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WELCOME TO THE KINNAIRD COLLEGE DATA REPOSITORY (KCDR)
Kinnaird College Data Repository (KCDR) is a data repository built in support of researchers at KCW. Hosted and created by Kinnaird Library & Information Center (KLIC), KCDR houses and showcases dissertations, thesis research projects and research papers by KCW students and faculty members. Through a meticulous digitization process KCDR ensures continued and efficient access to the preserved dataset.
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Recent Submissions
DETERRENCE STRATEGIES IN THE FIFTH DOMAIN: TRILATERAL CYBER NEXUS BETWEEN USA, CHINA AND RUSSIA
(DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, 2023-05-18) ZUNAIRA MALIK & MARYAM YASMEEN
The technologically revolutionized 21st century prompted a novel domain that was malleable, volatile yet porous serving as a realm of asymmetric warfare known as ‘Fifth Domain’ of strategy. This potential battle space incited strategic competition because of its dynamism, intractability and interconnectedness. This prompted the importance for states to protect their critical infrastructures and deter any prospective attacks especially for cyber-space giants like USA, China and Russia. The enigmatic nexus between Cyber deterrence and structural malleability of fifth domain as elucidated in cyber persistent engagement stability theory places the deterrence postures of three giants in paradox. The trilateral cyber deterrence junction between USA, China and Russia has spillover effects on international digital order. This have raised the importance of conducting research to delve into this paradoxical conundrum of cyber deterrence for this purpose descriptive yet correlational and analytical style of research methodology have been employed to probe into this matter. the second chapter, the genesis of cyber deterrence strategy has been articulated along with the conceptual growth of this phenomena. The dispersed evolution of cyber deterrence in practice have been narrated with a regional prism. In the third chapter, the theoretical lens of cyber persistent engagement stability theory has been used to recount on the cyber deterrence enigma both conceptually and pragmatically. However, this chapter also illustrated the gray areas in theory articulating the gaps that this theory entails while explaining the dilemma of cyber deterrence. This chapter shed light on how the loopholes that accompany the deterrence phenomena in fifth domain are reflected in futile efforts to execute this strategy. In the 4th chapter, the deterrence posture of USA has been elucidated with its development during different administrations, the Command-and-Control system used to execute the policy, the faces of United States cyber deterrence policy and many other factors has been analyzed. The deterrence posture of USA has been a reflective of offense-defense balance with its deterrence posture carrying no implied element in it. In the fifth chapter, the implied character of Russian and Chinese deterrence posture has been expounded which is in all but name. in the 6th chapter the loopholes, challenges and gray areas in the deterrence postures of these three states projected at each other have been narrated after a comparative analysis of their deterrence postures. In 7th chapter, the implications of deterrence strategies of each of the individual state have been narrated with the impact of trilateral nexus on international order. It is concluded cyber deterrence is difficult to be executed but its relevance could still be traced in strategies of states. Maintaining deterrence stability is the biggest challenge in cyber space that states are trying to cope with.
GEOSTRATEGIC POLICIES OF RUSSIA UNDER PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: SECURITY IMPLICATIONS FOR CRIMEA AND UKRAINE (2012-2023)
(DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, 2023-05-18) NAWAL TARIQ & SAYBA SAGHEER
This thesis focuses on analyzing the geostrategic policies of Russia under the influence of
President Vladimir Putin that he used to make Russia a super power by countering the influence
of West in Post Soviet states. President Vladimir Putin aims to emerge as a supreme leader in the
world. Russian geostrategic policies are being analyzed though John Mearsheimer’s Offensive
realism theory which explains that Russia under the presidency of Vladimir Putin is trying to
ensure its survival by considering the world anarchic where everyone else also struggling to
maximize their interests and power. So, the Russian geostrategic policies also focusing to
maximize its power that mostly influenced by historical experiences, global power dynamics and
regions dynamics especially after the disintegration of Soviet empire. This study will also
contribute to learning about what geographic and geostrategic significance Crimea and Ukraine
hold for Russia. To achieve its goals, Russia has conducted offensive measures such as military
interventions in Crimea in 2014 and in Ukraine in 2022, and wants these two territories to get
under its control completely. In this way, this study adds to the geostrategic field by explaining
Russian realistic interests’ and implications on Ukraine and Crimea. Descriptive approach is used
to analyze the Qualitative data to describe the Russian geostrategic policies by exploring the
different parameters of Russian interests, policies and challenges it faces in implementing them.
