Blockchain Papers

Dorothy Gail Rey

This research study investigates the evolution of the Taliban from an insurgent movement into a hybrid insurgent-state actor. Utilizing datasets from terrorism, conflict, and open-source intelligence, the paper analyzes the motivations, organizational structure, financing mechanisms, operational capabilities, targeting patterns, and governance practices of the Taliban. It assesses the group's transition from insurgency to a de facto government following its resurgence in Afghanistan and examines the implications for regional security, international recognition, sanctions compliance, and counterterrorism policy. The findings indicate that the Taliban's unique blend of centralized ideological leadership, decentralized operational execution, economic adaptability, and increasing diplomatic engagement poses a multifaceted challenge for contemporary security analysis and international governance frameworks.

Hasnain Nawaz, Qurat-ul-Ain Bashir

Pakistan's most significant federalist initiative, the 18th Constitutional Amendment (2010), scrapped the Concurrent Legislative List and transferred wide-ranging legislative, administrative, and fiscal responsibilities to the provinces. But more than ten years on, devolution remains uneven. In this paper, we explore the administrative, political and institutional obstacles to devolution between 2010 and 2018, with a focus on Centre-Punjab relations, the pivot of Pakistan's federation. Through a qualitative documentary analysis of parliamentary proceedings, archival documents, institutional reports and academic work, we argue that bureaucratic mediation operates as a two-pronged process: provincial bureaucracies, especially in Punjab, facilitate some devolved functions, while federal bureaucracies continue to exert control via regulatory coordination, conditional fiscal transfers and legal grey areas. The National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, which increased provincial transfers, has not ended fiscal dependence: the provinces receive 60-70% of their budget from the centre. The removal of the Concurrent Legislative List resulted in unequal sectoral outcomes - provincialization in health and education, but contested labour and interprovincial coordination. We suggest that constitutional devolution in the absence of simultaneous bureaucratic, fiscal autonomy and effective intergovernmental coordination creates a hybrid governance form: constitutionally decentralized and operationally centralised. In the case of Punjab, we find that bureaucratic capacity is not enough; path dependence, bureaucratic opposition and political bargaining over devolution shape the outcomes. Our insights enrich understanding of decentralization theory by identifying bureaucratic mediation as a critical variable and provide policy lessons for other federations in the midst of reforms. References Adeney, K. (2020). Federalism and ethnic conflict regulation in India and Pakistan. Palgrave Macmillan. Asian Development Bank. (2015). Pakistan: Decentralization and local governance. Asian Development Bank. Asian Development Bank. (2023). Pakistan: Fiscal decentralization and service delivery. Asian Development Bank. Bahl, R. (2008). The implementation of fiscal decentralization. In E. Ahmad & G. Brosio (Eds.), Handbook of fiscal federalism (pp. 388–413). Edward Elgar Publishing. Bardhan, P. (2002). Decentralization of governance and development. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 16(4), 185–205. https://doi.org/10.1257/089533002320951037 Bird, R. M., & Vaillancourt, F. (Eds.). (2008). Fiscal decentralization in developing countries. Cambridge University Press. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa Faguet, J. P. (2014). Decentralization and governance. World Development, 53, 2–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2013.01.002 Gerring, J. (2007). Case study research: Principles and practices. Cambridge University Press. Government of Pakistan. (2017). 6th population and housing census 2017. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Government of Punjab. (2015). Annual devolution implementation report 2014–15. Finance Department, Government of Punjab. Government of Punjab Finance Department. (2011). Annual revenue report 2010–11. Finance Department, Government of Punjab. Government of Punjab Finance Department. (2014). Annual revenue report 2013–14. Finance Department, Government of Punjab. Government of Punjab Finance Department. (2017). Annual revenue report 2016–17. Finance Department, Government of Punjab. Government of Punjab Finance Department. (2018). Annual revenue report 2017–18. Finance Department, Government of Punjab. Grindle, M. S. (2011). Good enough governance revisited. Development Policy Review, 29(s1), s199–s221. