Moni Mohsin for Prospect Magazine:
Despite all the acquired veneer of western education, whether it is the Bhuttos or the Gandhis, as long as there is an adequate supply of willing family members, south Asian politics remains dynastic; family brands once established (through the ballot box and personal tragedy) transcend regional concerns to bind complex polities. This “demand for dynasty” transcends social divides. While Pakistanis living abroad find it jarring that democracy can be dictated by inheritance and bequeathed from the grave, this is readily accepted by local labourers and intelligentsia alike, who are grateful for any short-term fix to immediate danger.
The full piece is actually a bit more of a sympathetic portrait of Bhutto than this quote would let on.
[Possibly related posts]:
- Inspiring…or terrifying? [Nicole Wong, Google's deputy general counsel] stressed the importance for...
- Reader of a thousand books Inspired by this recount of famous shed-writers, I am putting...
- William Dalrymple on Benazir Bhutto From his Guardian column: Benazir Bhutto was a courageous, secular...
- Welcome to the megacity Nice intro to megacity life on Current. This 15 minute...
