Growth of Inequality

The study begins by tracing contemporary socio-political dynamics and phenomena back to their origins in undivided, colonial India. The perpetuation of a feudal and tribal social structure, with strong patriarchal and authoritarian trends continues to shape a society which is also challenged by extreme diversity of language, culture, class, caste and economic status. Power has consistently been highly centralised in the hands of a small bureaucratic, political and military elite, thus excluding historically disadvantaged groups, including landless peasants, and bonded labour. Special attention is given to the fact that, regardless of their class, women in Pakistan are disempowered, not only by the inequalities imposed by the perpetuation of a rigid, oligarchic social system, but also because of a prevailing patriarchal culture which denies them the right to independent existence and violates their basic human rights.