A key aspect of social discourse in Pakistan generally focuses on Western, particularly American, policy dictates to Islamabad, which are often perceived as the key determinants of the country’s political, economic, and even socio-cultural dynamics. Much of this social discourse, however, tends to be uninformed and lacks substantial analytical grounding. The fact of the matter is that we are living in an advanced stage of a globalized world and therefore cannot escape the influence and impact of international dynamics.
In the age of globalization, local issues have increasingly become international issues, and this is accurate in a broader context. Globalization is impacting each and every one of us in multiple ways. Pakistan, like other nations, cannot avoid the effects of globalization, and these impacts are both positive and negative. Among the positive outcomes, Pakistan has become part of the global economic mainstream. Hundreds of thousands of Pakistani young men and women are earning livelihoods through participation in the global economy, including freelancing, information technology services, and overseas employment. These young people contribute significantly to Pakistan at times when the country’s economy has faced severe challenges, and when foreign direct and portfolio investment has declined sharply. Moreover, another positive impact of globalization is that many favorable aspects of Pakistani society, which otherwise remained concealed from the rest of the world, such as the country’s splendid scenic landscapes and tourism potential, have become internationally recognized.
On the other hand, globalization has also brought negative repercussions for Pakistan. For instance, the persistent portrayal of Pakistan as associated with terrorism and radicalism has shaped international perceptions of the state and society. As a result, many Pakistanis, despite possessing skills, education, and integrity, often face suspicion abroad. The international media coverage of violent incidents, such as the massive terrorist attack in an Islamabad mosque that killed more than 30 people, further reinforces this image and demonstrates how quickly local tragedies become global narratives in the interconnected media environment.
Globalization in the realm of state-to-state relations has manifested itself in the form of complex interdependence, a concept that needs to be explained in detail. Since time immemorial, human societies have interacted continuously. In every historical epoch, the nature, direction, and frequency of this interaction have differed, largely depending on the political organization of the international system. With the establishment of the modern nation-state system, international interaction and the resulting interdependence became more structured, legally defined, and institutionally organized.
As the nation-state system evolved and became more rigid, international interdependence increasingly assumed a somewhat unidirectional character. State-to-state interaction between the establishment of the modern system and the beginning of World War II remained largely restricted to limited economic exchanges and military conflicts. Post–World War II, and especially in the post–Cold War era, inter-state relations began to assume a new shape, described by some scholars as “Complex Interdependence.” The concept was coined by scholars Robert Keohane and Joseph S. Nye as a neoliberal critique of the realist explanation of world politics. In Pakistan, both common citizens and policymakers must understand this evolving reality, and this is the key aim of this discussion. Without a deeper comprehension of contemporary international relations, Pakistan cannot fully benefit from global opportunities. Traditionally, people and even policymakers in Pakistan have had limited understanding of global dynamics, resulting in a constrained worldview.
Coming to the concept of Complex Interdependence, it represents the idea that states and their fortunes are inextricably tied together. In the age of globalization, this interconnectedness is unavoidable, and no country can isolate itself from it. The theorists who introduced this concept observed that various and complex transnational connections and interdependencies between states and societies were growing, while the use of military force and traditional power balancing was declining in relative importance, though still relevant. Ironically, due to ongoing conflicts such as the Israel–Palestine conflict and the Russia–Ukraine war, many in Pakistan perceive the entire world as being engulfed in conflict. Yet, despite decades of involvement in the war on terror and significant losses, Pakistan itself has largely experienced relative peace at the state-to-state level, having avoided full-scale war with India or Afghanistan in recent years.
Keohane and Nye also differentiated between interdependence and dependence in analyzing power relations among international actors. They argued that the decline of military force as the primary policy tool, combined with the rise of economic and other forms of interdependence, increases the probability of cooperation among states. Their research, which emerged in the 1970s, posed a significant challenge to political realism and later became foundational to theories categorized as liberalism, neoliberalism, and liberal institutionalism. These theorists contended that post–World War II countries have become increasingly intertwined, to the extent that they cannot function effectively without interdependence. The monumental growth of transnational corporations has blurred state boundaries and challenged traditional realist assumptions regarding the absolute centrality of the state. In other words, while realists argue that the state is the sole dominant actor in international relations, the concept of complex interdependence emphasizes the influential role of non-state actors, including multinational corporations, international institutions, and global civil society networks.
Complex Interdependence can be understood most clearly when contrasted with the realist worldview. Realists contend that the state is the dominant actor in world politics and that violence and military force are the fundamental means through which states pursue their interests. In contrast, Complex Interdependence emphasizes cooperation rather than conflict, reflecting the evolving realities of global interaction since the end of World War II. While violence and conflict have not disappeared entirely, non-security issues such as international monetary relations, climate change, trade, and global environmental concerns have gained significant importance. The theorists argue that the day-to-day affairs of states increasingly involve promoting cooperative economic interaction rather than focusing solely on military and security matters.
Keohane and Nye further argued that realist assumptions provide only an incomplete basis for analyzing modern politics of interdependence. Realism may represent an ideal type or an extreme set of conditions, but Complex Interdependence offers an alternative ideal type that reflects contemporary realities more accurately. The term “complex” indicates the multiple channels of interaction among actors, while “interdependence” refers to situations in which states or peoples are affected by the decisions of others. Interdependence may be symmetric, where actors are affected equally, or asymmetric, where the impact varies between parties. It can take strategic, economic, political, or social forms. At first glance, Complex Interdependence appears rational and realistic, particularly when contrasted with the limitations and inconsistencies inherent in traditional realism. Realists like Hans J. Morgenthau argued that international politics is fundamentally a struggle for power dominated by organized violence, yet contemporary global realities demonstrate that cooperation and mutual dependence increasingly shape international behavior.
Thus, Pakistani foreign policymakers must recognize the significance of Complex Interdependence within the international system and design strategies that enable the country to maximize benefits for its citizens through meaningful and productive engagement with other states, international institutions, and global economic networks. Understanding this interconnected world is not merely an academic exercise; it is an essential prerequisite for shaping informed policies and ensuring Pakistan’s effective participation in an increasingly interdependent global order.