Power Transition in New Great Game: Strategic Options for Pakistan

Power transition in international politics is an ever-evolving approach owing to the rise and fall of the superpowers and great powers. Historically, the quest for more territories and resources has led to conflicts and wars between powerful empires and states, resulting in colonization, imperi...

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Main Author: Dr. Mansoor Ahmed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Research in Social Sciences
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Online Access:https://jrss.numl.edu.pk/index.php/jrss/article/view/280
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author Dr. Mansoor Ahmed
author_facet Dr. Mansoor Ahmed
author_sort Dr. Mansoor Ahmed
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description Power transition in international politics is an ever-evolving approach owing to the rise and fall of the superpowers and great powers. Historically, the quest for more territories and resources has led to conflicts and wars between powerful empires and states, resulting in colonization, imperialism, and power transition. The first half of the 20th century witnessed long-running conflicts and wars among the great powers concerning power transition, which caused unheard-of violence and destruction in the history of humankind. However, in the second half of the foregoing century, the competing superpowers never resorted to direct confrontation during the Cold War but rather engaged in proxy conflicts and shadow wars by using proxy forces. The rise of China, the resurgence of Russia, and the emergence of transnational non-state actors in the early 21st century have ushered in the debate of power transition in international politics yet again. The 21st century power politics, based on geo-economics and the quest for energy resources and trade corridors, has been dubbed the New Great Game. Unlike the Cold War, the U.S. and China, the key players of the New Great Game, have avoided proxy confrontation by preferring competition and engagement. Pakistan, the closest U.S. ally during the Cold War and War on Terror, and now the closest ally of China in the emerging great-power competition, has fewer strategic options for maneuvering than ever before. This paper critically analyzes the future power transition in regional and far-regional geopolitics vis-à-vis the strategic options available to Pakistan’s policymakers and decision-makers.
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spelling doaj-art-cf1cd83f87e443bcb50e9953fb586dba2025-08-20T02:12:53ZengNational University of Modern Languages (NUML), IslamabadJournal of Research in Social Sciences2306-112X2025-04-01131Power Transition in New Great Game: Strategic Options for PakistanDr. Mansoor Ahmed0a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:21:"University of Turbat ";} Power transition in international politics is an ever-evolving approach owing to the rise and fall of the superpowers and great powers. Historically, the quest for more territories and resources has led to conflicts and wars between powerful empires and states, resulting in colonization, imperialism, and power transition. The first half of the 20th century witnessed long-running conflicts and wars among the great powers concerning power transition, which caused unheard-of violence and destruction in the history of humankind. However, in the second half of the foregoing century, the competing superpowers never resorted to direct confrontation during the Cold War but rather engaged in proxy conflicts and shadow wars by using proxy forces. The rise of China, the resurgence of Russia, and the emergence of transnational non-state actors in the early 21st century have ushered in the debate of power transition in international politics yet again. The 21st century power politics, based on geo-economics and the quest for energy resources and trade corridors, has been dubbed the New Great Game. Unlike the Cold War, the U.S. and China, the key players of the New Great Game, have avoided proxy confrontation by preferring competition and engagement. Pakistan, the closest U.S. ally during the Cold War and War on Terror, and now the closest ally of China in the emerging great-power competition, has fewer strategic options for maneuvering than ever before. This paper critically analyzes the future power transition in regional and far-regional geopolitics vis-à-vis the strategic options available to Pakistan’s policymakers and decision-makers. https://jrss.numl.edu.pk/index.php/jrss/article/view/280Power-Transition, New Great Game, International Politics, Thucydides Trap, U.S. Domination, Rising China, Resurgent Russia.
spellingShingle Dr. Mansoor Ahmed
Power Transition in New Great Game: Strategic Options for Pakistan
Journal of Research in Social Sciences
Power-Transition, New Great Game, International Politics, Thucydides Trap, U.S. Domination, Rising China, Resurgent Russia.
title Power Transition in New Great Game: Strategic Options for Pakistan
title_full Power Transition in New Great Game: Strategic Options for Pakistan
title_fullStr Power Transition in New Great Game: Strategic Options for Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Power Transition in New Great Game: Strategic Options for Pakistan
title_short Power Transition in New Great Game: Strategic Options for Pakistan
title_sort power transition in new great game strategic options for pakistan
topic Power-Transition, New Great Game, International Politics, Thucydides Trap, U.S. Domination, Rising China, Resurgent Russia.
url https://jrss.numl.edu.pk/index.php/jrss/article/view/280
work_keys_str_mv AT drmansoorahmed powertransitioninnewgreatgamestrategicoptionsforpakistan