Pakistan: A Modern History

by Ian Talbot

This book fills the need for a broad, historically sophisticated understanding of Pakistan, a country at fifty which is understood by many in the West only in terms of stereotypes--the fanatical, authoritarian and reactionary "other" which is unfavorably compared to a tolerant, democratic and progressive India. There is a need at the time of Pakistan's golden jubilee for it to be taken seriously in its own right as a country of 130 million people. It is in reality a complex plural society which although greatly shaped by the colonial inheritance and circumstances of its birth is also experiencing rapid change. The author's approach breaks down stereotypes and assists in answering the vexed question of why democracy has succeeded in India, while Pakistan has been subject to long periods of authoritarianism during its five decades of existence.

Genres: Pakistan, History, Nonfiction, Academic, Asia

475 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

About the author

Ian Talbot is professor of history at Southampton University and one of Europe's leading historians of South Asia. He is the author of many books on the subcontinent.

Reviews

[Mehwish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is divided into 4 parts. From colonial rule to the inception of Pakistan to losing East-Pakistan(Bangladesh) roughly makes up the first part of the book. Part 2 paints a grim picture of obliterated democracy in the very early days of Pakistan's birth. Part 3 creates the charismatic leader (Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto) and destroys him. It also covers "Zia's" Islamisation of Pakistan. The last part highlights the political struggle of power between Nawaz Sharif and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.

Ian Talbot's book is a complete, dense and a well-researched analysis of Pakistan. There is uneven distribution of resources at the time of birth, a bloody migration, withheld resources, identity confusion, military coups, constitution suspensions, unfulfilled promises, assassinations, involvements of puppeteers, the attractive geopolitical vantage points, radicalization, economic challenges, social challenges, and environmental challenges etc.

Pakistan's past is bleak but there is hope of converting the "failed promise" of 1947 to something fruitful according to the historian. How?

"The way forward can only lie in the genuine political participation of previously marginalized groups such as women, the minorities, and the rural and urban poor..."

[Sania Sufi · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone interested in general Pk politics/ history this is a GREAT reference.

[An · Rating 4 out of 5]

absolutament obsessionada amb la història de la partició, un llibre mooolt exhaustiu i molt per sobre de les meves capacitats però igualment he après molt i només puc dir que cremi l'imperi britànic i pateixi una mort lenta i dolorosa

[Mitul Choksi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very well written book. It goes into tremendous detail regarding the Pakistan movement in British India and also the birth and rise of Pakistan as a modern nation state. The only drawback of this book is that it uses a lot of abbreviations. Except that, this book is a good one.

[Chatgemini · Rating 4 out of 5]

For an Indian, this book fulfills to a large extent the void that exists about adequate information about the growth of Pakistan as a nation. It is a bit outdated as it ends its narrative in 1998 - 20 years since a lot happened but it does a good job of pointing out the critical shortcomings that have plagued that country since 1947 whilst offering suggestions to improve the situation (though very simplistic at times).

[Hassan · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book