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The Idea of Pakistan (Hardcover)

by Stephen P. Cohen (Author) "In recent years Pakistan has become a strategically important state, both criticized as a rogue power and praised as being on the front line in..." (more)
Key Phrases: ulema parties, youth bulge, student wing, United States, East Pakistan, South Asia (more...)

4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Review
"Finally, there is a single book that provides a solid, comprehensive introduction to Pakistan. Informative and insightful. . ." -- Marvin G. Weinbaum, Professor Emeritus, University of Illinois, and former Pakistan analyst at the U.S. Department of State

"THE IDEA OF PAKISTAN is an intellectual tour de force, a gripping and informative tale. . ." -- Dennis Kux, Senior Policy Scholar, Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars

"This is a thorough, balanced, intelligent assessment of Pakistan's crucially important struggle to find stability and successful modern identity." -- Steve Coll, author of Ghost Wars

"[M]uch of this book is a rock-solid, dependable history of Pakistan." -- Owen Bennett Jones, Washington Post Book World, February 6, 2005

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 militarydominated 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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Product Details

Hardcover: 367 pages
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press (September 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0815715021
ISBN-13: 978-0815715023
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds

Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #758,546 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
In recent years Pakistan has become a strategically important state, both criticized as a rogue power and praised as being on the front line in the ill-named war on terrorism. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
ulema parties, youth bulge, student wing, autonomist movements, ethnolinguistic groups, nuclear program

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, East Pakistan, South Asia, Nawaz Sharif, West Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Indian Muslims, East Wing, Soviet Union, Ayub Khan, India's Muslims, Pervez Musharraf, President Musharraf, Benazir Bhutto, British India, Middle East, Central Asia, Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan's Establishment, West Wing, East Bengal, General Musharraf, Indian National Congress, New Delhi, Yahya Khan

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 50 books:

The Pakistan Army (1998 Edition) by Stephen P. Cohen on 9 pages
India and Pakistan (Inventing the Nation) by Ian Talbot in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
Jinnah, Pakistan and Islamic Identity: The Search for Saladin by Akbar S. Ahmed in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
The Myth of Independence by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on page 140, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Military, State and Society in Pakistan by Hasan-Askari Rizvi in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)

See all 50 books this book cites

12 books cite this book:

Strategic Asia 2005-06: Military Modernization in an Era of Uncertainty by Ashley J. Tellis; Michael Wills (Editor) on page 62, page 256, and page 258
Engaging India: Diplomacy, Democracy, and the Bomb by Strobe Talbott in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Hard Power: The New Politics of National Security by Kurt Campbell in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Engaging India: Diplomacy, Democracy, And the Bomb: Revised Edition by Strobe Talbott in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Challenges to Peacebuilding: Managing Spoilers During Conflict Resolution by Edward Newman on page 311, and Back Matter

See all 12 books citing this book

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

4.4 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

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35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Project Report on Pakistan, August 20, 2005

By	Sanjay Agarwal (India) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth much more than every penny spent, December 28, 2004

By	Ashfaq A. Khan (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"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!

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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A GOOD BOOK, February 8, 2005

By	Syed Farooq Hasnat (Columbia, MD, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars trying to understand Pakistan
Although I lived a long time in Pakistan more than 30 years ago, un update of my knowledgde about this country was absolutely necessary and reading Stephen Cohen's book was an... Read more

Published 6 months ago by Ferdinand Van Wichelen

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended
Recommended read along with other books about Pakistan.
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Published 11 months ago by The Purple Bee

5.0 out of 5 stars Idea of Pakistan
The book is well laid out. First focusing on Pakistan's history and than into its political insitutions. Read more

Published 17 months ago by David B. Shine

4.0 out of 5 stars interesting but misses something
This is an interesting book that helps to illuminate many of Pakistans faces. The face of militarism, the various coups and dictators that have ruled the country such as Zia and... Read more

Published on December 4, 2006 by Seth J. Frantzman

3.0 out of 5 stars Cohen's Idea of Pakistan
One criticism of the book is that he mentions how the country was overrun with guns, drugs and afghans after the afghan war but fails to mention who supplied the guns and helped... Read more

Published on April 26, 2006 by R. S. Ali

4.0 out of 5 stars Valuable analysis and predictions
Its written by a seasoned and established scholar on Pakistan. The book, more analytical in its approach in comparison to other recent works on Pakistan, is a policy oriented... Read more

Published on February 18, 2006 by Rebecca

5.0 out of 5 stars A scholarly and insightful work
Cohen forensically describes the Oligarchy that has run Pakistan for its own interests: the Army, the Feudals and the Bureaucracy. Read more

Published on September 17, 2005 by Mr. Shahzad Zafar

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent independent analysis of Pakistan
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... Read more

Published on April 11, 2005 by Shoaib M. Shaukat

4.0 out of 5 stars Lead, kindly light......
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... Read more

Published on March 5, 2005 by T. R. Santhanakrishnan

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