Pakistan: A Very Short Introduction

Very Short Introductions #689

by Pippa Virdee

What is Pakistan? The name refers to a seventy-year-old post-colonial product of the bloodiest partition of territory and population that accompanied the end of British empire in South Asia. But the region of the Indus Valley has a four-thousand-year-old history, and was the site of one of the earliest and greatest riverine civilisations in the world. Although the modern nation of Pakistan as we know it was created as a homeland for the Muslims of British India, it is impossible to understand the complex tapestry of linguistic, ethnic, and cultural identities and tensions of the region without tracing its deep past.

This Very Short Introduction looks at Pakistan as one of the two nation-states of the Indian sub-continent that emerged in 1947. Pippa Virdee reaches into the ancient past to demonstrate the influence of trajectories of human settlement and civilisation on Pakistan's contemporary political arena, and shows how the longer continuities between the land and its peoples are as important as the short-term changes in the political landscape. She considers Pakistan's religion and society, the state and the military, everyday life, popular culture, languages and literature, as well as Pakistan's relationship with the rest of the world. Virdee also looks to the challenges of the 21st century and the future of Pakistan.

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ABOUT THE The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Pakistan, Audiobook

176 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2022

Reviews

[Felix Girard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vraiment intéressant!

[Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not knowing much about Pakistani history, I appreciated the historical facts presented. The partition of India into Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India was to protect the minority Muslims from oppression they might experience if in a majority Hindu country. The author seems to blame Britain for the chaos and violence, but then also explained how empires were the only way these groups lived together, implying only Britain is what allowed them to live together in peace. After the partition, both countries then oppressed the minorities within their borders and have had multiple wars between them.

The author also explains how Pakistan was also founded as a nation for Muslims, but the author seems to complain at the role Islam plays in the society. Why wouldn’t one expect Islam to play a large part in the society when Islam is the only reason the country exists? The country itself is described as having multiple languages, ethnic groups, and histories, with Islam being the only common factor. The author appeared to have personal agendas when it came to the topics discussed. The contradictory views held made it unclear at times what the author was trying to say.

[Jean Blackwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

She really packs a lot of information into a short book.

[Elsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going into this I only had a surface knowledge of Pakistani history. This was a lot of information packed into a small book in a good way. Helped me understand Pakistan just a little better.

[Павел Качнов · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pakistan: A Very Short Introduction – A Compelling Read
This book was an eye-opener. It dives into Pakistan’s history, culture, geopolitics, and economy, breaking down a country often misunderstood through the lens of headlines. Over a month, I slowly worked through its pages, and I can say it’s well worth the time.

What stood out most was the balance. It covers Pakistan’s achievements and struggles without sugarcoating or oversimplifying. I learned about the complexities of Partition, the Kashmir conflict, and the country’s role in global politics. The exploration of its ties to Afghanistan and the origins of the Taliban added depth, while topics like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) showed the country’s ambitions.

Beyond geopolitics, the book also touches on religion and culture. Discussions around Ahmadis and blasphemy laws were thought-provoking.

This isn’t just a history book; it’s a starting point for understanding Pakistan as a whole. It’s concise, but it inspires curiosity to explore more. If you’ve ever been intrigued by Pakistan’s name, this is a great introduction.

It’s not just a read—it’s a conversation starter.

[Elin Isaksson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book that covers a lot of area, but focusing mostly on historical events. I do wish there would have been more focus on different aspects of the country, like geography and culture for example but for what it is I think it does its job! It was a good mix of things I already knew and new things to learn.

[Stefan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite comprehensive. Can certainly see areas/events I’d like to read more about. Sometimes felt a bit workmanlike — not as fluidly written as some others in the series. Nevertheless, a very good, short introduction.

[Derek · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book provides a good overview of Pakistan’s political history, and has things to say about cricket, religion, Pakistani music, LGBT rights, the Pakistani film industry, etc.

