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Title Interrelationship of Identity politics and Democratic Spaces: A Case Study of Students councils in Pakistan.

Author(s) Sara

Abstract Pakistan is a multicultural country having diverse identities comprises of different regions, languages, ethnicities, religions and so on. Being multicultural country, Pakistan is experiencing tensions amongst different identities from day first. Linking to an identity can be described as a societal force that compels you to give importance to your own identity and make space for it in a certain environment. In a certain environment, identity cannot be denied or ignored. Norms, culture linked to any identity goes side by side with you wherever you go or whatever you do. It is a human nature. When it is denied or ignored, or rejected, it is always confronted back from those who are deprived. Pakistan faces an interesting challenge of conflicting identities These challenges are so intense that they could not be ignored. Pakistan is a state of diverse identities. These diversifications work at different levels. At one point it emerges from religious basis where religion is common at most identity related domains. At other point it emerges as national unity of being Pakistani as a central or singular identity to address the confrontation and conflicts amongst the society. For a single Pakistani identity, it is mandatory to integrate sub national identities in a diverse society. Democratic governance and diverse identities are directly linked together for a central Pakistani identity. In Pakistan, often time this central identity is challenged by regional, provincial and ethnic identities. Transparent and participative societies based on dialogue, pluralism and tolerance can exists only where State and non-State actors respect the exercise of rights, including freedom of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association and participation in public life to nurture democratic spaces. viii This study aims to explore relationship of identity politics and democratic spaces in the context of students’ councils in Pakistan. For the purpose four student’s councils was selected in order to explore the youth participation in identity politics and the reasons behind their participation. This research focuses on investigating the relationship of identity politics and democratic spaces by assuming that with decrease in democratic spaces in Pakistan there is a rise in identity politics and to identify the role that reduced democratic spaces plays in order to causes the people to adopt identity politics and what is the understanding of the actors of identity politics with reference to reduced democratic spaces of Pakistan. This study is based on proposition that when democratic spaces are reduced, it causes the people to adopt identity politics dominated by nationally or ethnically defined collectivities. How reduced democratic spaces shapes the identity politics is studied by assuming that with increased democratic space, the culture of identity politics can be reduced. The main area of focus of this study is the students’ councils of different universities in Islamabad who are mainly based on any specific identity or promoting their ideological stand point. This research aims to gain further understanding of the phenomenon democratic space by examining the situation for student’s councils in Pakistan. This qualitative study examines the freedom of speech/freedom of expression and opinion, political structure, identity consciousness and sense of belongingness and participation for student’s councils through the method of focused group discussions and semistructured interviews. To gain deeper understanding of the current situation in Pakistan, this study puts forward the question of whether the democratic space is expanding or shrinking in this context and if this has an effect on/relationship with identity politics. ix A total of four Focused Group discussions were conducted from two students’ councils namely Pakhtun Council and Mehran Council from Quaid-e-Azam University and International Islamic University in Islamabad. Five In-Depth Interviews were conducted from young politicians emerged from students’ councils of universities. Themes that have emerged during Focused Group Discussions and In-Depth Interviews are presented under sub headings.

Type Thesis/Dissertation MS

Faculty Management Sciences

Department Governance and Public Policy

Language English

Publication Date 2020-01-07

Subject Research Thesis M.Phil

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