Pakistan and the Role of the State

In “Essentials of International Relations”, Mingst discusses the four fundamental conditions that must be met in order for an entity to be considered a state. Pakistan, being a state, of course meets all of these conditions. First, Pakistan has a territorial base. It is located in the middle east, north of the Arabian Sea and is bordered by Iran, Afghanistan, China, and India. The state of Pakistan also possesses a stable population . With a federal parliamentary system, President as Head of State, and indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the chief executive, the Government of Pakistan holds the population’s allegiance. Lastly, the state must be recognized by other states. Pakistan has been a member of the United Nations since September 30, 1947 and so it fulfills all four requirements.

Pakistan fails to be considered a nation-state, due to the various cultures within the state. Pakistan is comprised of four provinces, each differing in culture. The culture of the Kashmir region, also differs from these provinces. Unrest with India remains active in this region.

The liberal view of the state can be used to analyze the U.S.’s involvement or lack there of during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965.

Liberals believe that multiple national interests influence state actions. Consumer groups desire the oil at the lowest price possible; manufacturers, who depend on bulk suppies to run their factories, prefer stability of the supply of oil, otherwise they risk losing their jobs; producers of oil, including domestic producers, want high prices, so that they will make profits and have incentives to reinvest in drilling. The state itself reflects no consistent viewpoint about the oil; its task is to ensure that the “playing field is level” and the procedural rules are the same for the various players in the market. (Mingst, 106)

The U.S. had no consistent viewpoint about the war, much like how the state has no consisten viewpoint about the oil. However, the U.S. did care to make sure that “the playing field [was] level. It did so my declaring neutrality and cutting off military supplies to both sides despite the Agreement of Cooperation which had been signed with Pakistan. However, by not choosing one side to support, the U.S. was able to allow India and Pakistan to fight on a more equal level.