Institutional imbalance of power : a case of decaying nationalism in Pakistan

Abstract

Nationalism is essential for the integration of a nation-state. It instigates a psychological and emotional bond among all the individuals of a nation. It is important for a state to have the cooperation and support of its citizens to function efficiently but for the past 70 years Pakistan has not been successful in attaining a sense of civic nationalism despite having a similar historical and political background. The country fell victim to the institutional imbalance and the resulting emergence of ethnic identities. The state also suffered disintegration in 1971 when the East Pakistan became an independent nation, called Bangladesh. Pakistan was the first country to be formed after WWII & the first post war country to disintegrate due to the lack of coherence in the institutions and an undefined nationalism. This blow did not end the internal disparities prevailing due to the institutional imbalance of power and lack of rights provided by the government to its people. Subsequently the inequalities endured by the people of Pakistan sought solution in revival of ethnic and religious identities (Balochi, Sindhi, Muhajirs, Pashtuns, Punjabis and Kashmiris) Thus, the instability caused by the incompetent government instigated major threats to the state from within, taking the form of ethnic and regional uprisings and civil wars. In the recent years the image of Pakistan has emerged as a failed state and the internal conflicts have been a major reason for destabilizing the Pakistani image. Pakistan was a state made to unify and bring together Muslims of India under one flag through the power of promoting and attaining civic nationalism. However, the post 1947 era saw it otherwise; there was a constant need to separate the Pakistani identity with that of India and a threat that India was out to destroy the newly born state of Pakistan. Amidst this fear the state cracked down on any movement that emerged to speak out for the rights of different ethnicities within the Pakistani state. The reason for the loss of national identity has a major contribution from the dominating institutions that have sustained power in the policy-making circle of Pakistan. Military, the one controlling and designing the state’s power structure as well as Bureaucracy in aiding the military which was pushing to attain the dominance within the state. The failure of state to restore the balance between its institutions as well as the incorporation of people will lead to the loss of civic and state strengthening nationalism giving way to the threat of civil uprising or worst, of disintegration.