TOWARD A MEASURE OF THE FUNCTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS OF A STATE: THE CASE OF WEST PAKISTAN

ABSTRACT

The objectives of this paper have been developed on the assumption that the functional effectiveness of a state varies spatially within its own territorial limits. The case of West Pakistan has been considered. An attempt has been made to distinguish the areas of varying degree of functional effectiveness in West Pakistan and thus to provide a framework for a more realistic understanding of the functional relationship of a state with the various parts of its territory. The concept implies that the area is culturally homogeneous, and is used here to measure the administrative-economic quality of a given area. The basic criteria employed are a) the density of population and b) density of transportation lines. The ecumene (the effective state area) has been delimited as that part of the total area which provides economic support to most of its inhabitants. The remaining portion of the state has been termed “extra-ecumenical.” The ecumene has been classified into minimally effective area, intensively effective area, sub-core, and the core area. The intensively effective area is more densely populated (100 persons to the square mile) and has a closer mesh of transportation lines (each part lies within five miles of a motorable road or railroad station). Additional measures of agricultural productivity, intensity of market potential, magnitude of manufacturing, and the degree of urbanization have been used to locate the core area which is depicted as the Lahore-Lyallpur axis. Karachi, because of its nonagricultural base, falls short of the measures of a core area and has been termed the “sub-core.” Thus, it has been found that there are observable disparities of functional effectiveness in West Pakistan.