Author Description
Jamsheed Marker's lifetime in the diplomatic service of Pakistan gave him a unique vintage point. In cricket terms, he was at cover point, near enough to the wicket to follow the action around the stumps...yet sufficiently distant for a general overview of the state of play. Unlike his previously published book Quiet Diplomacy: Memoirs of an Ambassador of Pakistan (OUP, 2010), which is a rich history of his many ambassadorial assignments, Cover Point covers Marker's impressions of Pakistans most powerful leaders. With the exception of the incorruptible Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his lieutenant Liaquat Ali Khan, all of Pakistans leaders succumbed, in increasingly pernicious fashion, to the malign and pervasive influences of sycophancy and flattery. This work relates the first-hand impressions of the author which he garnered during his illustrious career, starting with Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah up until the rule of General Pervez Musharraf.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the evolution of leadership in Pakistan by examining the personal conduct and political trajectories of the nation's heads of state from Jinnah to Musharraf. Jamsheed Marker, a career diplomat with decades of service, utilizes his unique vantage point to analyze how successive leaders navigated the pressures of governance. He argues that, with few exceptions, the political culture of the country became increasingly compromised by sycophancy and the erosion of institutional integrity over time.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- First-hand observations of Pakistani leadership from the founding era through the Musharraf administration.
- Comparative analysis of political styles and the impact of flattery on decision-making.
- Historical context regarding the transition of power and diplomatic challenges.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide a comprehensive academic history of every policy enacted during these administrations.
- It focuses primarily on the author's personal impressions rather than exhaustive archival research.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts recognize this work as a valuable primary source for understanding the internal dynamics of Pakistan's political elite. Readers frequently note the accessible, anecdotal nature of the prose, which provides a humanizing perspective on figures often viewed only through a formal political lens.
Page Count:
218
Publication Date:
2021-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190704241
ISBN-13:
9780190704247
History
Memoir
Biography
Diplomacy
Asia history
Pakistan