GEOPOLITICAL DYNAMICS OF THE WORLD

AND
THE MUSLIM UMMAH
 AIM

• To discuss the currents trends of international geopolitical

dynamics

• To find out where the Muslim Ummah stands within the

current scheme of things
 SEQUENCE

• Geopolitical Dynamics Definition and Essentials

• Concept of Empire and the National State
• The Concept of Muslim Ummah
• Strengths of Muslim Ummah
• Geo-politics of the Muslim World (Power Potentials
• Weaknesses of the Muslim World
• Relations Between the Muslim World and the West
• Challenges Faced By the Muslim World
• The Way Forward: Recommendations
• Pakistan’s Role in the Muslim Ummah
• Conclusion
 GEOPOLITICS DEFINED
DEFINITION
• Geopolitics is a method of
foreign policy analysis which
seeks to understand, explain,
and predict international
political behaviour primarily in
terms of geographical variables
THINGS THAT COUNT AS
GEOPOLITICS
• Geographical location
• Neighbours and relations
with them
• National foreign policies
• Trading blocs and Defence
alliances
 ELEMENTS OF GEO-POLITICS

• Geo-Politics is a total sum of global environment: The

global environment means the way states interact with one
another. This environment determines states’ behaviour with
one an- other. Like, Pakistan’s behaviour towards India is
determined by the global environment.
• Big powers are favourably inclined towards India. India in
this way feels encouraged to show Pakistan its teeth.
• Geographic Location: Geographic location also becomes an
important element in setting-up global environment. Pakistan’s
frontline role in war on terrorism is because of its geographic
proximity with Afghanistan.
 Cont…..

• Economic Prosperity:

• Wealth is a crucial determinant of geo-political dynamics of

the world. Rich states are always in a position to dominate the
world.
• Military power which is the most vital way to dominate comes
through economic power. Paul Kennedy rightly pointed out
that both military power and economic prosperity re enforce
each other.
 Cont…..

• Political Standing:

• Political standing also counts significantly in shaping geo-

political dynamics of the world. Countries with high political
standing can throw their weight around to make their voice
count.
• The positive influence of countries with great political
standing makes the world a peaceful place. Otherwise,their
irresponsible behaviour creates tension in the world.
 Cont……

• Manpower:

• Manpower is a very important dynamic of geo-political

scenario. Skilled manpower is an asset for a nation. On the
contrary, the unskilled population becomes a liability.
• Population with talent education can enable a country to cope
with the emerging geo-political realities of the world.
 Cont……
• Regional Alliances:

• Alliances in a region or regional blocks are an important

feature in geo-political dynamics of today’s world. EU in
Europe, ASEAN in South East Asia, SAARC in South Asia,
NAFTA in North Africa, AU in Africa and so on are the
examples of regional alliances.

• These alliances play their part in shaping the economic

component of the geo-political dynamics. Military element
also plays its part in such alliances as in case of NATO.
 Concept of Empire
• Empire – A European Inspiration:

• It was the Europe which introduced the concept of Empire

building. Even before the advent of Islam Europe was the
home of empires. Roman Empire and Greek Empire were
leading empires in this category.

• Empire means that one country occupies and colonises other

lands and the government is run through the capital. Empire is
generally a government by monarchs.

• In the Muslim world, the era of empire took birth during the
post-Caliphate time.
 The Nation State
• Nation State - Modern Construct, Posing a challenge:

• Due to the imperial conflicts of empires and other weaknesses

‘The Nation State’ was born. It was in 17th century that the
nation state was born in Europe.

• Europe served as the homeland for the birth of nation state like
it was in case of empire. Its scientific progress ensured that its
political concepts and constructs are also followed in the rest
of the world.
 Cont……

• Two world wars in the 20th century spelled the end of the era
of empires. Following these two wars Nation State reached its
zenith. Visa and passport along with territorial boundaries
resulted in the obstacles in the way of Ummah.

