M. Shahid Alam
Encyclopedia
Muhammad Shahid Alam, D.Phil
, is a Pakistani economist
, academic, and noted social scientist
. He is a Professor of Economics at Northeastern University, Boston. He is on the Advisory Board of the Institute for Policy Research & Development, London.
, moving to Pakistan in 1971 following the creation of Bangladesh
from East Pakistan
. He holds a BA from the University of Dhaka
, MA from the University of Karachi
, and Ph.D. from the University of Western Ontario
(1979). He is the brother of veteran fighter pilot
of the Pakistan Air Force
Air Commodore Muhammad Mahmood Alam
and the particle physicist Dr. M. Sajjad Alam.
of mainstream economics. An outspoken opponent of U.S. policies in the Middle East and the Global South, Professor Alam has been the target of conservative commentators for his critical stance against U.S foreign policy, and for supporting an academic boycott of Israel.
He has published many books, including Poverty from the Wealth of Nations (Macmillan, 2000), Governments and Markets in Economic Development Strategies (Praeger: 1989), Is There An Islamic Problem (Kuala Lumpur: The Other Press, 2004), republished in 2007 as Challenging the New Orientalism (IPI: 2007), and most recently, Israeli Exceptionalism: The Destabilizing Logic of Zionism (Palgrave Macmillan: 2009). He is also a regular contributor to CounterPunch
magazine.
Selected Academic Articles and Papers
Articles in Popular Media
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
, is a Pakistani economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
, academic, and noted social scientist
Social Scientist
Social Scientist is a New Delhi based journal in social sciences and humanities published since 1972....
. He is a Professor of Economics at Northeastern University, Boston. He is on the Advisory Board of the Institute for Policy Research & Development, London.
Background
Alam was born in BangladeshBangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, moving to Pakistan in 1971 following the creation of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
from East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
. He holds a BA from the University of Dhaka
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...
, MA from the University of Karachi
University of Karachi
The University of Karachi is a public university located in Karachi, Pakistan. It serves an on-campus student population of more than 24,000. According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, it is ranked among the top three universities of the country...
, and Ph.D. from the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
(1979). He is the brother of veteran fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
of the Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
Air Commodore Muhammad Mahmood Alam
Muhammad Mahmood Alam
Air Commodore Muhammad Mahmood Alam is a retired Pakistani fighter pilot, North American F-86 Sabre Flying ace and one-star general who served with the Pakistan Air Force...
and the particle physicist Dr. M. Sajjad Alam.
Career
Alam's academic writings focus, among other things, on the economic effects of Western foreign and economic policies on formerly colonized states. He writes critically about the present-day global wealth disparities produced by Western policies. He draws attention to the pro-capitalist ideological intent and Eurocentric biasesEurocentrism
Eurocentrism is the practice of viewing the world from a European perspective and with an implied belief, either consciously or subconsciously, in the preeminence of European culture...
of mainstream economics. An outspoken opponent of U.S. policies in the Middle East and the Global South, Professor Alam has been the target of conservative commentators for his critical stance against U.S foreign policy, and for supporting an academic boycott of Israel.
He has published many books, including Poverty from the Wealth of Nations (Macmillan, 2000), Governments and Markets in Economic Development Strategies (Praeger: 1989), Is There An Islamic Problem (Kuala Lumpur: The Other Press, 2004), republished in 2007 as Challenging the New Orientalism (IPI: 2007), and most recently, Israeli Exceptionalism: The Destabilizing Logic of Zionism (Palgrave Macmillan: 2009). He is also a regular contributor to CounterPunch
Counterpunch
Counterpunch can refer to:* Counterpunch , a punch in boxing* CounterPunch, a bi-weekly political newsletter* Counterpunch , a type of punch used in traditional typography* Punch-Counterpunch, a Transformers character...
magazine.
Works
Books- Israeli Exceptionalism: The Destabilizing Logic of Zionism (Palgrave Macmillan, 2009).
- Challenging the New Orientalism: Dissenting Essays on the "War Against Islam" (IPI, 2007).
- Is there an Islamic problem? : essays on Islamicate societies, the US, and Israel (The Other Press, 2004).
- Poverty From the Wealth of Nations: Integration and Polarization in the Global Economy since 1760 (Macmillan, 2000).
- Governments and Markets in Economic Development Strategies: Lessons From Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. (Praeger, 1989).
- Complete list of his works, at WorldCat
Selected Academic Articles and Papers
- "The Economy as an Energy System," Review of Radical Political Economics 41,2 (Winter 2009).
- "Some Economic Results of the Civilizing Mission" MPRA Paper, University Library of Munich, 2006.
- "Global Disparities Since 1800," Journal of World-Systems Research, July 2006, pp. 36–59.
- "A Short History of the Global Economy Since 1800" MPRA Paper, University Library of Munich, 2003.
- "A Theory of Limits on Corruption and Some Applications" Kyklos, 1995, 48, (3), 419-35.
- "Colonialism, Decolonisation and Growth Rates: Theory and Empirical Evidence" Cambridge Journal of Economics, 1994, 18 (3), 235-57.
- "Convergence and Polarization: Testing for an Inverted-U Relation between Growth Rates and GDP per Capita" Applied Economics, 1992, 24, (3), 363-66.
- "Convergence in developed countries: an empirical investigation" Review of World Economics, 1992, 128 (2), 189-201.
- "Trade Orientation and Macroeconomic Performance in LDCs: An Empirical Study," Economic Development and Cultural Change, 1991, 39, (4), 839-48
Articles in Popular Media
- "America's Dual Mission: Destroy and Rebuild (for a Profit)", CounterPunchCounterpunchCounterpunch can refer to:* Counterpunch , a punch in boxing* CounterPunch, a bi-weekly political newsletter* Counterpunch , a type of punch used in traditional typography* Punch-Counterpunch, a Transformers character...
, March 5, 2003. - "Word Games About the Iraqi Resistance: Is the United States "a Terrorist Magnet"?", CounterPunch, August 7, 2003.
- "Pakistan "Recognizes" Israel", Dissident Voice, September 4, 2003.
- "Is There an Islamic Problem?" (book excerpt), CounterPunch, October 9/10, 2004.
- "America and Islam: Seeking Parallels", Dissident Voice, December 28, 2004.
- "The Waves of Hate: Testing Free Speech in America", CounterPunch, January 1/2, 2005.
- Counterpunch - Shahid Alam, Complete list of his articles published in Counterpunch