I'm looking for your opinions on where you think Mr. Sharif's ideology would best fit in.
I understand many of you dislike him or are frustrated with him But- if you were to define him on his ideology vs. record- would he more like a Republican or Democrat or middle of the road. How do you view him on his overall political ideology?
My perception of him as the old Nawaz I knew- is that he is a middle of the road politician, left leaning on international affairs, yet right leaning in terms of economic agenda . Can you help me understand what your feelings are about him?
Fantastic topic. Thanks,
Here are my "ramblings" in a short time. So please point out where I make mistakes or missed something. I am sure you have your study on this subject as well.
To understand Nawaz Sharif, it will be good to understand his father, the elder Sharif.
What shaped elder Sharif's ideology?
One major point! nationalization by Zulifqar Bhutto.
Bhutto targetted top business families and used government power to loot all their factories and banks and other institutions.
This created immense hatred for Bhutto's socialist policies. And Elder Sharif represented that hatred,.
So in some ways you can compare Sharifs' with Anti-Casto Cuban-Americans.
They may be left leaning on social issues, but fiercely right wingers on economics.
Thus Nawaz Sharif represent the reaction of Punjabi business class to the socialist policies of Zulfi Bhutto and his Pakistan Peoples Party.
However NS has been moulded and changed by the successive eras of political upheavals in Pakistan.
He probably is the only Prime Minister who has had experience of running a state (provincial) government before becoming PM.
All other 1970+ era PMs have been parachuted into the top position.
So far I have mentioned his strong points.
His weak points are his lack of deep study of European and international history and socio-economic trends.
So he ends up relying on the line followed by business elite in India, Iran, and Turkey.
What is that line?
Make money by dealing with anyone you can
But remain religious (Muslim, or Hindu) in your outlook.
Most Punjabi businessmen (and Urdu speaking + Pashtoon ) thus follow an Islamist view towards law making and international relations. you can apply same line on Hindu businessmen in India who would rather support religion oriented BJP like parties,
As Islamist view of the world is very left oriented, hence you see him behaving that way.
Within the country, this attitude lead our business elite (including NS) to support Islamist movements, and Islamist injections into our constitution.
Coming back to NS and his fiascos as PM.
His first stint as PM was fiercely global and very much open door for business and investment.
-- Our leftist bureaucracy didn't like it at all and he was sent paking shortly after his 1 year into 5 year government.
His second stint as PM was filled with follies because of his prior experience,.
This time around he injected more Islam and more Sharia into the constitution. But he made a key mistake of splitting Pakistan army. This resulted in Musharraf ousting him,
Now is his third time.
he is avoiding all the mistakes he made during first two times. But still hobbled by leftist and anti-US educated elite and bureaucracy, and media.
However he is keeping army happy, so it might be possible for him to complete his 5 years tenure.
In all this, he has his younger brother as a head of the largest state (province), so that keeps his political boat relatively stable. He also has appointed his close friends and family to key positions in order to make sure he keeps his foundations as strong as possible.
So let's see how things go.
From American perspective, I wish someone had introduced him to the work by Heritage foundation and Cato institute.
I only wish.,
