Pakistan & The Establishment

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Re: Pakistan & The Establishment

@Zakk

People in the know will often read the term “The Establishment” being used by senior writers and Politicians in Pakistan when discussing goings on…

Pakistan’s “Establishment” is an interesting structure..I liked Stephen Cohens explanation of it..

*The military is only one (albeit the most important) component of the wider “establishment” that runs Pakistan. Cohen calls this establishment a “moderate oligarchy” and defines it as “an informal political system that [ties] together the senior ranks of the military, the civil service, key members of the judiciary, and other elites.” Membership in this oligarchy, Cohen contends, requires adherence to a common set of beliefs: that India must be countered at every turn; that nuclear weapons have endowed Pakistan with security and status; that the fight for Kashmir is unfinished business from the time of partition; that large-scale social reforms such as land redistribution are unacceptable; that the uneducated and illiterate masses deserve only contempt; that vociferous Muslim nationalism is desirable but true Islamism is not; and that Washington is to be despised but fully taken advantage of. Underlying these “core principles,” one might add, is a willingness to serve power at any cost. *Stephen Cohen

The reality I believe is these people are the real masters of Pakistan ..with the occassional civilian ally thrown in to add some legitimacy..

Anyway I’m open for discussion on the topic..feel free to say whether you agree or disagree..and why you agree or disagree..

Zakk my good man…have you read Cohen’s latest “Idea of Pakistan”?