The dismal state of the social sciences in Pakistan

By S. Akbar Zaidi

Subjects: Social sciences

Description: This paper attempts to explain and understand the dismal condition of the social sciences and social science research in Pakistan. It esablishes some Encompassing Parameters which help explain why things are the way they are. These include attempts to place the role of Pakistan's State and its bureaucracy in a certain context, and also delineates on the collapse of institutions in Pakistan leading the way for individuals, rather than institutions, to undertake and produce research. The dominance and presence of international donors and their roles with regard to social science research, are also discussed at length. The paper argues that with trends in the academic community at the time of writing the paper (2002), the future for social science and social science research in Pakistan, looked even more bleak.