Pakistan: A Struggling Nation-State

Abstract

In the course of Pakistan's sixty-three years of existence it has been called “a failed state,” occasionally “a failing state,” and even at times “a rogue state.” Perhaps this is a trend in contemporary comparative politics to label and characterize third world countries with such epithets. This article argues against these assertions, and I contend that Pakistan is a “struggling nation-state.” This article aims to outline a concise definition of a struggling state. My primary objective in this article is to emphasize the temporal and directional aspects of a struggling state, particularly in the case of Pakistan—which is a nation still in transition. It is a state still in its infancy (in some measures), effectively striving to attain stability in the face of aggression from within the confines of its borders, as well as outside its perimeters. Historically Pakistan's democratic trajectory has been inefficacious, but more recently political institutions are gaining a strong foothold, specifically the unwavering judicial branch of the country with its self-assertive chief justice and, most importantly, public awareness and support in regards to political matters. Independent judiciaries that can uphold the constitution against any form of coercion are positive indicators for a state that is in its developmental phase and striving to democratize. In Larry Diamond's analysis, constitutional government and the rule of law are foundational factors before democracy is instituted. Moreover, he contends that England and other European states had constitutional government and the rule of law prior to democratization.1