• Now Muslims of the whole world are first divided along

nationalist lines. This goes to undermine the concept of
Ummah. The present geo-political dynamics of the world
make even more difficult for the Muslim world to act as
Ummah.
 CONCEPT OF MUSLIM UMMAH

The Ummah is:

• An Arabic word meaning
nation or community
• Synonym for Al-Ummah
Al-Islamiyah (‫)ا??ألمة ا??إلسالمية‬
or the Islamic Nation)
• Commonly used to mean the
collective community of
Islamic peoples
 Cont……

• Ummah or the Millah binds the whole Muslim world. The

Muslims of different creeds and races from different parts
of the world feel themselves as a body because of sense of
universal brotherhood.

• The word ‘Ummah’ signifies this solidarity cutting across all

the territorial boundaries and artificial markers of distinction.
 Cont……

• The apparent differences are only markers of distinction.

Allaah Almighty enjoins on Muslims in Qur’anic verses that
whatever the differences are there, these are only meant for the
sake of identity.

• Any prejudice or bias on these lines has been discouraged, and

even in its extreme forms is a sin. It is for this reason that the
vices like sycophancy and backbiting etc, have been declared
sins.
 Cont……

• Sense of belonging to a particular community: The Ummah

creates a community of Muslims, this community draws its
strength & survival from the Muslim identity.

• The Holy Prophet (SAWS) in the sermon of Hajjat ul Widaa’

clearly instructed us not to foster any sort of like or dislike on
the basis of colour and race. He also declared these practices
as vestige of days of ignorance.
 STRENGTHS OF THE UMMAH
‘‘UNITED WE STAND’’

• Human resource

• Mineral resource

• Material wealth

• Military strength
 57 OIC MEMBER STATES
• MALAYSIA
• ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN • REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
• REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
• REPUBLIC OF MALI
• PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA
• ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF MAURITANIA
• REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
•
• KINGDOM OF MOROCCO
KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
• PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH • REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE
• REPUBLIC OF BENIN • REPUBLIC OF NIGER
• BRUNEI-DARUSSALAM • FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
• BURKINA-FASO • SULTANATE OF OMAN
• REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON • ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN
• REPUBLIC OF CHAD • STATE OF PALESTINE
• UNION OF THE COMOROS • STATE OF QATAR
• REPUBLIC OF COTE D'IVOIRE • KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
• REPUBLIC OF DJIBOUTI
• REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL
• ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
• REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE
• REPUBLIC OF GABON
•
• REPUBLIC OF SOMALIA
REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA
• REPUBLIC OF GUINEA • REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN
• REPUBLIC OF GUINEA-BISSAU • REPUBLIC OF SURINAME
• REPUBLIC OF GUYANA • SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
• REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA • REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN
• ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN • REPUBLIC OF TOGO
• REPUBLIC OF IRAQ • REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA
• HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN • REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
• REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN • REPUBLIC OF TURKMENISTAN
• STATE OF KUWAIT
• REPUBLIC OF UGANDA
• KYRGYZ REPUBLIC
• STATE OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
• REPUBLIC OF LEBANON
•
• REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN
GREAT SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S LIBYAN ARAB
JAMAHIRIYA • REPUBLIC OF YEMEN
 22 COUNTRIES WITH MAJOR
MUSLIM POPULATIONS
• INDONESIA 204,847,000 (88.1%) • SUDAN 30,855,000 (97%)
• PAKISTAN 178,097,000 (96.4%) • AFGHANISTAN 29,047,000 (99.8%)
• INDIA 177,286,000 (14.6%) • ETHIOPIA 28,721,000 (33.8%)
• BANGLADESH 145,312,000 (90.4%) • UZBEKISTAN 26,833,000 (96.5%)
• NIGERIA 75,728,000 (47.9%) • SAUDI ARABIA 25,493,000 (97.1%)
• IRAN 74,819,000 (99.6%) • YEMEN 24,023,000 (99.0%)
• TURKEY 74,660,000 (98.6%) • CHINA 23,308,000 (1.8%)
• EGYPT 73,746,000 (90%) • SYRIA 20,895,000 (92.8%)
• ALGERIA 34,780,000 (98.2%) • MALAYSIA 17,139,000 (61.4%)
• MOROCCO 32,381,000 (99.9%) • RUSSIA 16,379,000 (11.7%)
• IRAQ 31,108,000 (98.9%) • NIGER 15,627,000 (98.3%)
MEASURING POWER POTENTIAL
• Various Methods to Measure:

