In the context of modern literature in our times, the political and social scholar Robert Cox argued that, “No political theory of Universal validity” in the realm of international relations. By endorsing the Cox argument Stephen Walt stated that, “no single approach can capture the complexity of contemporary world politics”. In simple words, no political perspective or thinking can answer all the questions asked by states in the international system. The realm of international relations is very vast and complex to rewrite, certain events or strategic miscalculation from Great powers give third world states to rewrite their history in post-colonial structure.
In the 1980s the political theorist, Muhammad Ayoob first introduced the concept of subaltern Realism to address the relevance of third world states in the global Geo-political environment. He explained that, how the existing political system designed by western democracies is fragile and failed to achieve relative peace in the world. After the World War II, the western democracies endorse the idea of neo-realism and neo-liberalism within the international system to sustain their status as dominant powers of the world. The existing system designed by Western democracies has its own flaws, it does not represent the majority of States, which are less powerful and emerged on the map in the post-colonial era. The political system must be fulfilled in order to be deemed credible and practically useful to all actors. But the existing Geo-political system based on Neo-liberalism and neo-realism fails to address all existing political problems. This system was established to gain peace during the Cold War period because this existing international system is at its most stable when structure is bipolar in nature. In the multi-polar world, this system cannot be effective to face challenges rising from third world countries. It will create uncertainty and conflict in the ranks of power struggle. The existing political system is not ready for change but the change is happening. The third world states are getting recognition in the international system by using their own political perspective of subaltern Realism.
In the recent Conflict between Iran and the US, Pakistan shows to the world, how relatively weak powers can sustain their status by challenging the colonial structure in the international system. If we see Pakistan approach in all these matters, Pakistan is demonstrating the core values of Post-colonial theory, because, Post-colonial structure gives autonomy to the Third world states to reshape global civil society, grassroots movements to address social or economic issues and creates room for inclusive dialogues in international relations. Moreover, the post-colonial theory offers deep insights to solve contemporary global challenges and provide diverse perspectives and experiences. Pakistan became the symbol of peace and stability in power politics and it is ensuring the validity of Post-colonial accounts in world politics. Since the start of the war, Pakistan has been pushing Iran and the US to open critical diplomatic windows to end the current chaos in the energy market and the Persian Gulf. There is a saying in international relations, “breakthrough did not emerge in Isolation” , Pakistan with the help of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey convinced Washington and Tehran to step back from the gate of hell. This is not the first time, Pakistan is restructuring the world’s political system, in the past Pakistan carried out the same diplomatic efforts to create a bridge between the US and China. As per political commentators, “from Nixon to Trump”, Islamabad always came with the bold strategy to overcome grievances between super-powers. The questions may rise here, why Pakistan? Pakistan is the only country that breaks the shekels of colonial powers by maintaining the relationship with western democracies. Pakistan wrote its own destiny in the international system by using its geography, diplomacy and strategic positioning in world order. Pakistan has strategic depth in its diplomatic framework, in which it has the capacity to deter India with cohesive means without agitating the western democracies and it has soft power to win Middle East and Gulf states. In the last few weeks, Pakistan has become a diplomatic hub for regional and global players. Ironically, China and the US both rival superpowers giving the due credit to Pakistan for its diplomatic efforts to achieve peace and stability in Middle East. Many political scholars are quoting, Pakistan as a guardian of Civilizations in modern history, because the economy of world was on stake and about to face in energy crisis in coming days. Coming to the conclusion, in the time of crisis, where western democracies or colonial powers failed to achieve relative peace and stability. Pakistan as a third world state comes to the rescue of the world’s crumbling economies. Pakistan has demonstrated that Post-colonial power structure can be a solution to the contemporary global challenges, because that structure is more divers and represent the most of the world.
By: Zeshan Nawaz
