DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
Office Number: E-114A
Extension Number:  682

Brief Profile: Usman Farooq is a Lecturer of Comparative Politics at the department of Political Science. Prior to joining FCCU, he held research positions at academic and development policy research institutions such as the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC), the Center for Development Research (ZEF), the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) and Institute of Social Sciences. Most recently, Mr. Farooq has contributed to the European Union’s Horizon 2020 project “Disputed Territory and Memory,” investigating the politics of memory through Halbwachs’ conception of ‘collective memory’ and goes on to question how politicians can play a critical role in both reciting, and challenging, dominant state led discourses of identity and nation-hood.

In development and policy studies, his research examines inclusive governance and state transformation amidst changing ecological conditions and power relations particularly in Areas of Limited Statehood (ALS). His studies span Democratic Governance, Civil Society, and comparative development policy analyses, with notable inquiries into China’s involvement in Africa in comparison to European Union (EU), and natural disaster management policies. Mr. Farooq adopts an interdisciplinary approach, integrating fields such as comparative politics,  political economy, political sociology, memory studies and sustainable transformation.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Political Science (Political Economy), School of Cultural Studies and Social Science, University of Osnabruck, Germany (Present)
• Thesis Short Description: Utilizing an integrative synthesis approach to create a framework for the analysis of changing ecological conditions and power-relations, impacting inclusive governance and transformation.
• M.A. in Political Science with Distinction, University of Osnabruck, Germany (2015)
• Thesis Short Description: Critical analysis of China’s role in Africa, dissecting aid motives and employing comparative analysis with the European Union.
• B.A. in Sociology (Hons), Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan (2011)
• Thesis Short Description: Comparative policy analysis of natural disaster management policies of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and China.

Research Publications

1. Farooq, M. Usman. (January 2020). Collective Memory: The Politics of ‘Remembering’ and ‘Reminding’. Published by Bath University England
   
2. Farooq, M. Usman. (August 2015). Pakistan’s Governance Structure and Economic Growth. Published by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms (Planning Commission of Pakistan), in its in-house journal, August 2015 Edition. 

Newspaper Articles & Blog Post

1. Farooq, M. U. (2020, January 9). Yerevan-A City that Remembers . Bath, United Kingdom :Bath University England.
2. Farooq, Usman. (2018, 02, 26). Long Term Plan for CPEC and Goal of Agricultural Development. (I. A. Qazi, Ed.) The Business Daily, 13 (57), p. 13.
3. Farooq, Usman. (2018, 02, 19). Governance and Re-distributive Dearth of Bureaucracy. (I. A. Qazi, Ed.) The Business Daily, 13 (50), p. 13.
4. Farooq, Usman. (2018, 02, 17). Vision 2025 and Pakistan’s Governance and Modernisation. (I. A. Qazi, Ed.) The Business Daily, 13 (48), p. 04. 

Guest Lectures and Public Talks

1. Farooq, M. U. (2023, December 19). The Role of Media in Creating Memories in Politics. Abdullah Gul University, Turkey  
2. Farooq, M. U. (2023, December 08). Is Capitalism a Root Cause of the Climate Crisis?. Progressive Students Collective (PSC), FCCU, Lahore, Pakistan 
3. Farooq, M. U. (2023, December 06). Unipolar, Bipolar, Multipolar: A New World Order. Pashtun Council, FCCU, Lahore, Pakistan  
4. Farooq, M. U. (2019, September 2). Contemporary State and Society of Pakistan . Yerevan, Armenia: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, National Academy of Sciences, 11 Charents St, Yerevan 0025, Armenia.
5. Farooq, M. U. (2018, December 12). Karl Polanyi’s Ideas on Freedom. Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan: Social Science Colloquium, Forman Christian College University. 
6. Farooq, M. U. (2020, September 23). New Social Movements | An Educational Session ProUrdu. (T. U. Islam, Interviewer) ProUrdu.
7. Farooq, M. U. (2021, June 21). Realizing the Existence of Local Perspectives: Epistemology of Decolonized Knowledge in the Writings of Sufis and Progressive Political Writers of Pakistan. Halle (Saale), Germany: Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg.