Politics of Socio-Spatial Transformation in Pakistan analyses the relationship between socio-spatial transformation, styles of leadership and nature of constituents in Pakistan. It examines the way social change influences politics and leadership in its most populated province. Offering a unique viewpoint to study the relationship between politics and social change by examining the nature of relationship between leaders and their constituents, the author introduces the concept of Gradients of Engagements. The book describes the way values of engagement (Talluq) and styles of leadership mediate engagements among politicians, citizens and state bureaucracy in villages and small towns of Pakistani Punjab. Starting with the mapping of socio-economic and spatio-demographic non-metropolitan locales, the book illustrates the centrality of the processes of "rurbanization" and "governmentalization". It points out how political leaders mediate these processes, personal and public demands of their constituents’ invoking claims or representativeness and public service. The author breaks engagements between leaders and constituents into four gradients of representation (elections), public service delivery (development), everyday problem-solving (governance) and collective action, thus providing a contextualized and grounded comprehension of the process democratization and its substantive and performative aspects. In addition to providing a historical sketch of economic development, evolution of social organization and development of political institutions in Punjab, the book includes an ethnography of political elites and study of everyday political engagements to show how the styles of leadership mediates the process of institutional development and public service delivery in "rurban" Punjab. A novel contribution to the study of political processes such as state formation, collective action, representation, and citizenship in a comparative manner embedded in space and informed by cultural meanings, the book will be of interest to researchers studying South Asian, Pakistan and Punjab/Sikh studies, Development Studies and Urban Studies.

Social Transformation in Bangladesh explores the social, political, and cultural implications of the unprecedented economic development that has occurred in Bangladesh since its independence in 1971. In the 1970s, Bangladesh was labelled an international basket case because of food insecurity and low levels of per capita income with high population growth and various social problems. Defying overwhelming odds, however, a societal transformation is underway in Bangladesh with diverse opportunities and challenges. This edited book analyses issues of inclusivity, extractivism, sustainability and equitability as it takes a look at the interconnected metamorphosis of the economy, society, culture, and the environment of Bangladesh. Discussing topics from the products of post-industrial society, such as YouTube sensations and digital labour platforms, to groups that have suffered marginalisation for decades, such as the urban poor, and Indigenous peoples, a wide array of scholarship and case studies are used to analyse the challenges and opportunities offered by the process of societal transformation. With insights from multidisciplinary scholars, this collection will be of great interest to those specialising in the fields of sociology, political science, anthropology, development, refugee and migrant studies, media studies, labour studies, health, and indigeneity.

"Politics of Socio-Spatial Transformation in Pakistan analyses the relationship between socio-spatial transformation, styles of leadership and nature of constituents in Pakistan. It examines the way social change influences politics and leadership in its most populated province. Offering a unique viewpoint to study the relationship between politics and social change by examining the nature of relationship between leaders and their constituents, the author introduces the concept of Gradients of Engagements. The book describes the way values of engagement (Talluq) and styles of leadership mediate engagements among politicians, citizens and state bureaucracy in villages and small towns of Pakistani Punjab. Starting with the mapping of socio-economic and spatio-demographic non-metropolitan locales, the book illustrates the centrality of the processes of "rurbanization" and "governmentalization". It points out how political leaders mediate these processes, personal and public demands of their constituents' invoking claims or representativeness and public service. The author breaks engagements between leaders and constituents into four gradients of representation (elections), public service delivery (development), everyday problem-solving (governance) and collective action, thus providing a contextualized and grounded comprehension of the process democratization and its substantive and performative aspects. In addition to providing a historical sketch of economic development, evolution of social organization and development of political institutions in Punjab, the book includes an ethnography of political elites and study of everyday political engagements to show how the styles of leadership mediates the process of institutional development and public service delivery in "rurban" Punjab. A novel contribution to the study of political processes such as state formation, collective action, representation, and citizenship in a comparative manner embedded in space and informed by cultural meanings, the book will be of interest to researchers studying South Asian, Pakistan and Punjab/Sikh studies, Development Studies and Urban Studies"--

Authoritarian Populism and Bovine Political Economy in Modi’s India analyses how the twin forces of Hindu nationalism and neoliberalism unfold in India’s bovine economy, revealing their often-devastating material and economic impact on the country’s poor. This book is a rare, in-depth study of India’s bovine economy under Narendra Modi’s authoritarian populism. This is an economy that throws up a central paradox: On the one hand, an entrenched and aggressive Hindu nationalist politics is engaged in violently protecting the cow, disciplining those who do not sufficiently respect and revere it; on the other hand, India houses and continuously promotes one of the world’s largest corporate-controlled beef export economies that depends on the slaughter of millions of bovines every year. The book offers an original analysis of this scenario to show how Modi’s authoritarian populist regime has worked to reconcile the two by simultaneously promoting a virulent Hindu nationalism that seeks to turn India into a Hindu state, while also pushing neoliberal economic policies favouring corporate capital and elite class interests within and beyond the bovine economy. The book brings out the adverse impacts of these political-economic processes on the lives and livelihoods of millions of poor Indians in countryside and city. In addition, it identifies emerging weaknesses in Modi’s authoritarian populism, highlighting the potential for progressive counter-mobilisation. It will be of interest to scholars in the fields of development studies, South Asia studies, critical agrarian studies, as well as scholars with a general interest in political economy, contemporary authoritarian populism, and social movements.

Track Two Diplomacy between India and Pakistan studies the nature and context of providing an alternative platform for conflict resolution between the two countries. Considered one of the most intractable conflicts in the world, the India-Pakistan conflict has been defined by casualties, religious extremism, and the looming threat of war. With the conflict playing out against the backdrop of many nationalisms, official Track One diplomacy remains insufficient. The author analyses the role of Track Two diplomacy when official diplomacy remains confined and sensitive to their respective official positions as well as the contribution of maintaining various communication lines intact when official channels are suspended and inaccessible. In this context, this book explores citizen-led diplomatic efforts, probing the economic and ideological forms of power that influence this mode of diplomacy outside governmental channels. The book is a general evaluation of the Track Two process in terms of its achievements, challenges and failures vis-à-vis India and Pakistan. An original contribution towards the development of a conceptual understanding of Track Two diplomacy, this book will be of interest to researchers studying International Relations, Foreign Politics, South Asian Politics, with particular emphasis on India - Pakistan relations.

This book examines the dynamic between citizens’ trust and good governance using the case study of Bangladesh. The chapters provide in-depth insights into the challenges and opportunities unique to local governance in Bangladesh. Through a comprehensive exploration, the book scrutinizes the performance evaluation of City Corporations, dissecting their role in ensuring quality service delivery within Local Government Institutions (LGIs). The focal point of this inquiry lies in the factors that shape and impact citizens’ trust in two specific entities: the Cumilla City Corporation and the Chattogram City Corporation. Ultimately, the book underscores the necessity for a revamped organizational framework within City Corporations, advocating for a modernized structure, streamlined chain of command, and a conducive work environment. By melding insights into trust, governance, and structural reform, the book sheds light on the pivotal relationship between empowered citizens, well-functioning LGIs, and the imperative of effective urban management. A valuable and significant contribution to the subject of LGIs and their role in fostering citizens’ trust, this book will be of interest to researchers in the fields of political science, public administration, governance studies, development studies, and urban studies, as well as local government administration and civic engagement and governance.