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7679.2011.00539.x Hill, M., & Hupe, P. (2014). Implementing public policy: An introduction to the study of operational governance (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications. Husain, I. (2018). Governance and decentralization in Pakistan. Oxford University Press. Husain, I. (2019). Civil service reform in Pakistan. Oxford University Press. Jaffrelot, C. (2015). The Pakistan paradox: Instability and resilience. International Journal of South Asian Studies, 8(1), 1–22. Jaffrelot, C. (2024). The 18th Amendment and Pakistan's democratic transition. Contemporary South Asia, 32(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.1080/09584935.2024 Kennedy, C. (2012). Bureaucracy and governance in Pakistan. In M. Waseem (Ed.), Pakistan’s political economy (pp. 89–112). Oxford University Press. Khan, H. (2017). Constitutional and political history of Pakistan. Oxford University Press. Litvack, J., Ahmad, J., & Bird, R. (1998). Rethinking decentralization in developing countries. World Bank. Mustafa, Z. (2019). The 18th Amendment and Pakistan's federal evolution. The Lahore Journal of Economics, 24(2), 1–28. Naseer, A., & Khalid, I. (2021). Bureaucratic mediation in Pakistan's devolution. Asian Journal of Political Science, 29(3), 301–320. https://doi.org/10.1080/02185377.2021.1967304 National Assembly of Pakistan. (2014). Parliamentary debates on devolution implementation. Government of Pakistan. National Finance Commission. (2009). 7th National Finance Commission Award 2009. Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan. Niskanen, W. A. (1971). Bureaucracy and representative government. Aldine-Atherton. North, D. C. (1990). Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. Cambridge University Press. Oates, W. E. (1999). An essay on fiscal federalism. Journal of Economic Literature, 37(3), 1120–1149. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.37.3.1120 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2019). Making decentralisation work: A handbook for policy-makers. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/g2g9faa7-en Pasha, H. A. (2016). Fiscal federalism in Pakistan: The 7th NFC Award and beyond. The Pakistan Development Review, 55(4), 387–410. https://doi.org/10.30541/v55i4IIpp.387-410 Pressman, J. L., & Aaron Wildavsky. (1973). Implementation: How great expectations in Washington are dashed in Oakland. University of California Press. Rana, M. (2020). The 18th Amendment and bureaucratic resistance. Pakistan Journal of Public Administration, 18(2), 55–78. Rondinelli, D. A. (1981). Government decentralization in comparative perspective. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 47(2), 133–145. https://doi.org/10.1177/002085238104700205 Shah, A. (2012). The 18th Constitutional Amendment: Glimpses of multi-order governance. The Lahore Journal of Economics, 17(SE), 265–284. Shah, A. (2019). Federalism in Pakistan: The 18th Amendment and beyond. In N. Aziz (Ed.), Pakistan’s constitutional journey (pp. 145–176). Oxford University Press. Stepan, A. (1999). Federalism and democracy: Beyond the U.S. model. Journal of Democracy, 10(4), 19–34. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.1999.0072 Supreme Court of Pakistan. (2015). Government of Punjab v. Federation of Pakistan (Civil Appeal No. 12 of 2015). Talbot, I. (2015). Pakistan: A modern history. Oxford University Press. Thelen, K. (2004). How institutions evolve: The political economy of skills in Germany, Britain, the United States, and Japan. Cambridge University Press. Treisman, D. (2007). The architecture of government: Rethinking political decentralization. Cambridge University Press. United Nations Development Programme. (2013). Federalism in Pakistan: Opportunities and challenges. UNDP Pakistan. United Nations Development Programme. (2023). Devolution in Pakistan: Status, challenges and way forward. UNDP Pakistan. Waseem, M. (2019). Centre–province relations in Pakistan. In L. R. Singh (Ed.), Federalism in South Asia (pp. 123–148). Routledge. Watts, R. L. (2008). Comparing federal systems (3rd ed.). Queen’s University Press. Weber, M. (1978). Economy and society. University of California Press. Wilson, J. Q. (1989). Bureaucracy: What government agencies do and why they do it. Basic Books. World Bank Group. (2017). Pakistan federalism and service delivery. World Bank Group. World Bank Group. (2022). Pakistan: Fiscal federalism and service delivery. World Bank Group. Zaidi, S. A. (2014). The bureaucratic steel frame. Economic and Political Weekly, 49(12), 45–52. Zaidi, S. A. (2020). Issues in Pakistan’s economy (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Syed Aqeel Abbass Shah

