20 results on '"O. Wolf"'
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2. The Conceptual Framework Regarding Economic Corridors
- Author
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Siegfried O. Wolf
- Subjects
Value (ethics) ,Politics ,Knowledge management ,Conceptualization ,business.industry ,Political science ,Premise ,Sustainability ,The Conceptual Framework ,Context (language use) ,business ,Variety (cybernetics) - Abstract
This chapter originates from the premise that there is a lack of comprehensive conceptual work regarding Economic Corridors (ECs). Most existing studies were conducted by experts from both regional and spatial sciences guided by specific, compartmentalized research goals and interests. There lacks a concept of ECs offering a noteworthy explanatory value beyond strictly quantitative approaches—a concept capable of addressing the social and political impacts of a corridor project. It becomes obvious that a comprehensive approach to the very concept of EC is needed, not only so as to guide the formulation and implementation of such vast development initiatives but also so as to measure effectivity, efficiency and sustainability standards. In this context it is argued that an ‘EC initiative’ must consider a variety of dynamics, namely economic, organisational, institutional, behavioural, political, and planning characteristics. These characteristics determine the set of indicators constituting a conceptualization of ECs articulated in this chapter—and which should be understood as a heuristic tool meant to monitor and assess corridor initiatives. By offering a new concept for what constitutes an EC, the chapter aims to bridge the gap between the valuable groundwork undertaken by previous scholars and the conceptual requirements of a social science perspective.
- Published
- 2019
3. Introduction
- Author
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Siegfried O. Wolf
- Published
- 2019
4. Development Versus Democracy? The CPEC and Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan
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Siegfried O. Wolf
- Subjects
Sustainable development ,Power (social and political) ,Democratic consolidation ,Political economy ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Political science ,Civil–military relations ,Quality (business) ,Embedded democracy ,Nexus (standard) ,Democracy ,media_common - Abstract
Pakistan’s unhealthy civil-military relations constitute as a major hindrance for sustainable development and democratic consolidation in the country. This chapter will outline the basic determinants of civil-military relations in Pakistan—with special reference to the democracy-development nexus. By applying the concept of embedded democracy and a derived notion of civilian control, it will be argued that the establishment of the CPEC will lead to a further weakening of civilian decision-making powers vis-a-vis the military. Furthermore, it will be pointed out that the CPEC implementation and its respective security requirements created an environment in which the military could legally build-up a far-reaching institutionalized, formal role in the political-administrative system. The subsequent seizing of power by the armed forces will have severe impacts on the quality of democracy in Pakistan.
- Published
- 2019
5. The GSP+ Conundrum and the CPEC’s Impact on EU-Pakistan Economic and Trade Relations
- Author
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Siegfried O. Wolf
- Subjects
State (polity) ,Economic policy ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Political science ,Corporate governance ,Terrorism ,Fundamental rights ,media_common.cataloged_instance ,Quality (business) ,European union ,Democracy ,media_common ,Appeasement - Abstract
This chapter is dedicated to one particular aspect of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) development—the impacts of the CPEC on the GSP+ (Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus) status granted to Pakistan by the European Union (EU). The chapter elaborates on the genesis of EU-Pakistan relations and gives an introduction to the GSP+ measure. It is then argued that the way the corridor is currently implemented influences the debate over the granting of the GSP+ status to Pakistan, as current CPEC-related developments threaten the country’s compliance with GSP+ requirements. Current CPEC-related implementation dynamics also potentially favour such developments as Pakistan’s involvement in state-sponsored terrorism, the maintenance of appeasement policies by state authorities towards Jihadists and religious fundamentalists, and a lack of state protection for minorities as well as violation of fundamental human rights. An increasingly repressive legal environment and the weakening of political-administrative institutions, governance, and quality of democracy constitute additional matters of concern regarding the country’s eligibility for the GSP+ status.
