Akhtar Hussain

The Politics of Alliances in Pakistan (1954-1999) Akhtar Hussain

The book focuses on various political alliances during 1954-1999. The dynamics of opposition alliances of military and political regimes illustrate that the small and unorganized political parties could not challenge the authority individually. Therefore they took the route of alliances on the basis of minimum common points with the leadership of dominated component parties excluding their common political programme. These alliances were marriages of convenience among divergent groups for short term gains. With the change of objectives, conditions and realities, these alliances ended in chaos or their allies parted away and adopted their own stands, in changed political circumstances. The political personalities rather than political ideologies and party programmes were the dominant factors behind the formation of alliances and coalitions. However the sentiment for democracy has remained always very strong among the masses. The society at large co-operated with all these political alliances seeking to promote democracy with different intensity, but the politicians frequently changed sides defying public trust and thus failed in bringing any healthy change in Pakistani Politics.