The Book:
Muslim societies are presumed to be stagnant and resistant to change. Yet the reality is quite the contrary. Pakistan is a pivotal Muslim nation. It exemplifies the scope and direction of social change in a Muslim society. This book shows how modernization as well as Islamization are simultaneously acting as processes of social transformation in Pakistan, along with population growth, urbanization and economic development. It offers an insightful view into Pakistan, exploring the wide range of ethnic groups, the countryside and cities, religion and community, and popular culture and national identity. It concludes by discussing likely future social developments in Pakistan, engaging students and academics interested in Pakistan and multiculturalism. Overall, this book is a comprehensive examination of social and cultural forces in wanting to understand contemporary Pakistan and the Muslim world.
The Author:
Mohammad Abdul Qadeer is Professor Emeritus, School of Urban and Regional Planning, Queens University, Canada; where apart from teaching for thirty years, he was the director of the school 1986-96. He has taught at two Pakistani universities and has been a consultant to UN agencies, the Government of Pakistan and various Canadian bodies. Among his publications are two books entitled Urban Development in the Third World: Internal Dynamics of Lahore, Pakistan and (co-authored) Towns and Villages in Canada.