- Published
- 2019
6. Final Thoughts
- Author
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Siegfried O. Wolf
- Published
- 2019
7. Pakistani Motivations
- Author
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Siegfried O. Wolf
- Published
- 2019
8. Challenges Towards the Implementation and Functioning of the CPEC
- Author
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Siegfried O. Wolf
- Subjects
Politics ,Beijing ,Political science ,Realisation ,Scale (social sciences) ,Realpolitik ,Context (language use) ,Economic system ,China - Abstract
While expectations relating to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are high, Pakistan remains challenged by traditional problems linked to the patterns of the country’s realpolitik. These will have severe consequences as regards the corridor’s implementation and smooth functioning. Beijing too must deal with several implications arising from the CPEC: China’s western Xinjiang region—which determines one of the corridor’s five subzones—suffers from various shortcomings such as a weak industrial base and limited economic scale and faces both social and political challenges. Some of these problems are closely interlinked and could even reinforce each other in the context of large-scale development initiatives such as economic corridors. In sum, the challenges that might hinder the realisation of the CPEC are both internal and external, encompassing political, geostrategic, social, economic, environmental, and legal-constitutional aspects. Any assessment of the CPEC needs to comprehensively consider both contemporary and future challenges facing this development project.
- Published
- 2019
9. Assessment
- Author
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Siegfried O. Wolf
- Published
- 2019
10. Afghanistan Within the BRI Vision and the Feasibility of Enlarging the CPEC
- Author
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Siegfried O. Wolf
- Subjects
Afghan ,Beijing ,Political economy ,Political science ,Context (language use) ,Resizing ,Neighbourhood (mathematics) - Abstract
This chapter deals with the growing interaction between Beijing and Kabul and the proposal for the enlargement of the CPEC into Afghanistan. It elaborates on the current trajectories within Chinese-Afghan relations and sheds light on Beijing’s rising interests in Afghanistan. The underlying Chinese rationale regarding its western neighbourhood will be outlined. In this context, the chapter gives special attention to Afghan-Pakistan relations, the re-emergence of the Taliban and the role of both the US and India in the region. It will be argued that a potential CPEC enlargement into Afghanistan faces fundamental challenges. More concretely, the potential integration of Afghanistan into the larger Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) seems likely to worsen rather than to improve the conditions for the Afghan people. A major engagement of Beijing in Afghanistan within the BRI framework would most likely function as a source for conflict rather than stability and would further undermine regional cooperation.
- Published
- 2019
11. Chinese Motivations
- Author
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Siegfried O. Wolf
- Published
- 2019
12. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Its Impact on Regionalisation in South Asia
- Author
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Siegfried O. Wolf
- Subjects
Middle East ,Economy ,Foreign policy ,Political science ,Liberian dollar ,Regionalisation ,Context (language use) ,China ,Geopolitics ,Nexus (standard) - Abstract
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion dollar infrastructure investment project, is not only heralded as a game changer for Pakistan’s economy but also for regional cooperation (Daily Capital, CPEC project a game changer for the region: Nawaz, 2015; Fazil, Pakistan: what stands in CPEC’s way? 2016; Khan, Is China-Pakistan Economic Corridor really a game changer? Pakistan Today, 2015b; Sahgal, China – Pakistan economic corridor: changing dynamics of Southern Asia – analysis. Eurasiareview, 2015). As a crucial part of the major development initiative led by China, known as ‘One Belt, One Road’ (OBOR), to connect Asia with Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the CPEC is widely linked to hopes, interests, as well as regional and global geopolitics. Therefore, this chapter seeks to shed light on interests and challenges, and potential impact of the project on regional development. In this context, the chapter argues that the potential impact on regionalisation depends entirely on its ability to increase regional connectivity as much as possible. Therefore, CPEC must be integrated into the transport-, energy- and trade infrastructure regional networks beyond the Pakistan-China nexus. It is essential that Pakistan includes neighbouring states, and opens up the CPEC to Iran, Afghanistan, and India. Only then can the project have significant impact on regional connectivity and will it be able to function as a game changer for regional cooperation. In order to facilitate such meaningful input, a normalisation of Pakistan-India ties and a constructive Pakistan-Iran dialogue are essential preconditions. Furthermore, a fundamental reassessment of Pakistan’s predominantly-security based approach towards Afghanistan and India is needed, it must develop a foreign policy free from ideological parameters which allows rational behaviour in its bilateral relations. More concretely, Pakistan needs a greater emphasis on trade and broader economic cooperation rather than putting the focus on security.
