Pakistan's Political Parties: Surviving between Dictatorship and Democracy - Paperback

by Mariam Mufti (Editor), Sahar Shafqat (Editor), Niloufer Siddiqui (Editor)

Pakistan's 2018 general elections marked the second successful transfer of power from one elected civilian government to another-a remarkable achievement considering the country's history of dictatorial rule. Pakistan's Political Parties examines how the civilian side of the state's current regime has survived the transition to democracy, providing critical insight into the evolution of political parties in Pakistan and their role in developing democracies in general.

Pakistan's numerous political parties span the ideological spectrum, as well as represent diverse regional, ethnic, and religious constituencies. The essays in this volume explore the way in which these parties both contend and work with Pakistan's military-bureaucratic establishment to assert and expand their power. Researchers use interviews, surveys, data, and ethnography to illuminate the internal dynamics and motivations of these groups and the mechanisms through which they create policy and influence state and society.

Pakistan's Political Parties is a one-of-a-kind resource for diplomats, policymakers, journalists, and scholars searching for a comprehensive overview of Pakistan's party system and its unlikely survival against an interventionist military, with insights that extend far beyond the region.

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Political Science / Asia / Democracy

"This wonderful book is absolutely indispensable for understanding Pakistan's democracy, and all of the main actors and interests involved."-Steven Wilkinson, Henry R. Luce Director, MacMillan Center for International & Area Studies, and Nilekani Professor of India & South Asian Studies, Yale University

"This is truly an important contribution to the literature on political parties and electoral considerations in Pakistan. There is nothing like it that currently exists."-Charles Kennedy, professor, Department of Politics and International Studies, and director, Middle East and South Asia Studies Program, Wake Forest University

Pakistan's 2018 general elections marked the second successful transfer of power from one elected civilian government to another--a remarkable achievement considering the country's history of dictatorial rule. Pakistan's Political Parties examines how the civilian side of the state's current regime has survived the transition to democracy, providing critical insight into the evolution of political parties in Pakistan and their role in developing democracies in general.

Pakistan's numerous political parties span the ideological spectrum and represent diverse regional, ethnic, and religious constituencies. The chapters in this volume explore how these parties both contend and work with Pakistan's military-bureaucratic establishment to assert and expand their power. Researchers draw upon interviews, surveys, data, and other data to illuminate the parties' internal dynamics, motivations, and influence mechanisms.

Pakistan's Political Parties is a one-of-a-kind resource for scholars, diplomats, policymakers, and journalists searching for a comprehensive overview of Pakistan's party system, with insights that extend far beyond the region.

Mariam Mufti is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Waterloo.

Sahar Shafqat is a professor of political science at St. Mary's College of Maryland.

Niloufer Siddiqui is an assistant professor of political science at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at University at Albany, State University of New York.

ContributorsSameen A. Mohsin Ali, Johann Chacko, Ali Cheema, Christopher Clary, Philip E. Jones, Hassan Javid, Sarah Khan, Tabinda M. Khan, Yasser Kureshi, Asad Liaqat, Anushay Malik, Shandana Khan Mohmand, Mariam Mufti, Tahir Naqvi, Saeed Shafqat, Sahar Shafqat, Ayesha Siddiqa, Niloufer Siddiqui, Mohammad Waseem

Author Biography

Mariam Mufti is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Waterloo.

Sahar Shafqat is a professor of political science at St. Mary's College of Maryland.

Niloufer Siddiqui is an assistant professor of political science at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at University at Albany, State University of New York.