Sharing perspectives on inter-state conflicts: from Pakistan to Poland and beyond

Dr Muhammad Younis of Forman Christian College in Lahore spent two months at the University of Warsaw, sharing a range of perspectives on the dynamics of conflict and societies in transition.

I spent two months at the University of Warsaw during summer 2019. This was my second visit to Poland, the first having been to Poznan in 2016 to present a paper at an international conference.

The summer weather in Warsaw was just about perfect for me and I found it to be a timely escape from the heat and humidity of my native city, Lahore.

I got off to a slightly embarrassing start by being late for my first day at the University’s Institute of Sociology… I left my hotel early to be sure to arrive on time but ended up boarding the wrong bus so the journey took me an hour and a half instead of 15 minutes!

Meeting colleagues from the Universities of Warsaw and Bath (L to R: Małgorzata Głowacka-Grajper, David Clarke, Muhammad Younis, Joanna Wawrzyniak)

A key goal of my visit was to participate in collaborative research with fellow colleagues on the DisTerrMem project. In this case I was able to do so not only with colleagues based at the University of Warsaw itself, but also with others from Armenia and the UK who were, like myself, undertaking secondments in Warsaw. We participated in rigorous discussions on developing a framework for one of the project’s four literature reviews, focusing on the role of civil society groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in managing memories of disputed territories (the other three groups, meanwhile, are exploring the respective roles of nation states, regional organisations and cultural practitioners).

After much deliberation, we came to the conclusion that agonism theory offers fascinating prospects and would enable us to conduct a wide-ranging and thorough study. The field of memory studies was a new field for me and I found it initially challenging to familiarize myself with its complex concepts and terminology. Also, since my expertise lies in federalism and Pakistani politics, it took me some time to develop a broader perspective on the subject. In this regard, my numerous meetings with Professors Joanna Wawrzyniak of the University Warsaw and David Clark of the University of Bath were of immense help in pointing me towards a range of invaluable resources, including books and research papers on memory studies.

During my visit I had a timely opportunity to present a talk at the University of Warsaw’s Department of International Relations, titled ‘Kashmir and Uncertainties: Dynamics of Conflict Between India and Pakistan’. I focused primarily on six themes:

1. The current status of all the major stakeholders.

2. A historical account of the Kashmir problem.

3. The Kashmiri peoples’ struggle for independence.

4. The failure of diplomatic efforts undertaken by Pakistan and India with a view to solving to the dispute.

5. The impact of the conflict on the lives and memories of people living on both sides of the Line of Control.

6. How and why this issue has become so convoluted and difficult to resolve.

The seminar was scheduled for an hour, however it continued for more than two hours as the participants showed a keen interest in the topic and asked a variety of thought provoking and critical questions. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to a diverse audience which included not only academics and students, but also policy makers and government representatives.

The audience also included representatives of the independent think tank, the Boym Institute (Michał Boym Institute for Asian and Global Studies), who invited me to present a keynote speech at their forthcoming international seminar on the South China Sea conflict. I happily accepted the invitation and presented my talk at the Institute in July. In my presentation, I conceptualized inter-state conflict, explained its dimensions and proposed strategies for conflict resolution.

Finally, my visit to the Polin Museum (a museum built primarily in memory of the Holocaust) in Warsaw was an eye-opening and life changing experience for me. I was of course familiar with the Holocaust, but only as a distant event. Here, I was almost paralyzed when I learned about the scale of atrocities committed by the Nazis. I read painful accounts from survivors, watched a number of documentaries, and saw images of appalling scenes such as those in which people, including women and children, were forced to stand in extreme cold, bare footed and almost naked, waiting their turn to go to the ‘valley of death’ - the gas chambers. This really shook me to the core, and the visit left myself and my colleagues feeling utterly devastated and incapable of controlling our emotions.

Throughout my visit I felt warmly welcomed in Warsaw. I especially enjoyed the impromptu football games, in which I was encouraged to participate! And of course couldn’t help but make comparisons between Warsaw and my native city of Lahore, Pakistan. Both cities are considered as cultural powerhouses of their region and are famous for their hospitality. One of my best personal memories of the trip was of a dinner party organized by my host, Joanna Wawrzyniak, at which I had the chance to meet a couple, a Polish man and Italian woman, planning a visit to China. As I had spent some years in China, we had a lively discussion on comparing Poland and China, and concluded that both were transitioning from a being traditional society to an increasingly westernized one. We also agreed that both countries, though very different in outlook, are facing quite similar challenges in coping with the values of the modern west.

My visit to Warsaw was an academically stimulating experience. I not only acquired valuable insights from my colleagues, but also gained fresh research tools from my extensive reading of academic material relevant to the field of memory studies. My sincere thanks to Joanna Wawrzyniak for extending a warm welcome and for providing such fruitful opportunities.

Dr Muhammad Younis is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science Forman Christian College in Lahore, Pakistan. His research interests include federalism, democracy, and the politics of Pakistan and international organisations. Find out more about Dr Younis at www.disterrmem.eu/forman-christian-college

Aylene Clack6 November 2019