Review of William B. Milam. 2009. 'Bangladesh and Pakistan: Flirting with Failure in South Asia': London, UK: HURST Publishers Ltd. 276 pp. $28. ISBN 978-1-85065-921-1.

Unlike several books written on Bangladesh and Pakistan, the work of William B. Milam is important, especially from an outsider. The author himself served in both countries as a U.S. diplomat and therefore the work presents a personal account of events and insights into the turbulent political history of Bangladesh and Pakistan. It is an interesting work for present and future diplomats as well as for students of South Asian studies. This book is a must read for anyone curious to know why democracy does not work in Bangladesh and Pakistan or why both countries continue to suffer from frequent military interventions? Milam has beautifully sketched the history of both Pakistan and Bangladesh from 1947 to 1971 in Chapter 1 and from there onwards has focused on failed democracies and military rules in both countries. Dividing the analysis on both countries into separate chapters helps readers find connections between similar political scenarios in two separate countries. Milam has devoted Chapter 9 to assess the socioeconomic development in Bangladesh and Pakistan vis-à-vis non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This is crucial considering the fact that there are thousands of NGOs in both countries. The book is a comparison of not only the democratic institutions, dictatorship and leaders of both countries but also of a religious polity in both countries. Milam's account of Islam in the political and socioeconomic development of Bangladesh and Pakistan provides answers to questions on failed democracies in both countries and the present wave of terrorism in Pakistan. The historical review presents a simple picture to understand that though both Bangladesh and Pakistan are Muslim states, the former is not as Islamised as is the case of Pakistan.