- Published
- 2017
13. State of Democracy in South Asia: The Cases of Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan
- Author
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Siegfried O. Wolf
- Subjects
Good governance ,Islamic fundamentalism ,Corruption ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Political economy ,Political science ,General election ,Authoritarianism ,Democratization ,Embedded democracy ,Democracy ,media_common - Abstract
Since the young South Asian states officially gained independence from colonial rule, democratic transitions were hampered namely by the entrenched authoritarian traditions, rise of Islamic fundamentalism, communal violence and endemic corruption. The proclamation by some analysts, possibly guided by a minimalistic definition of democracy, of a successful South Asian ‘new democratic wave’ may however overemphasise the technical criteria for holding elections while ignoring the threat of potential return to authoritarian patterns. Having this in mind, this chapter is assessing the state and the art of democratic processes in South Asia based on the cases Bangladesh, India and Pakistan; on their respective backslashes and hindrances; as well as factors which can help to entrench democracy. The analysis will focus mainly on the period which starts with the 2013 General Election in Pakistan, and will take into account the transitionary phase of the 2014 elections in Bangladesh and India as well as elaborate on the latest developments. It will be argued that just looking at the holding elections as indicator for successful democratic transition is misleading in the South Asian context. It neither gives a clear description of the status of fundamental rights, freedoms, quality of (democratic) good governance nor if the will of the people as supreme authority in a democracy is respected. In order to prove this rationale, the chapter will apply the concept of (liberal) ‘embedded democracy’ by Wolfgang Merkel.
- Published
- 2017
14. Pakistan and State-Sponsored Terrorism in South Asia
- Author
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Siegfried O. Wolf
- Subjects
050502 law ,Government ,Militant ,media_common.quotation_subject ,05 social sciences ,Jihadism ,050601 international relations ,0506 political science ,State (polity) ,Order (exchange) ,Political economy ,Political science ,Terrorism ,State-sponsored terrorism ,0505 law ,media_common ,Reputation - Abstract
Pakistan has gained the international reputation of being the world’s foremost exporter of Jihadism. While analysing the causes and consequences of this phenomenon, numerous observers find that there are clear indicators that the Pakistani government is involved in sponsoring terrorism. In order to weigh these assertions, this chapter will apply the concept of state terrorism to Pakistan, based on a set of indicators, in order to assess the potential involvement of the government in terrorism. It demonstrates that, in the case of Pakistan, state-sponsored terrorism is caused by a severe defect in the country’s political-administrative system more generally and by the unhealthy civil-military relations in particular. Subsequently, it analyses the discrepancy between the claims and true ambition of the government as it assesses Pakistan’s recent counterterrorism activities. The chapter stresses that Pakistan has only acted against militant groups that developed an anti-Pakistan agenda and are considered a threat to the regime. Terrorist organizations on Pakistani soil that mostly operate abroad, especially in Afghanistan and/or India, are not clearly targeted by the country’s antiterrorism campaigns. Keeping this in mind, the analysis will consider the interstate dimensions of Pakistan’s involvement in state terrorism. In conclusion, it considers Pakistan a part of the problem of cross-border terrorism, rather than a credible partner in finding a comprehensive solution to the global challenges of international Jihadism. As such, it is argued that Pakistan must be identified as a state sponsor of terrorism.
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- 2017
15. Politics in South Asia
- Author
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Jivanta Schöttli, Marian Gallenkamp, Siegfried O. Wolf, Markus Pauli, Kai Fürstenberg, Lion König, and Subrata Mitra
- Subjects
Politics ,South asia ,Geography ,Ethnology ,Far East - Published
- 2015
16. Introduction
- Author
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Siegfried O. Wolf and Paulo Casaca
- Published
- 2014
17. EU-Pakistan Relations: European Perspectives at the Turn of the Twenty-First Century
- Author
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Siegfried O. Wolf and Jakub Zajączkowski
- Subjects
Power (social and political) ,Soft power ,Foreign policy ,Order (exchange) ,Political science ,General election ,Political economy ,media_common.cataloged_instance ,Democratization ,European union ,Use of force ,media_common - Abstract
The principle aim of this chapter is to analyse relations between the European Union (EU) and Pakistan and to present European approaches towards the growing influence of militancy in Pakistan. To understand European perceptions of Pakistan and South Asia, it is necessary to perceive the European vision of the international order as well as the nature and essence of Europe. Moreover, in outlining European perspectives towards Pakistan and towards countering militancy in this country, the authors make a comparative analysis of the respective approaches of the US and EU towards the ‘Pakistani challenge’. This leads to the conclusion that European and American perceptions of Pakistan differ due to different attitudes and approaches towards international order as a concept, as well as issues such as war, balance of power and the use of force. The European perspective places greater stress on soft power elements as the basis of Europe’s long-term strategy in Pakistan. This approach seems to gain particular momentum in light of the Pakistan General Elections of 2013. In order to strengthen its soft power elements the EU decided not only to deploy an election observation mission to monitor the elections on May 11th but also to reconfirm its commitment to deepening and widening its relations with Pakistan, with special focus on strengthening the process of democratic transition (EEAS 2013a, b). This should be interpreted as a tangible sign of the implementation of envisaged EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue as agreed on in June 2012 (EEAS 2012) “which forms the bedrock of deeper EU-Pakistan relations” (EEAS 2013b).
