Democracy and Authoritarianism in South Asia: A Comparative and Historical Perspective (Contemporary South Asia) [Paperback]

Ayesha Jalal (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521478626 | ISBN-13: 978-9693506297 | Publication Date: May 26, 1995

Challenging the view that a shared colonial legacy led to contrasting patterns of political development in South Asia--democracy in India and authoritarianism in Pakistan and Bangladesh--Ayesha Jalal argues that, despite differences in form, central political authority in each state has confronted similar threats from ethnic and regional movements. By comparing state structures and political processes, the author evaluates and redefines democracy, citizenship, sovereignty and the nation state, arguing for more decentralized government.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The first book in a new series, this work probes the consequences of colonialism.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

'Jalal's real contribution lies, I think, in reminding us that within the region of South Asia, it is not ethnicity itself that is a problem, but the state structures from within which it arises.' Times Higher Education Supplement

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Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (May 26, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521478626
• ISBN-13: 978-9693506297
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #904,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good solid academic text, but needs to be seriously edited, June 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Democracy and Authoritarianism in South Asia: A Comparative and Historical Perspective (Contemporary South Asia) (Paperback)

Pretty good comparative study of politics in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The author has some great insights on the similarities and differences between the (political) cultures of the different nations, and generally explains them well.

However, I found the author's writing style very taxing. Take this sentence:

"Unless capable of extending their voting rights beyond the confines of institutionalized electoral arenas to an effective struggle against social and economic exploitation, legal citizens are more likely to be the handmaids of powerful political manipulators than autonomous agents deriving concrete rewards from democratic processes" (48).

Or this one:

"If [General] Zia was the pious and humble Allah had chosen to pull Pakistani society out of the depths of moral turpitude, then Ishaq was responsible for charting the wilier aspects of the enobling turnaround." (101)

I have no problem with the jargon: to some extent, that is necessary in an academic work; but I question the need of the author to load a sentence with as many adjectives as she (?) possibly can.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Historical Determinism, January 12, 2011

By 

Anona - See all my reviews

This review is from: Democracy and Authoritarianism in South Asia: A Comparative and Historical Perspective (Contemporary South Asia) (Paperback)

Clearly an across the border perspective...

In analyzing the causes for Pakistan's failure to establish a legitimate government - she poses Pakistan as a "Victim" - writing off all the voluntary, disastrous decisions made by the elite leaders of the country, Jinnah included.

A completely unabashed, self-contradicting, not-facing-the-reality book blaming Pakistan's fate on Historical Determinism.

I would flinch to think of it as being "an academic book".