I think 1648 was Westphalia. I have read almost these exact words somewhere else recently. Could have been in Michel Chossudovsky, Francis Fukayama(possibly this author contributed paper to FF's collection), Noam Chomsky in Failed States, the most likely ones.
-Bob --- In cia-drugs@yahoogroups.com, "Vigilius Haufniensis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > The classical notion of an absolutely free and completely sovereign state exists only in theory. At the operational level, states accept constraints on their sovereign status to ensure peace and stability in the international system. > > http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C01%5C07%5Cstory_7-1-2007_pg3_2 > VIEW: Sovereignty and political realities -Dr Hasan-Askari Rizvi > > Pakistan needs to increase its diplomatic options and domestic policy choices by addressing three key issues: acquisition of modern knowledge and technology, internal political consensus and consolidation, and economic development > > A large number of people complain that external interference in Pakistan's domestic political and societal domains has had negative ramifications for its sovereignty and independence. They often talk of the role of international financial institutions like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Asian Development Bank in determining Pakistan's economic priorities. Donor countries play a similar role, especially the Paris Aid to Pakistan Club of the developed countries. Economic assistance and technology transfers are said to have declared or undeclared strings attached to them. > > The issues of the 'foreign role' in Pakistan's domestic politics crops up from time to time. In the course of the 1977 Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) agitation against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the ambassadors of some Arab countries attempted to defuse the confrontation between the government and the opposition. Bhutto accused the United States of encouraging his government's over-throw in July 1977. > > Most political analysts agree that there were periods in Pakistan's history when the United States exercised considerable influence over some policies in the domestic and security spheres. The latest phase of US influence on Pakistan's dates back to the latter's participation in the US-led global effort to check terrorism. The US withdrew all sanctions against Pakistan in November-December 2001 and offered economic assistance and military sales to Pakistan. It facilitated economic assistance from international financial institutions and fora, including a favourable rescheduling of international debts. This was conditional on Pakistan's cooperation for containment of terrorism, including taking military action against the Al Qaeda-Taliban coalition in Afghanistan. Counter-terrorism considerations in the region are the main reason for US support to the Musharraf government. This support is viewed in Pakistan as one of the major reasons for Musharraf's political survival. > > If external actors play such a significant role in policy-making, does this not raise serious doubts about Pakistan's sovereign and independent status? A large number of people view these developments as a negation of Pakistan's sovereignty. Why should Pakistan submit to external influences that weaken its internal resolve to act as an independent and sovereign entity? The sovereignty issue received much attention when the U.S. aircraft attacked the village of Damadola in the Bajaur Agency in January 2006, which was condemned by leaders of public opinion and the major media organisations. > > The assumption underlying these comments is that as a sovereign and independent state Pakistan must be absolutely free to make its domestic and external policies. Other states and international institutions have no right to interfere with Pakistan's policy-making. The other aspect of this argument is that Pakistan should assert its sovereign status by making its policy exclusively on the basis of its national interest and resist external pressures even if these accompany economic and military assistance. Pakistan should stop paying attention to what the US and other western countries suggest, unless their advice serves Pakistan's national interest. > > The concept of the sovereign state goes back to 1648, when the rulers of German states discarded the authority of the Pope over governance and policy making. Gradually the state was recognised as a sovereign entity, implying that it is the supreme authority within its territorial jurisdiction and that there was no legal authority above the state that could impose its will. > > The classical notion of an absolutely free and completely sovereign state exists only in theory. At the operational level, states accept constraints on their sovereign status to ensure peace and stability in the international system. The principle of enlightened self-interest enables states to work together in global, regional and bilateral contexts. For example, the membership of the United Nations enjoins the member-states to respect the UN Charter, although some states disregard it. > > The growing interdependence in the international system makes it difficult for a state to exercise its sovereign status without taking into account the dynamics of world politics and the global economy. The end of the Cold War and the emphasis on free trade and globalisation had a profound impact on how states exercise their domestic and foreign policy options. This is in addition to the impact of foreign economic assistance (loans and grants) and military assistance or sales on domestic and foreign policy formulation. Such assistance is inconceivable without some adjustments in foreign policy and economic priorities. > > Further, modern means of communication and transportation, including the satellite communication system and Internet, have totally transformed the context in which the states and their citizens function. > > The modern state system is also influenced by the surge in the activities of transnational non-state groups. Their role has implications for individual states as well as the international community. > > Given these constraints, a country like Pakistan faces the challenging task of charting a course of action that will protect its national interests. This objective cannot be achieved either by subservience to external pressure or by defying powerful states. Similarly, dropping out of the international system to protect its exclusive identity and sovereignty is not a sensible course of action. > > Pakistan needs to increase its diplomatic options and domestic policy choices by addressing three key issues: acquisition of modern knowledge and technology, internal political consensus and consolidation, and economic development. > > We are living in the century of knowledge and technology. Pakistan needs to devote more resources to education. This involves improvement of literacy in the country as well as adequate arrangements for quality education from the high school to the university level in all fields of knowledge and technology. Pakistan has received considerable foreign economic assistance for education but one is not sure if it is being utilised in a cost-effective manner. Further, the government is more interested in impressing donors by producing figures about the number of students, new academic programmes and improvement of facilities. However, it is paying little attention to ensuring that the state educational institutions, especially the public sector universities, produce highly qualified graduates. > > The goal of internal political consensus and consolidation cannot be achieved without opening up the political process to mainstream and liberal political forces that function independently of the government. The growing alienation at the provincial level, especially in Balochistan, has to be addressed for improving internal harmony and consolidation. > > In the economic domain, the name of the game is macro-level growth, which has produced impressive statistics but led to the neglect of the imperatives of social justice. Recent economic strides are heavily dependent on external economic assistance which limits Pakistan's domestic and foreign policy options. > > Pakistan's inability to reduce its economic dependence on the international system, the ongoing internal disharmony and conflict and the current knowledge deficit make it difficult to increase its diplomatic space and assert autonomy in the international system. > > Pakistan's international and regional role depends on its internal strengths. It should therefore devote more attention to increasing its economic autonomy by reducing its dependence on external assistance, work towards internal political harmony and consolidation and create a knowledge-based society that values quality and professionalism. Pakistan can increase its diplomatic autonomy and withstand external pressures by acknowledging the relevance of its domestic situation to its foreign policy and improving internal political, economic and social conditions for its citizens. > > Dr Hasan-Askari Rizvi is a political and defence analyst >