This book analyses the strategic and economic significance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with a particular focus on the region of Balochistan. Given the history of multiple insurgencies that the Pakistani Military has confronted in Balochistan, the book examines the region's intricate conflict ecosystem and security landscape, which poses potential threats to the CPEC. Structured chronologically, the book traces the evolution of the Pakistani Army's counterinsurgency practices inherited in 1947 from the British Indian Army's culture of fighting small wars through to the contemporary counterinsurgency (COIN) adaptation in the ‘war on terror’, and afterwards, to the fifth round of the Balochistan insurgency. The analysis centres on the development of counterinsurgency theory and practice by the Pakistani Army. It empirically investigates the efficacy of the COIN strategy in Balochistan. The author argues that the approach significantly changed after conceptualising the doctrine, especially from 2016 onwards, from ‘butcher and bolt’ to the inclusion of critical components like political primacy, affect-based and focused use of force, ‘winning hearts and minds’ and rules of engagement. As a result, there was reduced violence and an increased number of insurgent surrenders. The book concludes that the Pakistani Army has largely controlled the insurgency in Balochistan. However, simultaneously, there is an urgent need to reduce tangible support to the insurgents through porous borders and implement an effective strategy to sever the nexus between the Islamic State of Khorasan (ISKP) and the Baloch insurgent organisations, as well as the sectarian militant organisations in Balochistan province. This is crucial to ending the insurgency and ensuring the security of CPEC. A novel contribution to the study of counterinsurgency and the importance of CPEC to China’s foreign policy and diplomacy, as well as its effects on the conflict dynamics in Balochistan, the book will be of interest to researchers studying War and Conflict Studies, Terrorism Studies, International Relations, Security and Strategic Studies, and South Asian and Chinese Studies.

This book offers a comprehensive analysis of the administration in India from independence to date. It examines the major transformation in the administrative service initiated by the ‘Minimum Government and Maximum Governance’ initiative of the Government of India in 2014. In spite of enormous diversity and population, India has made remarkable progress in various fields such as health, education, infrastructure, and technology. Structured in three parts, (1) social sector, (2) infrastructure and economy, and (3) e-governance and service delivery, the book examines challenges of governance and provides insight into different innovations undertaken to address these challenges. E-governance lies at the core of this transformation of accountability, transparency, and time-bound service delivery. Contributions in this book are written by experts working in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), academia, and the private sector and cover a wide spectrum of administration from the point of view of different departments of government, as well as the experiences of the authors ranging from senior bureaucrats to mid-career officers and analyses of researchers on administration and its challenges. The initiatives covered in this book can serve as solutions to similar challenges faced by other developing countries in the world. The book will be of interest to researchers in the fields of administration and policy, civil service, public management, South Asian politics, and Development Studies.

Insurgency in India’s Northeast provides a systematic analysis of every major secessionist group and insurgency in the region within a unified and original explanatory framework, focusing primarily on the postcolonial period. This book presents a parsimonious analytic narrative involving a rich sequential account of the historical evolution of Mizo, Naga, Meitei, and "ethnic Assamese" identities from precolonial to colonial to postcolonial times. Avoiding essentialist or primordialist arguments, the chapters in the book demonstrate how ethnic/(sub)national identities are dynamic and malleable phenomenon, not immutable natural givens. In particular, it argues that the postcolonial Indian state has attempted to integrate these ethnic/sub-state national groups into the Indian Union through a combination of democratic accommodation/consociationalism and hegemonic/violent control, strategically designed to encapsulate their evolving (sub) national identities into the overarching state-sponsored Indian nationality. Through this book, readers will gain a rich understanding of the dynamics of ethnicity/ nationality and the nation/state-building process in postcolonial India. It will be of interest to researchers in the fields of Asian studies, ethnicity, nationalism, separatism, security studies, border studies, and international relations.

This book identifies reforms that can help manage environmental priority problems associated with transport’s impacts on air quality, noise pollution, road safety, hazardous-materials transport, climate change, and urban sprawl. The policy options are contextualized in light of the Government of Pakistan’s 2011 Framework for Economic Growth and its strategic objectives. Appendixes A–D present additional background information, describe the economic and institutional analyses undergirding this report, and detail the report’s methodology. This analytical work by a team of World Bank specialists focuses on: • analyzing the policy and institutional adjustments required to address environmental, social, and poverty aspects of increased transportation efficiency in Pakistan; • identifying policy options for the Government of Pakistan to better serve the population, to enhance social cohesion, and to foster equitable benefit sharing with low-income or other vulnerable groups; • developing a broad participatory process to give a voice to stakeholders who could be affected by enhancements of freight transport productivity; and • making robust recommendations to strengthen governance and the institutional capacity of agencies to manage the environmental, social, and poverty consequences of freight transportation infrastructure.