The State Of Martial Rule The Origins Of Pakistan’s Political Economy Of Defence

📖 The State of Martial Rule by Ayesha Jalal is a groundbreaking analysis of Pakistan’s political and economic trajectory, focusing on the roots and consolidation of military dominance in the country’s governance.

The book explores how Pakistan’s defence-oriented political economy evolved, the historical circumstances that enabled martial rule to become a recurring feature, and the interplay between civilian institutions, military regimes, and economic priorities.

Drawing on extensive historical research, Jalal explains the partition legacy, political instability, foreign aid dependence, and the security-centric state structure, offering a deep understanding of why Pakistan’s democratic institutions struggled to take root.

Essential for students of Political Science, International Relations, Defence Studies, and South Asian History, this work provides both theoretical insights and historical evidence to understand Pakistan’s governance challenges