[Andreas Haraldstad · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a short introduction to Pakistan, its history, culture, politics and society. The book starts off with depicting the "long" history of the country and already there, it encounters the inherent paradox of Pakistan. How do you depict the long history of a nation created in 1947 when it shares all preceeding history with its arch-enemy, India? How do you create a national history for a country explicitly based on islamic nationhood when Islam is a relatively recent addition (1000 years) in the region? In its depiction of the deep past of Pakistan, the book struggles with this question. The path becomes more clear as it passes 1947, but here, the book abandons a chronological presentation, which makes the story once again muddled. I came to this book in hope of getting a clear chronology of its various presidents, prime ministers, military juntas and coups, but I never did. However, it was interesting to read a bit about partition from the Pakistani, and not the Indian view. Having read mostly Indian liberal books on the matter, partition is often portrayed as not only bloody, but an inherent mistake. This book does not shy away from the misery it caused, but does not portray it as an inherent mistake, instead portraying it in the Pakistani view as the necessary creation of a homeland for the "muslim nation" in India and thus protecting them against oppression by the Hindu majority.

In addition to a chronological history, the book also presents important facets of Pakistani society. Chief among them is the all-encompassing role of the military. The book also presents the linguistic makeup of Pakistan, foreign relations, some of its economic situation and some of its culture, with a very large discussion on Pakistani cinema and the complex relationship between the country's cultural expressions and Islam. I found it especially interesting to read about the relationship between the traditional indo-islamic culture and a more recent import of Saudi-Arabian islamic practices.

All in all, I did not enjoy this book. It is too sporadic and too strangely structured to provide the "very short introduction" that it claims to do. However, it does achieve the goal of helping the reader to think differently of Pakistan. As the author states in the beginning of the book, the prevalent view of Pakistan is that of "poor, terrorist, islamic and military dictatorship". As someone who has studied India a lot, one could also add "carved out of India" and "historical mistake". The introduction to the book helped remind me of these stereotypes and the importance of going beyond them. Pakistan is a country of almost 250 million people and it would not be right to label such a large portion of humanity under simple stereotypes. Pakistan is a country and it deserves to be understood, studied and respected on its own terms. However, if one wants to start to understand this country, I don't feel like this book is the way to do it. If I am to read another book on Pakistan, I think a "thick and dense" book of the country's history since 1947 would be the way to go.

[William Razavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this simultaneously with the Very Short Intro to Modern India. Together they form most of a story that I was curious about.
This book is not a chronological history but instead is really an intro to the question of "what is the idea of Pakistan?"
We see the journey of this idea of Pakistan and how part of the "antiquing" process of creating a separate identity for Pakistan involved inventing/repurposing the idea of 2 civilizations on the subcontinent--one based on the Indus, the other on the the Ganges and the southern subcontinent.
As much as this idea had some reality to it, it was also a myth (in every sense of the word) and every attempt to forge a distinct Pakistani identity has to some extent involved some form of erasure of both broader connections and local cultural identities that are more complex (and richer) than the resulting purified monoculture that is being attempted. In Pakistan we see this journey from the separatism and secular identity that Jinnah proposed through multiple steps into the present. Events on the ground have already made the most contemporary parts of this book need an update.
Ultimately, this increasing narrow idea of Pakistan is mirrored in the increasingly narrow identity being crafted in India (see the Very Short on Modern India) and is similar to other nationalist projects that seek to erase the messy past in favor of a more pure idea of the past and the present. (I'm looking right at you, Persianistas.) This book is a great reminder that the past is wonderfully messy sometimes and also tragically messy--which is why I was reading this book to begin with.

[Hamza · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good summary of the sociopolitical history of Pakistan before and after partition but for an introductory text too focused on the relation between ideology, state and culture leaving out a lot someone with no prior knowledge of the country might want to know.

[Eiman Waqar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the book is beautifully written with great detail, but its opinions on Jinnah seem contradictory. The author's criticism of Muhammad Ali Jinnah (former Governor-General of Pakistan) appears to stem from personal opinions rather than objective analysis, suggesting a strong bias against him.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction that goes beyond the news headlines and stereotypes to examine the history and culture of a country - or perhaps an idea - that is in the process of figuring itself out.

[Zia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a lopsided narrative in my opinion.

[Georgia Swanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish there were more maps and I didn’t feel as though the chapters organized any information.

[Ramzan Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book, full of information connecting in a coherent manner building up to current situation in Pakistan. Really liked that the author tried to outline cultural history of regions in Pakistan, trying to project the society as much more than what meets the eye.