- Published
- 2014
18. The Merits of Regional Cooperation
- Author
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Anne J. Flanagan, Cátia Rodrigues, Paulo Casaca, and Siegfried O. Wolf
- Published
- 2014
19. The EU in Afghanistan’s Regional Security Complex
- Author
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Sander Ruben Aarten and Siegfried O. Wolf
- Subjects
Great power ,Security interest ,business.industry ,media_common.quotation_subject ,International trade ,Democracy ,Environmental protection ,Political system ,Foreign policy ,Political science ,media_common.cataloged_instance ,Superpower ,European union ,business ,European Security Strategy ,media_common - Abstract
The formation of the European Union (EU) revolves around economic cooperation and integration. Over the decades the EU has developed into the world’s largest trading bloc and economy. It is therefore justified to claim that the EU as a whole ranks among the world’s great powers. In the definition of Buzan and Waever (2007, 34–36) great power interests stretch across the globe but often have unbalanced capabilities which may reduce the effectiveness of their efforts to pursue these interests. This conceptualisation fits the characteristics of the EU, which is an economic superpower, but has ineffective political institutions in the field of foreign policy making, and downright underdeveloped military capabilities. Nevertheless, in recent decades the EU has been trying to position itself as a credible foreign policy actor. In 2003 the EU for the first time presented its foreign security interests in the European Security Strategy (ESS). In pursuing its security interests abroad the EU has maintained its traditional mantra of promoting democracy – a logical policy as it is arguably the most stable political system available, and may well be considered one of the key ingredients to more than seven decades of stability in the largest parts of Europe.
- Published
- 2014
20. Epilogue: The Merits of Regionalisation and Emerging Prospects in South Asia
- Author
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Paulo Casaca and Siegfried O. Wolf
- Subjects
Politics ,Militant ,Poverty ,Political science ,Fundamentalism ,Terrorism ,Development economics ,Regional integration ,Ethnic group ,Regionalisation - Abstract
The fact that South Asia and its vehicle for regional integration South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are on the edge of improvement has been evident for quite some time. For most analysts of the subcontinent, this did not come as a surprise. Compared with other regional organisations it had a very difficult ‘starting position’ (Delinic 2011, 8). South Asia was not able to fully recover from the traumatic partition that followed the end of the European presence. The prevalence of intraregional diplomatic conflicts and fully fledged wars became rampant and prevailed over the logic and rational of effective and cohesive regional co-operation. Nevertheless, the challenge for SAARC exists in a connectivity problem because almost all of the SAARC member states share a border with India, but practically none share a common border, except for the troubled Durand Line between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Furthermore, besides some individual success stories, the region has to contend with endemic poverty, tremendous inequalities, mega-urbanisation, and extra-ordinary challenges when it comes to infrastructure, environmental issues, food and energy security. The most worrying concern is the persistent growth of religious extremism and militant fundamentalism finding its most visible expression in dramatic terrorist attacks and violence against religious and ethnic minorities in South Asia. The numerous domestic and intra-regional conflicts are worsening the situation as well. Addressing these difficulties has always been a great challenge and either suffered from inadequate political will or insufficient capacities or resources to carry out a sustainable integration and cooperation process (cf. Rahman 2004, 140).
- Published
- 2014
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