Pakistan Beyond the "Crisis State" (Columbia/Hurst)

Presenting a picture of the nation as understood by its people, this anthology assesses the political, economic, social, and foreign policies of an embattled government and its institutional challenges. Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, chair of Islamic studies at American University, and Munir Akram, Pakistan's former ambassador to the United Nations, provide critical perspectives on Pakistan's future. Additional essays capture the complex interplay between domestic and external pressures, such as the variety of powers that continue to manipulate the country's behavior and outcomes. The contributors gathered here ultimately conclude that Pakistan is capable of transitioning into a stable modern Muslim state, though bold reforms are necessary. Offering a detailed and balanced agenda for such reform, Pakistan takes a bold step in reeling the country back from the brink of crisis.

About the Author

Maleeha Lodhi has twice served as Pakistan's ambassador to the United States and as ambassador to the United Kingdom. Formerly an editor of two of Pakistan's leading daily newspapers, The News and The Muslim, she has served on the United Nations Secretary General's advisory board on disarmament, taught at the London School of Economics, and has been a fellow at Harvard University and at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. In 1994, Time named her one of a hundred individuals who will help define the twenty-first century.