Drawing on an innovative network analysis, Professor Rasool argues that existing analyses of regime instability myopically focus on conflicts between politicians and generals. He proposes that senior bureaucrats may be the true 'king makers' because they can most directly “make and break” regimes. Rasool thus insightfully redefines a long-standing debate.

Andrew Wedeman, Georgia State University

“Sabotage: Lessons in Bureaucratic Governance from Pakistan, Taiwan, and Turkey by Adnan Rasool,is innovative, imaginative, and refreshing in its approach, content, and style. The book has three outstanding features; first, it is theoretically rigorous and makes an effective articulation of the failsafe theory in making critical appraisal of competencies and professionalism of bureaucracies. Second, it transmits a comparative analytical method—professionalism of bureaucracies, juxtaposing it to the absence of professionalism among politicians and political parties; third it is exceptional and innovative in picking three cases: Pakistan, Turkey and Taiwan, culturally and geographically distinctly separate and yet the political systems have similarities-- underscoring that all three have witnessed prolonged military rule, and in case of Turkey and Taiwan extended single party rule, while the yearning for democracy and democratic movements continue to reappear.

The study brings to attention the persistence of military rule and highlights the historical, cultural, economic, and political circumstances of each country, in struggling to construct democracy under authoritarian tendencies and rulership. The author provides an insightful view into the causes of political chaos and the resilience, professionalism and competencies of the bureaucracy ensuring continuity and stability.”

Saeed Shafqat, Centre for Public Policy & Governance (CPPG), Forman Christian College (A Chartered University)