Pakistan in Crisis, Dr Claude Rakisits, Deakin University

Hosted by: AIIA Victoria

The event will start on: Wednesday, 06 October 2010 5:30 PM

And will end on: Wednesday, 06 October 2010 7:00 PM

At Dyason House

124 Jolimont Road East , Melbourne Victoria

03 9654 7271     events.vic@aiia.asn.au

Posted by: vic   

As its numerous problems worsen, nuclear-armed Pakistan is arousing fears among many observers that it is on its way to becoming a failed state.  Recent catastrophic floods are a huge blow to an already weak state suffering the effects of extremism and terrorism; an uncertain economic and financial outlook; corruption on a wide scale; disaffection with the political class; massive expenditure on the military; and a rapidly growing population that is increasingly difficult to feed.

Among these concerns, Pakistan must deal with a growing home-grown militancy problem which has resulted in the death of an estimated 10,000 people in the past four years.  The nation is also deeply involved with the war in neighbouring Afghanistan.  The Afghan Taliban fighters are hiding in the tribal areas of north-western Pakistan and the United States wants the Pakistani army to flush them out.

All these issues have put a lot of stress on a weak civilian government.  Once again the army seems to be the only strong yet scarcely flawless institution.  For the US, for the region and for its own people, Pakistan's decline and potential failure pose one of the biggest security risks of today's world.  It is a challenge that the West dare not ignore.

Dr Claude Rakisits is director of the MA strategic studies programme at the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, Australian Defence College, Canberra, and senior lecturer in strategic studies at Deakin University.  His PhD, from the University of Queensland, examined national integration in Pakistan.  He has taught in Australia, Canada and Switzerland.  Before entering academia, Dr Rakisits had almost 20 years of experience in the public sector, including in the Departments of Defence, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Office of National Assessments.

Dr Rakisits has published extensively on international issues in academic journals, books and newspapers, including in the ‘Asian Wall Street Journal’, ‘The Age’, ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’, ‘Australian Financial Review’ and ‘The Australian’.  He has delivered papers and made presentations on various foreign and defence policy matters.  He has been interviewed on the ABC TV’s ‘Four Corners’ and ‘Asia-Pacific Program’ and the ABC’s ‘Radio National’.

Event flyer:  AIIAV - 2010 Rakisits Claude Dr - 06.10.10 (143.06 kB)

Tickets payable at the door :

• Members                      $20
• Non-Members                $30
• Student Members            $10
• Student Non-Members    $15