Not Economy but Politics Is a Key to Success

Outline
1. Introduction and Contention
The most integral determinant of success or failure of any nation is its economic
condition. However, the economy is itself dependent on a system called ‘political
system’. A country can only be economically stable, if it is politically strong, for
economic policies emanate under political supervision. Unfortunately, in most of
the developing countries and specifically in Pakistan, steps are taken to strengthen
the economy without stabilizing their political system. Such wrong priority setting
leads all the efforts astray.
2. Lessons from history
a. Decline of colonial powers
(Due to the racial, cultural, ethnic and all kind of discrimination against the people
living in the colonies under the colonial regimes. This all was because of the
inefficient political system. Spanish, French, Ancient Greek most of the other
colonial powers faced decline due to political crises)
b. Coming of revolutions
(All the major revolutions that impacted the world at large came with the cause to
restructure the political setup in order to bring about the paradigmatic change in a
particular geographical area)
i. American revolution
ii. French revolution
iii. Russian revolution
iv. Chinese revolution
v. Iranian revolution
3. Political, economic and social systems
(The point is that the economic and social miseries bring about the major uprising
that challenge the status quo i.e. political system that controls entire setup running
the affairs of the country, exactly like what is happening in Pakistan presently)
a. Economic and social systems – drivers of political change
i. Abolition of slavery from the US
ii. End of apartheid in South Africa
iii. Uprising of civil rights movement in the US
iv. Rise of progressive intellectuals in 20th century
4. Success stories of politically and economically stable countries
a. China’s status as fastest growing economy
b. India as an Asian giant
c. South Korea as one of the world’s leading economies
d. Brazil as an emerging state
e. Turkey’s politico-economic status
5. Present political and economic status of Pakistan
(Politically divided people, creeping economic growth, social & ethnic divide, and
ideological crisis in Pakistan are some of the major issues that require the political
upgradation in the country)
6. Major hurdles or challenges against the political stability for majority of states
a. Lack of political will (specially in Pakistan)
b. Inefficient political leadership (specially in Pakistan)
c. Absence or silence of pressure groups
d. External involvement – US or any other powerful state (specially in Pakistan)
e. Lack of independent institutions
f. Ignorant populace due to illiteracy and dormant media
g. Ineffective policy-making and implementation
h. Crisis of identity (specially in Pakistan)
7. Measures to be adopted for a favorable political change
a. Active involvement of pressure groups
b. Awareness campaign for the masses
c. Deciding on a single identity and ideology
d. Strengthening of constitutional power transition
e. Policies compatible with economic, social and political implications
8. Conclusion