OPINION Vol.2, No.1 June 2014
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VOL.2, NO.1 JUNE 2014 ISSN : 2311-0635 EDITORIAL BOARD Patron Major General Hidayat Ur Rehman HI (M) Chief Editor Cdre Ayaz Ahmed Nasir SI (M) Editor Brig Shakir Ullah Khattak Assistant Editors Gp Capt Chaudhary Ahsan Rafiq, PAF Capt Naeem Sarwar, PN Lt Col Adnan Ahmed Khan Lt Col Jehanzeb Akhtar ADVISORY BOARD Dean Faculty of Contemporary Studies, NDU Dr Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema Islamabad Head of the Department Government & Public Policy Dr Syed Bashir Hussain FCS, NDU Islamabad Head of the Department Leadership & Management Dr Tahir Masood Studies FCS, NDU Islamabad Head of the Department Peace & Conflict Studies Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed Chaudhry FCS, NDU Islamabad Head of the Department Strategic & Nuclear Studies Dr Zulfiqar Khan Chaudhry FCS, NDU Islamabad Head of the Department International Relations Dr Muhammad Khan FCS, NDU Islamabad AFWC Journal (OPINION) is sponsored and edited by the Armed Forces War College (AFWC), National Defence University Islamabad, Pakistan. Comments / suggestions may be directed to: Chief Editor, OPINION Armed Forces War College National Defence University Sector E-9, Islamabad Pakistan http://www.ndu.edu.pk DISCLAIMER Statements, facts and opinions mentioned in AFWC Journal are solely of the authors and do not imply the official policy of the Institution, editors or publisher. MESSAGE OF PATRON The evolving global security environment is though complex and challenging also offers opportunities to those who position themselves correctly. Correct strategic positioning is invariably a result of conceptual clarity obtained through objective research and analysis. To this end, Armed Forces War College (AFWC) in National Defence University promotes knowledge through enhanced research and analysis in the field of national security. This edition of OPINION e-journal comprises research work undertaken by the course members of National Security and War Course (NSWC) 2013-14. The selected articles are of general interest to a wide range of researchers, scholars and policy makers. We expect the journal to promote scholarly knowledge by inspiring discussions and information sharing with regards to comprehensive national security. I would like to acknowledge the commitment and hard work of the entire team of OPINION on publication of its 3rd edition. I hope the ideas shared would contribute towards creating awareness on the security matters highlighting need to promote peace and stability. Major General Hidayat Ur Rehman, HI (M) Commandant, Armed Forces War College National Defence University, Islamabad OPINION Vol.2 No 1 i June 2014 CHIEF EDITOR’S CORNER We feel great pleasure in presenting the 3rd edition of our AFWC “Opinion” e-journal, the first publication of this year’s biannual issue. Deliberate efforts have been made by all concerned to maintain the high standard set forth by the University in bringing the well researched work by the panels of NSWC 2013-14 mainly comprising seminars and military history presentations on key issues. For our new readers, OPINION journal is a publication of Pakistan’s premier institution National Defence University Islamabad. The magazine is a collection of selected researched work of the panels /individuals. Journal is broadly divided into four sections i.e. Global / Regional issues, National Security, Military Strategy and views of individual writers on contemporary issues. I strongly believe that readers will find new ideas in this edition as well. I am looking forward for valued suggestions for further improvement. Commodore Ayaz Ahmed Nasir SI (M) Chief Editor OPINION AFWC Journal OPINION Vol.2 No 1 ii June 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS Part-I Global / Regional Issues Page Global Narratives 1 Rising China: Geopolitical Implications for the Region 20 Central And West Asia (ECO Region) 43 Part-II National Security Globalization and State Security 62 Emergence of Media and its Impact on Pakistan 77 Part-III Military Strategy Evolution of Military Thought; 1910 to date 92 Impact of Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) on Strategic Thought 118 Part-IV Views Maritime Domain Awareness – The Key to Maritime Security 129 OPINION Vol.2 No 1 iii June 2014 PART – I Global / Regional Issues Global Narratives Rising China: Geopolitical Implications for the Region Central and West Asia (ECO Region) OPINION Vol.2 No.1 June 2014 GLOBAL NARRATIVES Abstract Throughout the course of history, states, organisations and groups have used various means to safeguard their core values and further their interests. With specific purpose in mind, these means have taken various forms, from material to abstract. In the current media ecology, the concept of carefully crafted stories, often called