ABSTRACT
The first chapter in this book reviews existing literature on the evolution of national security state, which emerged in the US with the advent of the Cold War after 1945. The realist school of thought in international relations theory underpins the establishment of the national security state which mainly emphasizes the nation state, international anarchic system, and security dilemma. The chapter finds some of the key features and ideas characterizing the US national security state model in which military power is perceived as the primary instrument of the state for maintaining its national security interests and the military, and related institutional sectors possess substantial political and economic power. This American model could be deployed in the case of Pakistan as the book revolves around Pakistan’s national security state.
