of Afghanistan, there would not be a clear-cut presumption that it works as it did in the rest of the world. However, it is still a means to bring about justice, ethnicity balance in the respective regions and terminate the monopoly of single-ethnic rule. As far as the success or failure of federalism in Afghanistan is concerned, there are two different sets of ideas, in the one hand the pros of federalism think that in the given diversity and political context of Afghanistan, it will successfully operate, in the other hand the cons of federalism believe that it will not be a good response to the current political crisis. This paper would academically examine these hopes and concerns with no favor in term of its applicability or non-applicability. [1] In the other word, this also would pursue the possibilities and challenges of its applicability within the confines of realities not based on waves favoring this system without profound judgments.

A New Version of Extremism

The most challenging threat in Islam World is the expansion of extremism which is a sweeping wave and may affect vast regions in addition to its origin; it may sway anywhere Muslims live. 

خان قبیله آیا تو از قرارداد اجتماعی چیزی می فهمی؟

            http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/directory/h/hamid_karzai.asp

عصمت الله صاحبدل

امضای پیمان استراتژیک افغانستان و امریکا از بدو عقدش مورد تحلیل رسانه ها از جهات مختلف قرار گرفته است و اما آنچه این قلم را به ستوه آورده است، ذکر حفظ مرکزیت این نظام در این پیمان است.

تصریح چنین موردی، اولا پوچی شعار امریکایی ها را ثابت می سازد که خود را متعهد به توسعه دموکراسی در افغانستان سر می دادند، ولی بعدها کورکورانه گام در گام عناصر قبیله گرا و به شدت تمامیت خواه افتادند و حقوق بشر و دموکراسی را به خاطر دلخوشی عناصر نامبرده در تاق نسیان گذاشتند. برعلاوه، به پروسه تمرکز قدرت، ثروت و منابع در دست آنان کمک شایان کردند که هیچ یک با روحیه دموکراسی سازگار نیست.

What I perceived from Serial 24

First, it should be mentioned that I don’t know movie critique at all. What I want to write about 24 is some personal perception of mine as an ordinary onlooker.

Serial 24 is a movie which embodies the involvement of the United States of America, as a unique superpower with almost whole the world. Besides, it depicts the real polity of the United States of America from the within. From the very start which a black becomes the president and the challenges he faces and the external influences on the politics of that giant (USA) and the attempt on his life (David Palmer, the first ever black who becomes the president of the USA) and his excellence in administering the challenging situations are signifying the reality which every presidential would face in somewhat the same. It has a clear message to Americans (blacks are also human beings and have intelligence for any endeavor as whites have) who already experimented in voting to Barak Obama as a black whose race was discriminated and is even being discriminated today but it is in the process of crossing and leaving behind this era in a civilized society such as U.S.A.

Would federalism work in Afghanistan?

I am fascinated by federalism by many ways; it is a means which distributes the power and  finally power checks the power. Moreover, it gives the local governments the right to seek their own initiatives for responding the domestic problems rather central government which mostly is not as familiar as the local or state gobvernments to the given areas.
federalism is also a good mechanism for decentralization. In reference to Afghanistan, power is vested in the hand of a single ethnic with the justification that they are the majority, which is just a bluff to oust the other ethnicities from the ground. In addition, the single ethnicity rule is bound to this claim that Afghanistan is theirs and they are the real owner and the others have no right to live in this land. Both pretexts are absurd in our time. There is no absolute owner in any part of the world. Every nation is made up of several identities, even some countries are made by settlers or immigrants.
federalism can work for any country which is very diverse in identity. It helps to bring regional integration despite of differences in many ways. I would write more on applicabilities and challenges of federalism in Afghanistan.

A Glimpse on “The Emperor’s Writings”

      Esmatullah Sahebdil

“The Emperor’s Writings” is a must-to-read book; for, it depicts a part of the Indian’s greatest Historical figure: Akbar the Great, an eminent part of the Great Moguls’ reign, their greatness, openness, wisdom, statecraft, governance, tolerance and genius.  This book is a window to look upon the vast, wealthy and prosperous empire of its age with the sovereign on the ocean to ocean, mountains to mountains and stretching from Himalayas to Hindu Kush, from Hindu Kush to Kithar Mountains of Bluchistan, from Sind to Gujrat Shores, from Deccan to Orissa and Bengal. It narrates the numerous breathtaking campaigns  of Akbar with many arrogant neighboring amirs who, oftentimes disturb him and he the son of The Tiger, The Iron and his Great Ancestor Changiz Khan the Great, kneels down them and force them to rub the dust by their foreheads and then opposite to the conventional customs of the time, make them his best allies and loyal soldiers instead of cutting their heads; for, he believes that finishing a victim means giving him honor and forgiving them means to show your greatness and superiority to them.