Constructing the Pandemic in Pakistan
Competing Perceptions, Politics, and Structured Disparities during COVID-19
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Publishing:10th Nov '25
£145.00
This title is due to be published on 10th November, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
With a focus on the way the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic unfolded in Pakistan, this book casts a critical light on the unique experiences and responses of individuals, community and government. It critically examines how these diverse actors made sense of and navigated the outbreak of disease. The author reveals differing perspectives and multiple narratives that emerged at various levels. The chapters situate the spread of rumors, conspiracy theories, and new social rituals within micro- and/or macro-contexts, and describe the interplay between the virus and various institutionalized forms of inequities and structural vulnerabilities. Touching on socio-cultural, economic, and (geo-)political contexts that make Pakistan a unique case study, the book relates to the past, describes and analyzes the Covidian present, and offers futuristic implications. It enlists distinct imaginaries based on current understandings of an extraordinary challenge that holds significant importance for our human future. Constructing the Pandemic in Pakistan will interest scholars of anthropology, sociology, and the Global South as well as those working in the domains of global and public health.
"This fascinating book, based on detailed anthropological research and informed by cultural theory, shines a light on of the COVID-19 pandemic as it has unfolded in Pakistan. It demonstrates how lived experiences are refracted through cultural norms and the specific socioeconomic and political contexts of each nation and region."
- Professor Deborah Lupton, Centre for Social Research in Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney
“This excellent book offers timely and deep insights into the experience of how a deeply ideologically divided nation understood and dealt with the pandemic. Constructing the Pandemic in Pakistan is a convincing call to action, advocating for evidence-based, inclusive, and equitable responses to public health crises worldwide.”
- Dr. Sadiq Bhanbhro, Senior Research Fellow, Sheffield Hallam University, UK
“On the basis of first class ethnography Inayat Ali provides the reader with a vivid picture of
the dynamics of the infection, the myths and narratives surrounding it, the governmental responses and the subsequent vaccination programs. His analysis involves a wide range of
theoretical insights and includes important debates that have not been covered in the research on COVID-19 so far. An important book for both anthropologists as well as practitioners and anyone interested in South Asian studies.”
- Professor Gabriele Alex, University of Tübingen, Germany
ISBN: 9781032441887
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
186 pages