This paper looks at Pakistan's decentralisation policy under the Musharraf era and emphasises how it has affected the bureaucratic and administrative structure of the nation. The main contention is that Musharraf decentralization imitative were designed to improve governance and address disparities between the civilian and military sectors. The research technique, which draws from a variety of government and academic sources, involves a thorough analysis of legislative modifications, policy changes, and their practical ramification. The article summarises Musharraf's original seven-point plan, emphasising the transfer of financial and administrative authority to local levels. The national reconstruction bureau NRB and the provincial finance commission PFC were two important reforms that attempted to transfer authority and funds from the federal to local governments; nevertheless, bureaucracy and political parties posed strong obstacles to the execution, which reduced the efficacy of these changes. The results show that while decentralisation attempts enhanced women's participation and community involvement and briefly strengthened local governments, they were eventually undermined by a lack of resources, poor administration and ongoing military supervision. Although the national accountability bureau was established with the intention of combating corruption, it was criticised for being abused for political purposes. According to the report, improved coordination between different levels of government, a sincere desire on the part of the political class to maintain changes, and continued support for local government are all necessary for decentralisation to be successful. Developing institutional capabilities and promoting an open and transparent culture are essential for long-term success.

Sayeed Ebrahim Darwishean, Abdul Qahar Jawad, Nangialai Nangial

The study explores how to synergize Public Relations 3rd Generation (PR3.0), 3rd generation of the web (Web3.O), and new technologies to have an effective interactive online higher education (OHE) in Afghanistan. It analyzed the distinguishing characteristics of the three concepts by focusing on their application in the context of OHE in the country, aiming to assess the trio's compatibility in Afghanistan. Thus, a prescriptive methodology was used in this study. The findings indicate that the trio possesses common individualities that could be applied productively in the context of Afghanistan for collaborative higher education. The communal features include interactivity, ubiquity, and mobility, which indicate the compatibility of the concepts in the country. New technologies are accessible with the light version of applications for low-speed internet and are installable in smartphones, showing their usability. The 3rd generation of public relations (PR3.0) should be synergized with the two others to produce an effective online scheme of higher education in Afghanistan.

Asif Ali, Zeeshan Ahmad, Munazza

The Amendment shall not be effective unless completely performed. The main element of the Amendment was the decentralization of the Power. At the federal and provincial levels, it was merely a concept. It has been highlighted, for instance, that the Federal Government has traditionally tended to direct these groups rather than advise them, undermining the core function of these bodies. The Federal Government issued policy directives that allowed regulatory bodies to operate independently. Similar to the National Finance Commission Awards, the Provincial Finance Commission Awards were necessary to fairly divide the funds to districts. Political, administrative, and financial accountability should be upheld as mandated by Articles 32 and 140 A of the Constitution.

William Ryle-Hodges

This thesis challenges the conventional view of Muḥammad ʿAbduh’s reform ideas in broad and binary terms as bridging a gap between ‘Islam and Europe’ or ‘tradition and modernity’. I offer instead an analysis of ʿAbduh’s reformist thought in his own words and local practical context in 19th century Egypt, based on a close-reading of his newspaper articles. I argue that ʿAbduh’s reform project, in terms of what was at stake in his job as Director of Publications for the Egyptian state from 1880-1882, is best understood as a bureaucratic publishing project or politics of adab that bridged journalism and the modern state, the Arabic Nahḍa and the Ottoman modernizing reforms known as the tanẓīmāt. He was pioneering journalism as a form of moral education (adab) to mobilize the souls of the reading public in what he conceptualized as a new biopolitical phase of state reform – reform and accountability to law that would operate bottom up from the people. His journalistic pedagogy worked by addressing readers with a polemic about a superficial nationhood and empty modernity that lacked both substance in the people’s souls and visible proof in ‘society’. Locating this project in Egypt’s emerging capitalist economy, I argue that his journalism particularly targeted Egypt’s cotton-enriched landed elite for failing to uphold rule of law and to distribute the benefits of modernization. ʿAbduh’s reform thus becomes a window into a wider dynamic of power taking shape between journalism, bureaucracy and law – itself crucial to understanding a pivotal moment in Egypt’s modern history, known for being the time of the so-called ʿUrābī Revolution.

Erum Sattar

No abstract is available for this record.

А. В. Криворучко

In the early twentieth century British colonial authorities continued their efforts to decentralize the governance and financial system of British India by providing greater administrative and financial authority to provincial governments, which required delineation of powers and the financing of the government of British India and the provincial governments. Governor-General of India, Lord Curzon tried to escape the disadvantages of the "Ripon scheme" and introduced a scheme of "quasi-permanent nature", based on three principles. The basic idea of the scheme was to raise the interest of the provinces to increasing of their income. The lack of success of the reforms led to the establishing by Edward VII in September 1907 of "Royal Commission on Decentralization of India", which was to examine the situation on the ground and then to make suggestions. In February 1909 the Commission submitted a report, which laid out the arguments both in favor of centralization of governance and in favor of decentralization. In order to enhance the decentralization they proposed measures for increasing of the powers of provincial governments and authorities subordinate to administrative units, governance of public services on a wide range of issues, primarily "provincial" and "subordinate" parts of the Indian Civil Service, the police, as well as medical, sanitation and so on. Particular emphasis was placed on the need to develop local government throughout India, particularly in rural areas. The most important role among them was assigned to panchayati. They envisaged the establishment of self-government at the district level and at the lowest level - a village or a group of villages. Accordingly, the proposed redistribution of competences between different levels of government and self-government. To implement the changes, the commission recommended to redistribute sources of financing government bodies at each level and discussed specific taxes thoroughly enough. They also mentioned some situations when the income did not cover the costs of provinces, districts and villages. The report revealed the need for changes in the cost structure of different levels of authorities. The article suggests some measures for implementation of recommendations of the Commission, the assessment of its activities by a number of researchers and sources, and makes a brief conclusion.

