Lahore University of Management Sciences

POL 341 – Political Economy of Pakistan

Fall 2011-12

Instructor: Dr. Taimur Rahman

Office: 110-B New SS Wing
Office hours: **** or by appointment
E-mail: taimur@lums.edu.pk

Course Description

During the 18th century the term Political Economy emerged as a study of modern
productive relations within the economies of bourgoeis political states. Political
economy began with the labour theory of value and was developed by John Locke, Adam
Smith, David Ricardo, Thomas Malthus, and Karl Marx.

By the late 19th century Political Economy branched out into the separate fields of
“Political Science” and “Economics” and consequently the study of the connection
between productive relations and the state became further estranged from both academic
specializations. Whereas economics came increasingly under the influence of axiomatic
mathematical models or game theorems, political science came under the influence of
psychological behavorialist and sometimes, to the detriment of the subject, the exigencies
of real-politik.

The study of the relationship between productive relations and politics, therefore, was
continued by those who wrote under the now “interdisciplinary” subject of political
economy. Therefore, political economy is today most commonly associated with the
study of society drawing from both economics and politics.

This course is an attempt at understanding some of the significant debates that have
occupied the realm of political economy in relation to Pakistan. Over the next 20 classes
we will attempt to study the impact of production on politics and vice versa through the
medium of issues such as class, labour, health, education, poverty, industrial
concentration and ownership, economic policies, and state-society relations.

Course Objectives
1. Familiarize students with some of the important debates within the subject of
political economy in relation to Pakistan.
2. Deepen understanding of the history of macroeconomic policies and economic
development in Pakistan.
3. Attempt to form a holistic picture of the connections between economic and
political developments in our history.

Grading
Class attendance 10%
Midterm 40%
Final Paper 50%

Cheating and Plagiarism

Written work must be properly cited in accordance with the MLA manuals. Please read
the MLA manual attached to this reading package carefully and ensure that your papers
are in accordance with citation techniques. Failure to abide by these citation techniques
will be considered an academic offence. It is expected that all assignments represent
original work not previously or simultaneously handed in for credit in another. Cheating,
plagiarism, or any other violations of the honour code will be dealt with according to
LUMS policy.

Reading Assignments

1. Introduction Lecture: What is Political Economy?

Introduction to the course.
2. Overview of the Zaidi, Akbar (2005) Chapter 1“Assessing Pakistan’s
political economy Development” Issues in Pakistan’s Economy, OUP.
of Pakistan
3. Zaman, Arshad, “Economic Strategies and Policies in Pakistan,
1947-1997” in Mumtaz, Soofia; Racine, Jean-Luc; Ali, Imran
Anwar Pakistan: The Contours of State and Society, OUP 2002
(chapter 8, pg 155 - 187).
4. Agrarian Political Zaidi, Akbar (2005) Chapters 2 “Is Pakistan Feudal” Issues in
Economy Pakistan’s Economy, OUP.
5. Zaidi, Akbar (2005) Chapters 3 “The Green Revolution and
Land Reforms” Issues in Pakistan’s Economy, OUP.
6. Zaidi, Akbar (2005) Chapters 4 “The Nature and Direction of
Agrarian Change” Issues in Pakistan’s Economy, OUP.
7. Zaidi, Akbar (2005) Chapters 5 :Agriculture Critical Issues”
Issues in Pakistan’s Economy, OUP.
8. Nasr, S.V.R. (1996) “Pakistan: State, Agrarian Reform and
Islamization.” International Journal of Politics, Culture and
Society, Vol 10. No. 2.
9. Industrial Political Zaidi, Akbar (2005) Chapters 6 “The Process of
Economy Industrialization in Pakistan 1947-77” Issues in Pakistan’s
Economy, OUP.
10. Zaidi, Akbar (2005) Chapters 7 “The Process of
 Industrialization in Pakistan 1977-2004” Issues in Pakistan’s
Economy, OUP.
11. Zaidi, Akbar (2005) Chapters 8 “Key Issues in Industry in
Pakistan” Issues in Pakistan’s Economy, OUP.
12. Khan, Mushtaq H. “The Political Economy of Industrial Policy
in Pakistan 1947-1971
13. Ali, Syed Mubashir & Bari, Faisal, “At the Millennium: Macro-
Economic Performance and Prospects”, in Baxter, Craig &
Kennedy Charles H. Pakistan 2000, OUP 2001 (pg 34-61)
14. Amjad, Rashid, “Industrial Concentration and Economic
Power”, in Gardezi, Hassan & Rashid, Jamil, Pakistan The
Unstable State Vanguard Books LTD 1983 (Chapter 8, pg 174 -
215)
15. Naseem, S.M. “Political Economy of Structural Reforms in
Pakistan” UN-ESCAP.
16. Midterm
17. Political Economy Easterly, William (2001) “Political Economy of Growth Without
and Development Development” World Bank.
18. Easterly, William (2001) “Political Economy of Growth Without
Development” World Bank.
19. Alavi, Hamza, “Class and State in Pakistan”, in Gardezi, Hassan
& Rashid, Jamil, Pakistan The Unstable State Vanguard Books
LTD 1983
20. Alavi, Hamza, “Class and State in Pakistan”, in Gardezi, Hassan
& Rashid, Jamil, Pakistan The Unstable State Vanguard Books
LTD 1983
21. Saheed, Zafar A., “The role of the Government in the
Development of the Labour Movement” in Gardezi, Hassan &
Rashid, Jamil, Pakistan The Unstable State Vanguard Books
LTD 1983 (Chapter 9, pg 216 - 236) R = 20 pages
22. Martin Sokefeld (2005) “From Colonialism to Post-
Colonialism” Journal of Asian Studies, Vol 64, No. 4.
23. Gazdar, Haris, “Poverty in Pakistan: A Review” in Khan,
Shahrukh Rafi (ed.), 50 Years of Pakistan’s Economy OUP
2002. (pg 241-275: ch 9) R = 24 pages
24. Gazdar, Haris, “Poverty in Pakistan: A Review” in Khan,
Shahrukh Rafi (ed.), 50 Years of Pakistan’s Economy OUP
2002. (pg 275-326: ch 9) R = 30 pages
25. Zaidi, Akbar (2005) Chapters 19 “Poverty: Trends, Causes and
Solutions” Issues in Pakistan’s Economy, OUP.
26. Zaidi, Akbar (2005) Chapters 22 “Political Economics: Class,
State, Power and Transition” Issues in Pakistan’s Economy,
OUP.
27. Workshop on mechanics of a research paper: Thesis, structure,
language, citation, bibliography.
28. Workshop on content of a research paper: Epistemology,
methodology, data, qualifications, conclusions, further
implications.