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The Idea of Pakistan | 
 enlarge | Author: Stephen P. Cohen
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
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Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 66370
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2nd
Pages: 382
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 6 x 1.1
ISBN: 081571503X
Dewey Decimal Number: 327
EAN: 9780815715030
ASIN: 081571503X
Publication Date: August 1, 2006
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Product Description
In recent years Pakistan has emerged as a strategic player on the world stage both as a potential rogue state armed with nuclear weapons and as an American ally in the war against terrorism. But our understanding of this country is superficial. To probe beyond the headlines, Stephen Cohen, author of the prize-winning India: Emerging Power, offers a panoramic portrait of this complex country from its origins as a homeland for Indian Muslims to a military-dominated state that has experienced uneven economic growth, political chaos, sectarian violence, and several nuclear crises with its much larger neighbor, India. Pakistan s future is uncertain. Can it fulfill its promise of joining the community of nations as a moderate Islamic state, at peace with its neighbors, or could it dissolve completely into a failed state, spewing out terrorists and nuclear weapons in several directions? The Idea of Pakistan will be an essential tool for understanding this critically important country.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 A Project Report on Pakistan August 21, 2005
Sanjay Agarwal (India)
29 out of 31 found this review helpful
Cohen has the necessary qualifications and the background for this important work. His subject is critically important for the region, as also for several parts of the world. He treats the subject with neutrality and scholarly erudition, which is sometimes missing from Western works in these turbulent days.
His central theme is contained in the title of the book: The Idea of Pakistan. He describes how the idea originated, how it developed and crystallised, and the challenges that Pakistan faces today. He ends the book with a presentation on the various possible scenarios / paths that Pakistan could take.
His approach is analytical and comprehensive. The book is well-referenced and is easy to read. His writing style is neither pedantic nor casual. By the time you end the book, you will probably know a lot about Pakistan, all delivered through a systematic framework.
However, it is also difficult to retain for long what you have read in this book. This may be due to the fact that the book reads like a project report commssioned by a Corporation or a Government. Cohen does not offer you any insights, as this would perhaps be considered a professorial misdemeanor for a work such as this! Another significant issue is that he treats Pakistan as a totally modern state, and analyses it from that perspective. As a result, he ignores the cultural, economic and political legacy of Islam and Moghuls which Pakistan inherited. This gives his book a very contemporary, current-affairish feel.
In my view, his analysis of Pakistan also suffers due to this omission. The past continues to affect the present and the future. Therefore, any cultue or nation that has such an ancient past can not be undertood effectively, unless that past is also considered.
Overall, a good book.
 Worth much more than every penny spent December 28, 2004
Ashfaq A. Khan (Atlanta, GA USA)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful
"The Idea of Pakistan" is a brilliant work of an accomplished analyst who is intimately knowledgeable of Pakistani culture, society and politics. The book is essentially a detailed thesis in strategic country analysis, written by a highly interested and talented scholar. It well covers the `driving factors' behind Pakistan's past, present and future.
Mr. Cohen's analysis of Pakistan Army, politicians, Islamists and nationalists is extremely convincing. At times he does go overboard with his fear of Islam in Pakistan and chance of country's nuclear weapons ending up in the wrong hands. Readers should discount these thoughts without becoming skeptical of the entire work; after all, Mr. Cohen is an American!
What impressed me the most, however, was his way of highlighting the `youth explosion' of the untrained and unemployed, that is to overtake Pakistan by 2015 the latest. I yet have to see a single Pakistani analyst put his/her finger on this decisive factor. Or perhaps I simply do not read enough.
I am afraid this brilliant work will encounter more criticism than accolades, especially from within Pakistan. As Mr. Cohen points out, Pakistani education system coupled with the state sponsored propaganda makes recipients suspicious of all foreigners (especially those with Jewish last names). Nevertheless, a relatively unbiased reader should see the shining merits of this work.
For this single effort, Pakistani `Establishment' should award Mr. Cohen with the highest civil honor available to foreigners. Unfortunately, the act will require the same `vision' that Mr. Cohen correctly finds missing among this group. Regardless, he has my best wishes and many thanks. May Allah reward him!
Excellent independent analysis of Pakistan April 11, 2005
Shoaib M. Shaukat (Melbourne, AUS)
18 out of 23 found this review helpful
An excellent account of history, politics, and personalities todo with Pakistan, this book provides indepth analysis of the state of Pakistan as we have it now.
Being a Pakistani professional working overseas and a byproduct of the same society which Mr Cohen concentrates in this book, I read this book thoroughly, keenly and critically. Relating every thing with my life experience in the environment where I grew up, I can sense the depth of knowledge of the author who tells us about the political history of Pakistan.
Somewhat I disagree with the author about the exagerated threat of Islamic fundamentalism in the initial few chapters however in his last few chapters he admits this and put forward some sensible policy guidelines and suggestions for the US foreign policy. Considering the recent developments I can already see the US policy makers taking a serious note of the findings, and taking a few steps towards the right direction e.g. offering F-16 to both India and Pakistan, facilitating Kashmir dialoue, providing aid to restructure Pakistani educational system, and expressing desire to see Pakistan a democratic country.
The problems which are described in this book have been pointed out and discussed in Pakistani press before, however in the absence of real democracy and people power they can't make a difference.
This is a must read book if you are a Pakistani or Indian and love to see your countries as progressive and modern countries.
My congratulations to Mr Cohen on this excellent effort.
A GOOD BOOK February 9, 2005
Syed Farooq Hasnat (Columbia, MD, USA)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
The Idea of Pakistan is a book about the political history of Pakistan with lots of references on such important elements of the society as education and social institutions.
Stephen Cohen is a known scholar on Pakistan affairs and has done justice to his findings.
This book is relevant for the students of Pakistan affairs and those who would like to have a better understanding of the society, as such.
Prof. Dr. Syed Farooq Hasnat
Former Chairman
Department of Political Science
University of the Punjab, Lahore
Pakistan
Lead, kindly light...... March 5, 2005
T. R. Santhanakrishnan (Chennai, Tamil Nadu India)
8 out of 13 found this review helpful
Pakistan can be a benign Canada or a hostile Cuba (with a bomb) for India. It is essential for Indians to understand Pakistan, its identity, ambitions, frustrations and pain points. Stephen Cohen provides a dispassionate, yet involved, understanding of Pakistan's evolution as a nation, as a State and what future could have for Pakistan and therefore India.
A politically ambitious and strong army, a well entrenched "establishment" of feudal rich, corrupt and weak politics, increasing role of religion in public life, an identity that focusses against India, a growing population not matched by education and economic opportunities point to multiple paths that Pakistan could take in future.
Yet Mahbub ul Haq in 1985, Moeen Qureshi in 1993 and Shaukat Aziz in 2003 have demonstrated what good economic leadership can do to Pakistan.
The last chapter setting out options for US in dealing with Pakistan is a must read for Indians too. That way, the best fights between India and Pakistan would be in the well attended cricket matches than in the Himalayan valley.
Having seen, as an Indian, how the audience in India admire and appreciate Pakistan's cricketers (and vice versa hopefully), I specifically endorse the author's view that mere enhancement in interaction between the two populations would reduce the damage politics of both the countries can do to each other.
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