as ‘Narratives’ is increasingly becoming fashionable as a function of strategy with states devoting more focus to their understanding and use as a tool to further own interests. Besides being a propaganda tool, it is through the use of narratives that emerging and great powers project their values and interests in order to extend their influence, manage expectations and mould public opinion. Due to peculiar strategic environment, Pakistan is a victim of plethora of internal and external narratives targeting the ideological foundations and its image in the comity of nations. On the other hand, there seems to be very little conceptual understanding of the existence and purpose of such hostile narratives, thus, a strategy to counter or mitigate the effects of such negative narratives seems lacking. There is, therefore, a need to study and analyse the formulation of narratives, especially in the context of contemporary global narratives, their application in the modern international system with specific reference to Pakistan. Introduction “A well-thought-out story doesn’t need to resemble real life. Life itself tries with all its might to resemble a well-crafted story” Isaac Babel Throughout the course of history, states, organisations and groups have used various means to safeguard their core values and further their interests. With specific purpose in mind, these means have taken various forms, from material to abstract. The concept of carefully crafted stories, often called as ‘Narratives’ is increasingly becoming fashionable as a function of strategy with states devoting more focus to their understanding and use as a tool to further own interests. Besides being a propaganda tool, it is through the use of narratives that countries project their values and interests in order to extend their influence, manage expectations and mould public opinion. Though strategy is an attempt to get to desirable ends with available means, however strategy does not merely need to orchestrate tactical actions only, but also construct the interpretive structure which gives them meaning and links them to the end of policy. That is, it offers a framework into which participants and observers can fit the facts before them. In this age of information overload, multiple and complimentary narratives are in circulation, may those be part of propaganda or to foster national cohesion. Due to peculiar strategic environment, Pakistan is the focus of internal and external narratives targeting the credibility and our image in the comity of nations. On the other hand, OPINION Vol.2 No.1 1 June 2014 there seems to be very little conceptual understanding of the existence and purpose of such hostile narratives, thus, a strategy to counter or mitigate the effects of such hostile narratives seems missing. With this in view, the study essentially endeavours to focus on developing an understanding of the conceptual contours of narratives, current trends and establishing its linkage to Pakistan. Aim To study the formulation of narratives including contemporary dominant narratives, their application in the modern international system with specific reference to Pakistan and suggesting a way forward. UNDERSTANDING NARRATIVES What is a Narrative? Narrative in its most simple form means “a description of events”.1 A more detailed version states that “A narrative is a story of connected events, presented to a reader or listener in written or spoken words, or in a sequence of (moving) pictures.2 In their most basic attire, they represent compelling story-lines that follow literary conventions. Gearoid Ó Tuathail in his description establishes linkage between story and narrative: ‘Storylines are sense-making organizational devices tying the different elements of a policy challenge together into a reasonably coherent and convincing narrative’.3 While the narrative in its simplest form is simply a story, the concept has evolved and found much wider usage in business and international politics in the form of Strategic Narrative or Strategic Communication: • Strategic Narrative. The first published use of the term “Strategic Narrative” was in 2006 by Lawrence Freedman, he identifies “strategic narratives” as a kind of secret weapon of networked combatants fighting irregular wars.4 In his view, it is a story that connects people emotionally to an identity and a mission and helps dispersed groups to cohere and guides its strategy. Andrew Linklator, opines that Strategic narratives are state-led projections of a sequence of events and identities, a tool through which political leaders try to give meaning to past, present and future in a way that justifies what they want to do.5 Thus, strategic narrative is a function of strategy in the most traditional sense related to the science of war. Moreover, strategic narratives integrate interests and goals – they articulate