May 07, 2007
Re-defining socialism and technological revolution
By M. Ziauddin
Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto claims that her first government (in 1988-90) was the catalyst for the privatisation in South Asia.
â And now when you look at socialism, it is redefined even in the Scandinavian countries and in England. But I redefined socialism. I was simply doing what other socialists were going to doâand ten years before Tony Blair,â Benazir told her interviewer Ginny Dougary( of London Times) who detected in the PPP Chairperson what she said was â an occasional tendency to express herself in hyperbolic terms which makes her sound rather grandiose.â
She said she had tried to discuss with Benazir her initiative to privatise the public sector presumably inpired by Margaret Thatcher but wondering at the same time how the former British prime minister-- a consumate champion of market economy-- could have inspired a socialist, âparticularly one whose father introduced nationalisation to his country.â
Those who have followed Pakistanâs economic ups and downs since its inception know that Dr Mehbubul Haq was perhaps the first one to introduce Pakistan in the mid-1980s to the concept of what today is known as market economy and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was the one who took significant steps in 1990 to turn this concept into a reality. And Benazir in her second government followed up the initiative equally vigorously.
However, Benazirâs claim to have redefined socialism at least ten years before Tony Blair, when he formed in 1997 the first Labour government in more than 17 years cannot be dismissed as hyperbole. It must have been really tough for her to take a u-turn on her fatherâs socialist legacy. Even tougher must have been the task of convincing the party workers who had suffered for over 10 years hoping to see the return of Bhutto days of equity at least in spirit, if not so much in fact.
But more than the socialist legacy of her father it was perhaps her days of exile in the UK when Mrs Tatcher was demolishing her countryâs public sector and rationalising its social security system and the public at large was seen to be profiting visibly from these actions which had perhaps shaped Benazirâs economic intellect. And to the extent that she did not try to swim against the then on-rushing current of market economy and took some small little tentative steps (like the disinvestment of 10 per cent of the PIA shares) of her own to test the waters she did appear to be adopting market economy without completely giving up her partyâs faith in socialism.
That the successive governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in the 1990s had done pioneering work on economic reforms in the country is also confirmed by none other than their bitterest critic Dr Ishrat Hussain who had called the 1990s as âthe lost decadeâ. In a recent speech in London he had acknowledged that widespread economic reforms in Pakistan were initiated by Nawaz and Benazir claiming as well that they were further intensifed and implemented under the Musharraf government.There has been, therefore, not much of a difference among the economic policy makers over the last 22 years, no matter which government was in power, over the direction and thrust of the national economy with, however one vital difference between those that made the policies for the military regimes and those who were assigned to manage the economy by elected governments.
The military governments of General Zia and General Musharraf could show higher rates of growth because they were less concerned about equity whereas the elected governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif slightly lagged behind in growth rates as the two had to adjust their economic policies to give them a human face as well since both were accountable to their respective electorate.
But all that are things of the past. The debate of right and left and socialism and redefined socialism are only valid to an extent in todayâs globalising world.The World Bank and IMF prescribed reforms even if all of them are implemented would not guarantee growth plus equity in a world which is today confronted with new challenges emerging out of the on going revolutions in information and telecommunication technologies.
No matter who is in the saddle in Islamabad, whether it is Musharraf or Benazir or Nawaz, they all need to understand that the world is getting flatter by the second. The nations with the knowledge of these cutting edge technolgies and the ability to keep abreast with the whrilwind changes that are taking place in these technologies are likely to survive the rushing waters of global market. Others will be swept away into oblivion.
The Economist (April 28-May 4) discussing these two technologies in an editorial says:Just as microprocessors have been built into everything in the past few decades, so wireless communications will become part of objects big and small. The possibilities are legion. Gizmos and gadgets will talk to other devicesâand be serviced and upgraded from afar. Sensors on buildings and bridges will run them efficiently and ensure they are safe. Wireless systems on farmland will measure temperature and humidity and control irrigation systems.Tags will certify the origins and distribution of food and the authenticity of medicines.Tiny chips on or in peopleâs bodies will send vital signs to clinics to help them keephealthy.
Some of the members of the visiting delegation of IT experts representing various sucessful information technology companies in Pakistan who spoke the other day at the Pakistan High Commission here sounded genuinely bright and ltert.
The delegation had come to the UK on a marketing mission. When I asked the leader of the delegation, Aon Ashraf Rana, Director International Marketing, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), would not it serve the purpose better if the Board had a local reperesenative or a consulting agency from the private sector in the UK serving both as its lobbyist as well as market-cum-business intelligence man, he said such a proposal was considered but instead it was thought better to set up a UK desk in the PSEB, Islamabad for the purpose. I thought it was at best a half measure. Things are happening in Europe and the US and not in Pakistan. We should have our own eyes and ears in these places. The concenred personnel at the HC are well-meaning, but they have their own limitations.
http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/07/ebr14.htm
Re-defining socialism and technological revolution
By M. Ziauddin
Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto claims that her first government (in 1988-90) was the catalyst for the privatisation in South Asia.
