Well, it took me a month but I finally finished Anatol Lieven's Pakistan: A Hard Country. It takes the form of a survey of contemporary Pakistani politics and social structures and the ways these are influenced by geography, history, religion, and traditional cultures.
First, Lieven provides a brief primer on Pakistani history and a more in-depth look at the main structures making up the country: religion, politics (i.e., political "parties"), the justice system (such as it is, and it ain't much), and the military. Then the book breaks down Pakistan's ethno-regional blocks: Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa each get a chapter. Finally, he addresses the history and issues around the Pakistani Taliban, and makes some suggestions directly to US policy makers.
A major theme running throughout the book is the role of patronage. The most powerful social ties in Pakistan are still familial and tribal, and at a national level political parties are mostly not parties at all, but organs of patronage dominated by family dynasties from a particular place. The Pakistan People's Party is run by the Bhuttos and is predominantly Sindhi. The Sharifs dominate the Pakistan Muslim League, which is mostly Punjabi. And so on. At a sub-national level, extended families and tribes switch party allegiances often, or even As a result, Pakistani politics is overwhelmingly, probably incorrigibly corrupt.
Lieven presents his observations and conclusions mostly without judgment, which is rather refreshing. Usually, when I hear talk of Pakistani corruption at another (knock wood) NGO or contractor, it's from the point of view of a Westerner, who was responsible for or knew the people responsible for the management of that money in the way that Westerners think money should be managed. To have corruption in Pakistan placed in a - ahem - Pakistani context is helpful to say the least.
One last point, although I could go on for a long time about this book: The picture of Pakistan that's painted for me at work, and that I help paint, obviously places a large emphasis on the role of my employer. So it's good, very much in line with the perspective-and-humility kick that I've been on for the past year or so, to read a nearly 500-page long book about Pakistan and note that certain groups receive barely a mention. Pakistan is large, complex and very populous. Down in the weeds, it's sometimes hard to remember that.
Outstanding introduction to contemporary Pakistan.
First, Lieven provides a brief primer on Pakistani history and a more in-depth look at the main structures making up the country: religion, politics (i.e., political "parties"), the justice system (such as it is, and it ain't much), and the military. Then the book breaks down Pakistan's ethno-regional blocks: Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa each get a chapter. Finally, he addresses the history and issues around the Pakistani Taliban, and makes some suggestions directly to US policy makers.
A major theme running throughout the book is the role of patronage. The most powerful social ties in Pakistan are still familial and tribal, and at a national level political parties are mostly not parties at all, but organs of patronage dominated by family dynasties from a particular place. The Pakistan People's Party is run by the Bhuttos and is predominantly Sindhi. The Sharifs dominate the Pakistan Muslim League, which is mostly Punjabi. And so on. At a sub-national level, extended families and tribes switch party allegiances often, or even As a result, Pakistani politics is overwhelmingly, probably incorrigibly corrupt.
Lieven presents his observations and conclusions mostly without judgment, which is rather refreshing. Usually, when I hear talk of Pakistani corruption at another (knock wood) NGO or contractor, it's from the point of view of a Westerner, who was responsible for or knew the people responsible for the management of that money in the way that Westerners think money should be managed. To have corruption in Pakistan placed in a - ahem - Pakistani context is helpful to say the least.
One last point, although I could go on for a long time about this book: The picture of Pakistan that's painted for me at work, and that I help paint, obviously places a large emphasis on the role of my employer. So it's good, very much in line with the perspective-and-humility kick that I've been on for the past year or so, to read a nearly 500-page long book about Pakistan and note that certain groups receive barely a mention. Pakistan is large, complex and very populous. Down in the weeds, it's sometimes hard to remember that.
Outstanding introduction to contemporary Pakistan.
1 comment:
Where are you, Mister Suss?
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