And both primary and secondary sources are used for the collection of data to analyze the historical
claims of Russia on Near Abroad states, its struggles for achieving ontological security and
international recognition of a superpower. The study also reveals the challenges that Russia faced
to fulfill its interests realistically. Russia has faced resistance from the World primarily the west
as they support Ukraine. Russia is paying costs of its intervention in Crimea and Ukraine due to
the sanctions imposed by the West that have negatively impacted its economy. Russian
intervention on the other hand, has severe implications on Ukraine and Crimea causing a great
damage to their economy, military, politics and local communities which eventually is making the
whole Eurasian region unstable.
ANALYZING THE TRENDS OF NUCLEARIZATION IN EAST ASIA UNDER POSTURE OPTIMIZATION THEORY: CASE STUDY OF JAPAN’S PURSUIT OF NUCLEAR DETERRENCE (2012-2022)
(DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, 2023-05-18) RUBAB ALI & ZAINAB HASEEB
The emerging global landscapes of nuclear policies are an important phenomenon of the 21st
century that had sparked different strategic questions. A much similar question was posed by Vipin
Narang who in his Theory of Posture Optimization attempted to fill some of the gaps that explain
why states acquire particular nuclear postures. With the discussion about strategies of nuclear
proliferation and postulates of posture optimization, this research paper discusses the trends of
nuclearization in the East Asian Region and the typology of nuclear postures of the regional states.
The threat of continuous introduction of modernized militaristic and nuclear technologies in the
region has created strategic instability, resulting in the pursuit of more secure second-strike
capability by the countries, and forming the heart of conventional warfighting and deterrence
strategies. This paper mainly focuses on the implications this regional nuclearization is leaving on
the Japanese efforts of optimizing its nuclear posture, with the country left struggling with a
parallel pursuit of disarmament and nuclear deterrence. In this struggle, the extra-regional alliances
namely, with the United States and its fluctuating extended deterrence policy of nuclear umbrella
are turning the tide of Japan’s security optimism. In this enigmatic approach there might be certain
possible regional implications that Japan has to face, further confining its policy choices
ISSUES OF DISPLACEMENT BETWEEN AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN: IMPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES IN POST 9/11 ERA
(DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, 2023-05-18) RIFFA ANSARI & TOOBA REHMAN
The issue of displacement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly Afghan refugees in Pakistan, has posed security challenges for Pakistan. The porous border between the two countries has allowed for cross-border mobility, resulting in large numbers of Afghan refugees entering Pakistan in waves. This has created security implications for Pakistan, as terrorist groups have also entered the country along with the refugees. The theory of Regional Security Complex helps explain how the security of one state in the complex cannot be addressed independently of the other states, as the circumstances of neighboring states impact each other's security. The study also highlights the challenges faced by Pakistan in tackling the Afghan refugee crisis in the post-9/11 era. Despite not being a signatory to international conventions on refugees, Pakistan has hosted the largest number of Afghan refugees. The presence of Afghan refugees has had economic, social, political, security, and environmental effects on Pakistan. Efforts have been made by Pakistan and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to repatriate Afghan refugees and discourage further influx, but these efforts have faced challenges. The research aims to explain the security dynamics between Afghanistan and Pakistan using the Regional Security Complex Theory, highlight the challenges faced by Pakistan in addressing the Afghan refugee crisis, examine the socio-economic implications of the crisis, evaluate the success of repatriation efforts, and explore future scenarios for Pakistan in dealing with the Afghan refugee crisis.
SECURITIZATION OF CYBERSPACE: THE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BY STATES AND VIOLENT NON-STATE ACTORS (2010-2021)
(DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, 2023-05-18) FATIMA ASGHAR AND RAHIMA ARIF
The introduction of network-based computer systems and the internet in recent times opened an entirely new domain for the world to interact in and here is where cyberspace was born; a virtual domain that connects computers and communication networks worldwide, where interaction for countless shared activities and exchange of information between people and institutions take place all over the world. The increasing interconnectedness of the world through the use of digital technologies has brought with it, new security challenges in the form of strategic competition between states and violent non-state actors (VNSAs) which is characterized by the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet. This research explores this strategic competition between states and VNSAs, under the light of the securitization of the cyber domain by states in response to the threats generated by VNSAs. The main objective of this research is to highlight the role of AI in the strategic competition between state and VNSAs, while simultaneously exploring the securitization of the domain where the competition takes place by using the theoretical framework of securitization theory of the Copenhagen School. The main focus of this research is to explore different ways VNSAs exploit cyberspace and threaten the cyber and critical infrastructure of states through the case studies of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS). With the help of the lens of securitization, it evaluates the ways the use of cyberspace by VNSAs is securitized by states. Moving forward the implications of the asymmetric competition are evaluated which are followed by the securitization moves of states for countering this existential threat. The research concludes with recommendations for states to enhance their capabilities for countering the cyber threat generated by VNSAs in cyberspace that fulfills their need for securitization.