State formation in South Asia has been shaped not by a single moment of creation, but by ongoing processes of power, negotiation, and control. The essays collected here explore how states emerge and operate across different contexts, from colonial administration to modern political structures. Focusing particularly on Pakistan, they examine how authority is exercised through cities, institutions, and the management of populations, revealing state formation as a dynamic and contested process rather than a fixed outcome.
Read essays on state formation in Southasia.
The Multan Massacre: Pakistan’s Forgotten Labour Tragedy
Quetta 1935: Empire, Earthquake, and the Limits of Control
Death of the Sandeman
At 78, Pakistan is Still in the Making
Avitabile’s Gor Khatri
