The killing of Osama bin Laden spotlighted Pakistan's unpredictable political dynamics, which are often driven by conspiracy theory, paranoia, and a sense of betrayal. In Pakistan, the late prime minister Benazir Bhutto famously declared, there is "always the story behind the story." In The Pakistan Cauldron, James P.
Pakistan's stability is key to regional peace, to the future of Afghanistan, and to the global struggle against violent extremism. Understanding Pakistani politics is crucial to working with this challenging American ally. In "The Pakistan Cauldron", James Farwell, who has advised the Department of Defense on Pakistan, analyzes how Pakistani leaders employ strategic communication, playing to diverse audiences to attain their goals. He assesses how well or badly the key players have used strategic communication in dealing with Pakistan's nuclear program, the conspiracy theories swirling around the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, and Pakistan's current turmoil. Pakistan is an enigma to many Westerners. Farwell portrays a nation whose government and politics are dysfunctional and riddled with paranoia, conspiracy, and treachery. Only by understanding the often bizarre forces that shape Pakistan's individual leaders can we uncover their true intentions. Pakistan is a nuclear power caught between conflicting ideologies and religious extremists who are increasingly making their influence felt.
