Great statesmen are essential to establish sustainable order and peace. According to Henry Kissinger, great statesmen possess a charismatic personality, courage, and character. They preempt decisions, forge alliances for order, and devise policies that are judicious. Historically, leaders like Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and the like have proven that great statesmen can change the course of history. In contemporary times, leadership acumen, courage, and character have taken a backseat in electing statesmen. Thanks to the rapid spread of information, narrative maneuvering, and sentiment manipulation through online channels and social media, leaders elected today to have everything but great statesmanship. In the online world, consensus drives the narrative, and difference of opinion fails to create a buzz in the virtual world. Virality can be controlled, maneuvered, and enhanced by will. Pakistan has also not been an exception to this new phenomenon of populism. Indian Neutrality during the Cold War and Lessons for Pakistan Pakistan’s 2018 elections have an unprecedented significance. For the first time in its 70 years of history, the country witnessed a candidate from a new political party claiming victory. However, Imran Khan’s rise cannot simply be viewed in isolation. The leader rose to power after mustering … Continue reading Our Populist Prime Minister