â And now when you look at socialism, it is redefined even in the Scandinavian countries and in England. But I redefined socialism. I was simply doing what other socialists were going to doâand ten years before Tony Blair,â Benazir told her interviewer Ginny Dougary( of London Times) who detected in the PPP Chairperson what she said was â an occasional tendency to express herself in hyperbolic terms which makes her sound rather grandiose.â
She said she had tried to discuss with Benazir her initiative to privatise the public sector presumably inpired by Margaret Thatcher but wondering at the same time how the former British prime minister-- a consumate champion of market economy-- could have inspired a socialist, âparticularly one whose father introduced nationalisation to his country.â
Those who have followed Pakistanâs economic ups and downs since its inception know that Dr Mehbubul Haq was perhaps the first one to introduce Pakistan in the mid-1980s to the concept of what today is known as market economy and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was the one who took significant steps in 1990 to turn this concept into a reality. And Benazir in her second government followed up the initiative equally vigorously.
However, Benazirâs claim to have redefined socialism at least ten years before Tony Blair, when he formed in 1997 the first Labour government in more than 17 years cannot be dismissed as hyperbole. It must have been really tough for her to take a u-turn on her fatherâs socialist legacy. Even tougher must have been the task of convincing the party workers who had suffered for over 10 years hoping to see the return of Bhutto days of equity at least in spirit, if not so much in fact.
But more than the socialist legacy of her father it was perhaps her days of exile in the UK when Mrs Tatcher was demolishing her countryâs public sector and rationalising its social security system and the public at large was seen to be profiting visibly from these actions which had perhaps shaped Benazirâs economic intellect. And to the extent that she did not try to swim against the then on-rushing current of market economy and took some small little tentative steps (like the disinvestment of 10 per cent of the PIA shares) of her own to test the waters she did appear to be adopting market economy without completely giving up her partyâs faith in socialism.
That the successive governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in the 1990s had done pioneering work on economic reforms in the country is also confirmed by none other than their bitterest critic Dr Ishrat Hussain who had called the 1990s as âthe lost decadeâ. In a recent speech in London he had acknowledged that widespread economic reforms in Pakistan were initiated by Nawaz and Benazir claiming as well that they were further intensifed and implemented under the Musharraf government.There has been, therefore, not much of a difference among the economic policy makers over the last 22 years, no matter which government was in power, over the direction and thrust of the national economy with, however one vital difference between those that made the policies for the military regimes and those who were assigned to manage the economy by elected governments.
The military governments of General Zia and General Musharraf could show higher rates of growth because they were less concerned about equity whereas the elected governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif slightly lagged behind in growth rates as the two had to adjust their economic policies to give them a human face as well since both were accountable to their respective electorate.
But all that are things of the past. The debate of right and left and socialism and redefined socialism are only valid to an extent in todayâs globalising world.The World Bank and IMF prescribed reforms even if all of them are implemented would not guarantee growth plus equity in a world which is today confronted with new challenges emerging out of the on going revolutions in information and telecommunication technologies.
No matter who is in the saddle in Islamabad, whether it is Musharraf or Benazir or Nawaz, they all need to understand that the world is getting flatter by the second. The nations with the knowledge of these cutting edge technolgies and the ability to keep abreast with the whrilwind changes that are taking place in these technologies are likely to survive the rushing waters of global market. Others will be swept away into oblivion.
The Economist (April 28-May 4) discussing these two technologies in an editorial says:Just as microprocessors have been built into everything in the past few decades, so wireless communications will become part of objects big and small. The possibilities are legion. Gizmos and gadgets will talk to other devicesâand be serviced and upgraded from afar. Sensors on buildings and bridges will run them efficiently and ensure they are safe. Wireless systems on farmland will measure temperature and humidity and control irrigation systems.Tags will certify the origins and distribution of food and the authenticity of medicines.Tiny chips on or in peopleâs bodies will send vital signs to clinics to help them keephealthy.
Some of the members of the visiting delegation of IT experts representing various sucessful information technology companies in Pakistan who spoke the other day at the Pakistan High Commission here sounded genuinely bright and ltert.
The delegation had come to the UK on a marketing mission. When I asked the leader of the delegation, Aon Ashraf Rana, Director International Marketing, Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), would not it serve the purpose better if the Board had a local reperesenative or a consulting agency from the private sector in the UK serving both as its lobbyist as well as market-cum-business intelligence man, he said such a proposal was considered but instead it was thought better to set up a UK desk in the PSEB, Islamabad for the purpose. I thought it was at best a half measure. Things are happening in Europe and the US and not in Pakistan. We should have our own eyes and ears in these places. The concenred personnel at the HC are well-meaning, but they have their own limitations.
http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/07/ebr14.htm