• 5 Variables Model
– Economy
– Strategic Location
– Geo-economics of Oil
– Military Might
– Ideology
 GEO-POLITICS OF THE MUSLIM
WORLD
• One-fourth of world population is Muslim
• Geo-strategic Position of the Muslim World
– South East Asia: Strait of Malacca
– Middle East: Strait of Hormuz
– North Africa: The Suez Canal
• Geo-economics: Oil
– Out of 12 OPEC countries, 10 are Muslims
• OIC: 2nd largest after UN with 57 members
 ARMIES OF THE MUSLIM WORLD

• Turkish Armed Forces have 664,060 soldiers. It is part of the

NATO .
• Pakistani Armed Forces are approximately 650,000 strong.
• Iran has more than 523,000 army personnel.
• Egyptian Army has 468,500 military personnel.
• The Peninsula Shield Force created by the GCC countries
(Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United
Arab Emirates), has 10,000 soldiers divided into two brigades.
Economy Qatar Turkey Malaysia Qazaqistan Lebanon

Strategic Yemen Iran Egypt Turkey Malaysia

Location Indonesia

Geo- Saudi Iran Iraq UAE Kuwait

economics Arabia
of Oil

Military Turkey Iran Pakistan Egypt Indonesia

Might

Ideology Saudi Pakista Iran Egypt

Arabia n
 Power Potential of Muslim World
Geo- Economy Strategic Economy Strategic
economics of Strategic Location Strategic Location
Oil Location Geo- Location Military Might
Ideology Military Might economics of Ideology
Oil
Military Might
Ideology

Saudi Arabia Turkey Iran Malaysia, Egypt, Pakistan

Indonesia

Vertical Axes
 OIL RESOURCES OF THE MUSLIM WORLD:
WEIGHT OF EACH OPEC MEMBER COUNTRY
EXPRESSED AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE
TOTAL DAILY BARREL PRODUCTION
 WEAKNESSES OF THEUMMAH
‘‘DIVIDED WE FALL’’

• Disunity, strife & lack of

common vision
• Backwardness in sciences &
technology
• Uneven distribution of
wealth
• Proliferation of non-state
actors
 Cont….

• Disunity: The house is divided against itself.

• The Muslim world today presents a spectacle of disunity.

We do not need to look very deep for this aspect of the Muslim
Ummah. In our own country people are killing others on the
basis of ethnic and ideological differences. Throughout the
Muslim world division and discrimination are common.
 Cont…..

• Civil wars and the internal conflicts: These are the common
issues in the Muslim world. The conflict in Iraq, Syria and
Yemen today, are the illustration of this point.

• The Arab spring which began with a hope has turned violent.
Several groups in the Arab countries are slitting each others’
throats.

• Kashmir conflict, Algerian civil war, Somalia civil war and

Terrorist Groups etc in the Ummah are also main issues .
 Cont…..

• Failure to adopt a common platform in the comity of nations:

• There are differences within the Muslim world. Also there are
differences when it comes to the issues between the Muslim
countries and other countries.
• Here the Muslim countries focus on their material interests
and go against protecting the interests of fellow brother
Muslim countries.
• Some of Arab countries have diplomatic relations with Israiel
although Israiel is still inflicting brutalities on the Palestinians.
 RELATIONS BETWEEN THE
MUSLIM WORLD & THE WEST
• Tense Relations:

• Relations between the Muslim world and the Western world

are very tense. This tension is partly bred by misunderstanding
of the religion of Islam on their part and partly by the wrong
presentation of our religion by our own fellow Muslim
brethren.

• Islam which is the religion of peace is wrongly under- stood to

be the religion of violence in the West. This is completely the
false picture of Islam as opposed to its peaceful message.
 EXTREMISM BY THE FRINGE ELEMENTS

• Thinking and actions of the fringe elements within the

Muslim world brings bad name to the religion of Islam &
consequently the whole Muslim Ummah.