Chris Berg, Sinclair Davidson, Jason Potts

Are there differences between the sale of an unopened Super Mario Bros. computer game and of the digital collage of 5,000 images? Viewed from the perspective of the doctrine of exhaustion, we can easily conclude that the two transfers have significant differences. The auction of the tangible data carrier of the Super Mario’s 1986 edition (for $660,000) 1 fits well into the doctrine. The auction of the NFT (non-fungible token) representing Beeple’s “Everdays: the First 5000 Days” (for an equivalent of an astounding $69.3 million) 2 seems to be hype with a snowball effect rather than a modern encapsulation of digital exhaustion. Some commentators, 3 including the present author in collaboration with Alexandra Giannapoulou, João Pedro Quintais, and Balázs Bodó, 4 have thoroughly introduced the incompatibility of the NFT mania with the existing copyright status quo, and so – in connection with the present book’s topic – the sale of tokenized information, which is capable of representing information related to digital artworks, is practically excluded from the scope of the exhaustion of the right of distribution. At the same time, NFTs de facto offer a “code-based digital ecosystem that has practical consequences for the copyright-relevant fields of creativeness.” 5 The sale and resale of NFTs is possible; an exchange of information and title to “own” and “trade” information related to copyrightable subject matter is technologically guaranteed. In line with that, a quasi-exhaustion regime has also emerged. As such, the NFT mania can practically evidence the need for and modern technology’s capability of offering digital marketplaces for artworks as well.

Kidane, Chekol, Alemu, Getnet

The objective of this study is to
\n explore in depth public finance issues and their impact on
\n decentralized service delivery at the regional and woreda
\n levels in Benishangul Gumuz (BG) region. The study is
\n carried out as part of the federal and some regional case
\n studies designed to examine effectiveness of public finances
\n of sub-national governments. This study was expected to (i)
\n review the institutional arrangement for managing public
\n finances at the regional level including policies, budgetary
\n institutions, systems and processes; (ii) assess the level,
\n trend, and composition of public spending (both functional
\n and economic classification) in per capita terms over the
\n past five years and identify key achievements and
\n limitations; (iii) assess the level, trend, and, composition
\n of revenue at the regional level and examine the financing
\n framework, including ways to increase local revenue
\n generation capacity; (iv) assess the role of external aid in
\n supporting decentralized service delivery and the
\n sustainability of the program in absence of external aid;
\n (v) review the planning and budgeting process as well as the
\n quality of PFM system; and (vi) data permitting, establish
\n the link between the level of spending and the outputs and
\n outcomes for selected sectors. The study used standard
\n public financial process review methodologies used for
\n undertaking PFM assessments. The report reviewed the various
\n studies, plans and performance reports of the various
\n sectors in the regions between 1997 and 2001. In addition,
\n key informant interviews were carried out at bureaus levels
\n and woreda offices of education, health, water, agriculture
\n and rural development, finance and economic development,
\n revenue, General Auditor, rural road and woreda administrations.

Aisha Ghaus-Pasha

This article discusses how the 7th National Finance Commission award and the 18th Amendment to the Constitution have strengthened the autonomy of the federating units in Pakistan. The former has empowered the provinces by increasing their access to financial resources, but there is the danger that it may increase the consolidated fiscal deficit unless both the federal and provincial governments increase their fiscal efforts and rationalize their expenditures. The 18th Amendment has the potential to change the structure of governance, but has been implemented in such a way that effective decentralization has been at least partially rolled back. For devolution to work in Pakistan, financing and the delivery of devolved services will have to be more effectively organized and managed.

Zubair Ali Shahid

No abstract is available for this record.

Kent Eaton

In recent years, decentralization and regional autonomy measures have figured prominently in negotiations designed to end some of the world's most important conflicts, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Sudan. Reforms that shift powers to subnational units deserve the attention of those who are trying to promote security via institutional design, but the risks associated with these territorial reforms are considerable. When political and economic resources are transferred to subnational governments in the attempt to create meaningful access to the political system for former combatants, the great risk is that these same resources can be used to finance a continuation of the armed struggle instead. In response to the popularity of territorial reforms in many post-conflict settings, this paper sounds a cautionary note by evaluating the negative impact of decentralization on security in Colombia, site of Latin America's longest and deadliest armed conflict. After analyzing the design decisions of reformers who hoped that decentralization would help end the conflict, I argue that decentralization in fact financed the expansion of armed clientelism by illegal groups on both the left and right. Thanks to the weakness of the police in much of the national territory, guerrillas and paramilitaries have been able to use decentralized resources to destabilize the state, limiting even further its monopoly over the use of force and creating what are in effect parallel states on the left and right.