Book Review: Asia and Pacific
| Published date | 01 September 2008 |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1478-9302.2008.00165_5.x |
| Date | 01 September 2008 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
405
Individually, both accounts succeed in deliver-
assassination, the PPP and PMLN did much
ing what they promise. But perhaps the most
better than expected. On the face of it, this
fascinating questions are the ones suggested by
looks like a welcome return to civilian rule. But,
the gap between the solidly empirical and more
as Mazhar Aziz sets out, the military in Pakistan
informal account. Why did Dick Cheney’s cam-
has been a dominant institution whether or not
paign stops correlate with a drop in Republican
Pakistan has been formally democratic and this
vote share in September but not October? Exactly
looks likely to continue. Aziz’s analysis, in which
which media markets and states were at the top or
he concentrates on the coups of 1958, 1977 and
bottom of the Republican and Democratic battle-
1999, is written from a path-dependent and his-
ground lists? Is there any variation in the strength
torical institutionalist understanding. In this
of campaign influence among target states?
short book he argues that the military has con-
Answering such questions would require cam-
stantly intervened in Pakistani politics to protect
paigns divulging more of their secrets – no easy
its institutional interests. This is indisputable and
task – and taking into account not just the volume
it is hard to disagree with Aziz’s general assess-
of campaigning but qualitative aspects too, as
ment that the military is a ‘parallel state’ within
Shaw recognises.
Pakistan, and that it has been difficult for Paki-
The Race to 270 is written for campaign schol-
stan and its politicians to diminish the influence
ars, political communications specialists and a
of the army.
general audience, though some areas of the text
However, there was one important occasion
will be more accessible to the general reader than
when the power of the army was seriously
others. Shaw provides a solid case for continuing
weakened. This critical juncture occurred in
to study campaign effects, useful insights for struc-
1971,
immediately
after
the
secession
of
turing new research and a convincing call for
Bangladesh. Aziz argues that the 1977 coup,
more common ground between practitioners and
occurring six years after the army was weakened
researchers. Overall, this is a welcome addition to
by the secession, ‘shows resilience of the institu-
the growing literature on campaigning and politi-
tion in exercising influence’ and that a ‘change of
cal communication.
military leadership and common structures are
insufficient to roll back the military’s influence in
Betsy Super
the political developments in Pakistan’ (p. 72).This
(University of Edinburgh)
is consistent with his path-dependent theory.
However, another reading of the years between
We welcome short reviews of books in all
1971 and the coup in 1977 were that the decision
areas of politics and international relations.
of Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to deploy
For guidelines on submitting reviews, and to
the army to suppress the growing autonomist
see an up-to-date listing of books avail-
movement in Baluchistan gave the army renewed
able for review, please visit http://www.
purpose and legitimacy in the eyes of the popu-
politicalstudiesreview.org/.
lation and enabled the military to regain its
prominence in political life.This alternative expla-
nation is not considered, and given the impor-
tance of the reassertion of the military between
Asia and Pacific
1971 and 1977 for Aziz’s analysis, this is a surpris-
ing omission and one that challenges his theoreti-
Military Control in Pakistan: The Parallel
cal framework ‘of path dependency and historical
State by Mazhar Aziz. London; New York:
institutionalism’ (p. 98). Greater focus on the
Routledge, 2008. 144pp., £75.00, ISBN 978-0-
decisions taken by civilian leaders would have
415-43743-1
provided a more rounded picture, without
In 2008 Pakistan held much-awaited elections.
undermining his wider argument. However,
Despite pre-poll rigging and Benazir Bhutto’s
Aziz’s overall emphasis on the army’s pervasive
© 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2008 Political Studies Association
Political Studies Review: 2008, 6(3)
406
A S I A A N D PA C I F I C
power within Pakistan is accurate. Given this, we
truncated, and is necessarily superficial as a con-
would expect the return to democracy...
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