• Their violent actions underpinned by their malevolent

thinking, impacts the whole world. The world takes this
opportunity to blame the Muslims of all shades.
EXPLOITATION BY THE WESTERN WORLD

• On its part the Western world also exploits the situation to

bring animosity between itself and the Muslim world. The
western world as whole does not do that, but like in the
Muslim world there are fringe elements whose ideology and
action bring about such an unpleasant scenario.

• The act of Charlie Hebdo is responsible for the latest spat

between the West and Islam. The Muslims have been
provoked into reacting violently as the magazine did not take
into consideration the sensitivities Muslims and insulted the
Holy Prophet ( Sallallaah o Alaih e Wa Sallam).
 Cont….
• The terrorism has emerged and has engulfed the whole world
without any distinction and discrimination. There are as many
terrorists in the Non-Muslim world as they are in the Muslim
world. But due to the media outreach of the Western world, it
is projected that terrorism is largely the product of the Muslim
world.

• We the Muslims need to act as Ummah to communicate to the

rest of the world that it is only a few misguided Muslims who
act violently. At national level the Ulamaa’ council of Pakistan
has condemned the suicide attacks and declared them un-
Islamic. Similarly, the respectable Ulamaa’ of the Muslim
world have denounced terrorism.
 Challenges For Muslim World
Muslim Unity and Solidarity
– OIC
• Social Challenges
– Extremism and Radicalization
– Women Respect
• Technology Challenges
– Information Technology Challenges
• Economic Challenges
– Dependency
– Too much Loan
– Restricting our Economic Systems
– Negligence of the Islamic Economic System
 The Way Forward
• Multi-dimensional Approach
1. Revival of Unity of Ummah
 One Common Goal i.e. Islamic Renaissance
 Common Foreign and Security Policy
2. Moderate Islamic Interpretation
 Tolerance and Education
3. Adopting Science and Technology
 Research & Development
4. Building Viable Economy
 Muslim Currency
 Cont…..

• Institutional Shape of Muslim Ummah:

• There is a critical need of shaping an institution which can

give an effective platform to the Muslim Ummah. OIC is such
a platform, but t
• here is a need to make it a powerful and vigorous forum. There
are various hurdles to make OIC an effective institutional
platform. These hurdles can be removed by a genuine
powerful collective effort.
 Cont…..

• Voice of Muslim World Through the OIC:

• OIC should serve as a solid and vocal forum to carry forward

the voice of the Muslim Ummah. Whatever issue facing the
Muslim world, it is OIC which should take the lead.
• Unfortunately on critical issues the voice of OIC is either
missing or very low.
 Cont….

• Pragmatism and modernity has to be blended with Islam:

• The approach of Muslims should be to blend modernity and
pragmatism with Islam. It was very rightly said by Allama
Muhammad Iqbal that it is Islam which always saves Muslims,
not Muslims saving Islam. In a commentary, a scholar
commented that Islam should not be politicized, rather politics
should be Islamised.

• We Muslims should not be defensive when it comes to Islam

versus modernity. Islam is the most modern and
comprehensive religion. Modernity is not only in culture and
cuisine, it is a mental state of affairs.
PAKISTAN’S ROLE IN THE UMMAH

• To act as a leader

• Perform as a unifier

• Be a moderate state
 CONCLUSION

• In today’s world the biggest challenge facing the Muslim

Ummah is terrorism. The Western world finds an easy
scapegoat in the Muslim world whenever there is a terrorist
attack. India cooks up stories based on false propaganda to
implicate Pakistan in terrorism on its soil.

• Muslims imbued with radical ideology away from Islam,

become an easy tools in the hands of those who want to
defame Islam. There has been a slogan in the US that all
Muslims are not terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslim.
 Cont…..

• This state of affairs creates an awkward situation for the

Muslim Ummah in today’s geo-political scenario of the world.
We must have the modern education, economic prosperity and
the utmost serious struggle for individual and collective
improvement to be respected world wide.

• The Muslim Ummah as a unit with collective leadership and

associated capabilities, may be able to compete in this high
level political, economic and ideological rivalry and hence,
can play a very effective and the decisive role in the world.