The book, ‘Introducing International Relations’ co-authored by Dr. Farhan Hanif Siddiqi and Muhammad Nadeem Mirza.
‘Introducing International Relations,’ co-authored by the distinguished academics Dr. Farhan Hanif Siddiqi and Muhammad Nadeem Mirza, was launched on Wednesday at the University of Karachi’s Department of International Relations.
The book’s writers, together with the academics, professors, students, and researchers in the audience, were greeted with heartfelt congratulations by Dr. Naeem Ahmed, who is the chairman of the University of Karachi’s Department of International Relations. Dr. Ahmed highlighted the book’s importance, saying it is a vital contribution to the international relations literature.
Dr. Naeem Ahmed congratulated Dr Farhan and Muhammad Nadeem Mirza from the bottom of his heart on writing a great book that gives the field of international relations a solid theoretical and conceptual base. He said that the book is not only an important guide for college freshmen but also a useful resource for senior and postgraduate students because of its high value. Dr. Ahmed said that the book makes a valuable addition to the body of literature, especially from the point of view of the global south.
In addition to praising the book’s theoretical foundations, the esteemed guests and panelists who graced the launch event stressed the gravity of the problems raised, especially as they pertain to Pakistan and the global south.
Dr. Nausheen Wasi, an assistant professor in the Department of International Relations at the University of Karachi, provided a critical overview of the book and shed light on its contents, praising its ability to help beginning-level students overcome a common obstacle: understanding how theory relates to practice in the field. She made the point that academic work is useful for both students and those who aspire to be CSS.
Dr. Wasi sincerely believes that the historical lessons presented in the book help us comprehend upcoming political events better. She further emphasized the book’s potential to expand beyond Pakistan by suggesting an Urdu translation.
Investigating the viewpoints of the global south, Syed Akbar Zaidi, Executive Director of the IBA, stressed the need for our discourse in comprehending international relations. According to Dr. Zaidi, it’s crucial to consider and analyze perspectives from the global south in addition to those from the West. He stressed that various viewpoints, particularly those of varying genders, are crucial to developing an accurate picture of international relations and global politics.
Prof. Dr. Sikander Mehdi, who was previously the head of the University of Karachi’s Department of International Relations, praised the writers for thoroughly exploring the topic in their work. He thought it would be a great addition to the discussion of international relations to write a book that took a national viewpoint on important issues.
Dr. Mehdi was pleased to see a book about Southern views on international relations published. In particular, he lauded the book for its innovative content and solid theoretical underpinnings, noting that it is the first Pakistani textbook of international relations to cover topics such as environmental degradation, non-state actors, conflict resolution, and peace studies, and their evolving role in the field.
Author Dr. Farhan Hanif Siddiqui of Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad’s School of Politics and International Relations, and the book’s co-writer expressed the desire to provide students with an all-encompassing educational experience that encourages learning and critical thinking on their own. When Dr. Siddiqui thought back on his time spent teaching international relations, he noticed that his students were missing several key pieces of the puzzle.
He stressed that Western examples predominate in academic discourse, in contrast to the book’s purposeful use of South Asian and Pakistani examples. The book strives to offer a detailed grasp of the topic by placing theories and concepts within our region’s background. Dr. Farhan emphasized the book’s contribution to the field by providing explanations of key terms and ideas. In addition, he emphasized that the book is carefully crafted to inspire pupils to think critically and spark their curiosity about international relations.
In her vote of thanks, Professor Dr. Shaista Tabbassum, dean of the University of Karachi’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, conveyed her appreciation to the book’s writers and panelists. According to her, “Introducing International Relations” is a great addition to the field of International Relations and fulfills the necessary role of a textbook in the field.
Oxford University Press has released a book written by Muhammad Nadeem Mirza and the esteemed scholar Dr. Farhan Hanif Siddiqi. Beyond being a co-author of this book, Dr. Farhan has written another important work called ‘The Politics of Ethnicity in Pakistan: The Baloch, Sindhi, and Mohajir Ethnic Movements’ (Routledge, 2012). He is currently an associate professor at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad’s School of Politics and International Relations.
Work by Dr. Siddiqi includes ‘Regional Security Dynamics in the Middle East: The Problematic Search for a Regional Leader,’ ‘General Elections in Pakistan 2013: The Consolidation of Democracy,’ and ‘Security Dynamics in Pakistani Balochistan: Religious Activism and Ethnic Conflict in the War on Terror.’ He is particularly interested in studying the dynamics of conflict and security in South Asia and the Middle East, as well as issues of ethnicity, nationalism, and ethnic conflict.