Беназир Бхутто : портрет в двух ракурсах

Suvorova Anna

Benazeer Bhutto : The Portrait in Two Perspectives

Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences,

Москва, 2013, 223 p.

The book is devoted to the life and activities of Benazeer Bhutto (1953 – 2007). She was a Pakistani socialist leader who served as a Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms: from 1988 until 1990 and from 1993 until 1996. In the late 20th – early 21st century in a number of states with predominance of Muslim population (Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh) political leaders – females came to power. It ruined the gender stereotype of the traditional Muslim society and promoted its modernization and democrati-zation. The book comprehensively analyses this new phenomenon in the world politics, having deep historical and cultural traditions. The tragic fate of Benazeer Bhutto, fallen victim of terrorists, is examined against the back-ground of the history of her family, political and social life of modern Pakistan and in close connection with the fate of other prominent politicians in South Asia. This book is a political biography based on the autobiography that had been created by Bhutto herself. The author also used various sources, many texts of interviews with members of her family and close friends. A true real-istic portrait of Benazeer Bhutto can be only reconstructed from two angles: one of historical facts and political realities, other – of myths and legends of traditional Muslim society.