Futures for Pakistan: Deluge or destiny?

Fifty years of Pakistan history are characterized by two major issues: first, ideological, ie the role of Islamic politico-social ideals and the processes for their implementation, and the challenge to them from the forces of secularism; and second, the clash and conflict between the forces of democracy and despotism. These two areas have mostly been examined in the literature as distinct and somewhat autonomous conflicts. The fact is that in the Muslim context they represent two sides of the same coin. The author argues that democratization is a stepping stone in Islamization and fulfilment of Islamic aspirations is possible only through promotion of democratic processes.