Book
Review: "Pakistan: A Modern History" by Ian Talbot
 (Hurst
& Company, London - 432 pages)
Reviewer - Luke Brown
Admittedly its birth
as a nation state is more recent than most, but it is still surprising
that there are not more books devoted to Pakistan's turbulent history.
Although its fierce rivalry with India (as notably played out with
the Kashmir conflict and mutually strident testing of nuclear weapons),
plus the frequent occurrence of internal military coups and instability,
have always ensured a mixture of meddling from, and furrowed brows
in, the centres of Western power, it seems that until very recently
a large demand for and supply of books for the casual observer has
been lacking. Its heavy involvement in the "war on terrorism"
at the urging of the United States and the attending world attention
being focused upon it will certainly change that. Although it was
published in 1998 before recent tumultuous events, Ian Talbot's
scholarly Pakistan: A Modern History is still worth a read, as it
seems the more things change in Pakistan, the more they stay the
same. While this book is certainly not lacking in intricate detail
and analyses regarding major developments in Pakistan's history,
it does tend to lose sight of the broader historical narrative,
not helped by a style that is more workmanlike than stimulating.
Talbot is mostly concerned
with the complex reasons behind Pakistan's inability to achieve
its potential as a nation state. The authoritarian nature of successive
governments and its damaging effects on democratic development is
seen as a major stumbling block. While not casting aside the role
of authoritarian regimes in Pakistan's development, Talbot points
to the relatively late annexation of north-west India that was to
become Pakistan (excluding Bengal or east Pakistan) by the British
as a contributing factor, in that under the British, autocratic
traditions persisted in order to control the tribal areas, as well
as to keep Russian expansionist threats at bay. He cites Pakistan's
cultural diversity as being viewed by the various authoritarian
regimes in power as a threat that needed to be firmly controlled,
political dissent treated as if a law and order problem, all from
the distance and familiarity of the national power centre, Punjab;
that east Pakistan was to ultimately break away and become Bangladesh
is thus no real surprise. Talbot also sees the socio-economic environment
in existence at the time of Pakistan's birth and the path it had
to follow leading up to this point as casting a shadow over its
fate. This all combined with a political process replete with powerful
families and elites masquerading as political parties, essentially
driven by personalities instead of ideas, in a landscape of constantly
shifting alliances, with the Damocles Sword of the Military constantly
overhead, has resulted in a country full of potential falling short.
The book is split up
into four parts, beginning with the Historical Inheritance in place
for the formation of the state of Pakistan for Muslims. He then
details political developments from Partition in 1947 to the loss
of east Bengal (Bangladesh) in 1971, moving on to the rise and fall
of the charismatic Zulfikar Bhutto, the impact of General Zia-ul-Haq
and his attempt to turn Pakistan into an Islamic state, and the
many rises and falls of Benazir Bhutto. He finishes off with the
rule of Nawaz Sharif up until 1998 (before he was to be deposed
in a military coup by the current President Musharraf). Of course,
it wouldn't be Pakistan without the ghost of the subcontinent's
fractious past hovering over, in the form of Kashmir, keeping tension
high with India and constantly draining Pakistan's budget; this
issue is well covered. A nice feature of the book to close on are
briefings on Pakistan Political Parties and Organisations, as well
as the Biographical Notes, a sort of Who's Who of Pakistan's important
historical figures and political scene. Current President, General
Musharraf, is not listed there in Talbot's book, but based on the
nature of Pakistan over the last 55 years, his will make interesting
reading in a future history of this complex nation.
Reviewer: Luke Brown
Email: editor@polosbastards.com
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