Publication

This brief discusses the role of a rising middle class in shaping political, economic and social structures in Pakistan and the Muslim world at large. The author argues that Pakistan is a surprisingly good example of a country set on a course to achieve political stability and economic growth due to a middle class that is gaining both political and economic strength. He notes that similar tendencies can also be seen in India and Bangladesh, indicating that South Asia is moving in the same political direction. This, he concludes, will make it easier for the region to work together.