Drafts by Areeba Shehzadi
Research Article , 2023
The Sykes-Picot Agreement was a deal negotiated between the British, French and Russian Empires i... more The Sykes-Picot Agreement was a deal negotiated between the British, French and Russian Empires in anticipation of the fall of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War 1. The agreement effectively split the Middle East (which had been under Ottoman Rule for nearly four hundred years) between the three nations; Britain would maintain control over modern day Iraq, and France the region of modern day Syria and Lebanon. While Russia was originally partitioned a small section of land north of Iraq, their zone was delegitimized by the collapse of their Imperial state and the rise of the Bolsheviks in 19171. Nevertheless, the boundaries drawn in the agreement would eventually be used in the postwar formation of the mandate system in the Middle East under the League of Nations. The ongoing unrest and destabilization in Middle East is the product of irresponsible and vague foreign diplomacy of Britain and France nearly hundred years ago. Many historians denounced Sykes-Picot agreement as an outrageous example of imperial perfidy-none more than Palestinian historian George Antonius: "The Sykes-Picot Agreement is a shocking document. It is not only the product of greed at its worst, which is to say, of greed allied to suspicion and so leading to stupidity: it also stands out as startling piece of double dealing2. One of the greatest Empires of history, Ottoman Empire began crumbling in 19th century. After the peak of its 600 year rule, it underwent major crises which ultimately led to its decline in terms of military prestige, territory and wealth. In response to these changes and crises in the Ottoman Empire, the major powers of Europe especially Britain and Russia began referring to the Empire as the "Sick Man of Europe", with various ideas of how to bring forth whelps as this major empire began to collapse. The Mehmed V ground his own axe as he entered the Great War in 1914, which was later characterized as World War 1 after the second Great War. At the time of economic impoverishment and political instability, The Ottomans chose greed to make empire an easy prey for death. They jumped into war as one of the Central Powers, seeking to reclaim old territories and gaining new ones. In 1915 the debacle of Ottoman Empire was perceptible. The allies were suspicious of the future control of great Ottoman territories. The major powers were eyeing the defeat and disruption of Islamic bloc to take their slice of pie as the share. British used their example of Divide and Rule in the wartime as strategy to make Ottomans delicate and breakable from inside. Pre War Great Britain held diplomatic outposts in Middle East, in Egypt, Cyprus and Aden and held a series of agreements with Arab Sheikhs along the Persian Gulf3 to convince hot to trot Arab for revolt against Ottomans in exchange of promise of an Independent national Arab State in area of Greater Syria. These promises are marked in history as Hussein-McMahon Correspondence, a to and fro series of letters between
Papers by Areeba Shehzadi
Green Political Theory and Ecological Blindness of IR Theory, 2023
This article explores how Green theory contributes to understanding global environmental issues w... more This article explores how Green theory contributes to understanding global environmental issues within world politics, challenging conventional theories like Realism or Neoliberalism in International Relations (IR). It emphasizes the need to integrate human, political, and environmental aspects for sustainable development. Green theory differs radically from traditional IR theories by focusing on ecological factors and advocating for global solutions rather than state-centric approaches. It highlights the harmful consequences of unchecked growth, environmental exploitation, and the risks posed by weapon technology and conflicts. The theory promotes decentralization, emphasizes ecological limits to growth, and criticizes capitalism's unchecked consumption, suggesting a need for transformative changes in political, economic, and social systems for sustainable living. Ultimately, Green theory prompts a reevaluation of IR's state-centric approach, advocating for a broader consideration of social movements and ecological perspectives for a sustainable future.
Major Environmental Issues of Pakistan , 2023
Pakistan encompasses a wide spectrum of climatic zones, giving rise to a diverse range of climate... more Pakistan encompasses a wide spectrum of climatic zones, giving rise to a diverse range of climate change impacts. The influence of human activities, coupled with evolving hydrology and land use patterns, exerts a profound influence on both food grain production and the resilience of ecosystems. Among the most imperiled regions are the grasslands and mountainous forest ecosystems of the Himalayas and the ecosystems found in the Sundarbans. The forests within Pakistan, which house some of the planet's most biologically diverse ecosystems, face an existential threat due to the rapid processes of deforestation and urban expansion. Furthermore, this region bears the unfortunate distinction of being the epicenter of some of the world's worst air pollution. The Thar Desert, expanding at a rate of 100 hectares annually, poses a substantial threat, potentially encroaching upon approximately 13,000 hectares of cultivated lands and pastures in both India and Pakistan. Access to freshwater in South Asia is notably seasonal, with water supplies becoming increasingly imperiled due to rising temperatures, shifts in river dynamics, and a higher frequency of coastal flooding. This article discusses major environmental issues faced by Pakistan and the resultant problems encountered by majority of people. Major environmental issues discussed here are climate change, water pollution, air pollution, deforestation, desertification, water resources and lack of potable water, biodiversity loss, food security risks, droughts, irregular weather patterns, heatwaves, exceptional rise in temperature, water scarcity, depletion of energy resources, and degradation of river and marine resources. Some recommendations have also been provided on the basis of major environmental issues identified and resultant problems.
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Drafts by Areeba Shehzadi
Papers by Areeba Shehzadi