"Foundations of Pakistan's political economy : towards an agenda for the , 1990's."

Pakistan was founded, somewhat abruptly and through political fiat, only in 1947. Hence, it began with neither an effective political organization nor clearly defined symbols of national unity. Despite these weak foundations, Pakistan has forged a remarkable record of economic growth and industrialization coupled with an effective and high profile foreign policy. Yet, the future looks bleak unless the country is able to tackle the numerous problems which beset it, including deep-rooted structural imbalances, ethnic divisions, wasteful military expenditure and a rapidly growing population. The eleven original essays comprising this volume address these critical issues from the thoughtful perspective of several disciplines.

In their Introduction, the editors offer a controversial interpretation of the paradox of Kashmir, drawing upon economic theory, philosophy and history. The five essays comprising Part I discuss the historical origins of Pakistan, its external and internal politics. and the role of the administration. This sets the stage for the economic discussion contained in the next section which deals with recent macroeconomic policy and performance, the agricultural and industrial sectors, human resources, education, and international trade.

Interdisciplinary in nature and presenting diverse points of view, this volume provides an in-depth and provocative discussion of the political economy of contemporary Pakis tan and outlines an agenda for the decades ahead. It is intended to stimulate a debate on long-term issues of political and economic significance for Pakistan and will command the attention of economists, political scientists, sociologists, planners and administrators.