The present book is devoted to the life and work of Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007). In the late twentieth century, female leaders came to power in a number of states with predominant Muslim populations (Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Turkey). This destroyed the gender stereotype of traditional Muslim society and promoted its modernization and democratization. The present book makes an all-around study of this phenomenon of international politics, which has deep historical and cultural roots. Bhutto became the first female head of government in a Muslim state. She has been recognized the world over as a fearless fighter against dictatorship and extremism and a staunch supporter of peaceful dialogue between Islam and the West. The charismatic personality and tragic fate of Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated by terrorists, are described against the backdrop of the story of her family and contemporary political and social life in Pakistan and in close conjunction with the lives of other well-known South Asian politicians. The book is based on Bhutto's own books, articles and speeches and on the author's interviews with her close friends and colleagues. The book is intended for a wide readership.

About the Author

Dr Anna Suvorova, Professor of Indo-Islamic Culture, is currently Head of Department of Asian Literatures at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow). A specialist in Islam in the Indian subcontinent, classical Urdu literature, Indian and Pakistani theatre and representative arts, she frequently lectures on these subjects in the universities around the globe. Professor Suvorova is a fellow of Royal Asiatic Society (RAS), British Association for South Asian Studies (BASAS), and some other international scholarly organizations.Professor Anna Suvorova has also been conferred Sitara-i-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan for her contribution to research of Pakistani Literature and Cultural Heritage.