Malik 1

Maha Malik (21090073)

Introduction to International Relations: POL 131
Professor Shahab-ud-din Ahmad
Class Participation Assignment: Populism has been on the rise in the United States, France
and India. Keeping this context in mind, can you observe similar trends in political rhetoric
expressed by certain Pakistani political parties? Justify your comment and try to be specific.
Within the last couple of years, Pakistan has witnessed instances of both implicit and explicit
populism. The rise of explicit populism has been two fold. Firstly, it has been the successful
creation of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf (PTI), led by its charismatic leader Imran Khan, who uses
anti-establishment rhetoric and has been successful in popular mobilization against a self-serving
system. Secondly, it is the politics that has been employed by Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Muslim
League (N) leader, after his dismissal post-Panama Papers Scandal. This kind of populism can be
directly related to the patterns of populism in the United States under Donald Trump, where Nawaz
Sharif has not employed any facts, logic or legal basis and only resorted to claims that his removal
was unjust. Based on this, he has also been successful in mobilizing his supporters to protest
against the decision of the Judiciary. Traditionally, populism has been based around a leader and
the rhetoric employed by him, such as that in India, where Modhi has employed pander based on
religion to gather support and implement his policies. This is why, the rise of implicit populism in
Pakistan has been different, and a new phenomenon even though it is based on religious dynamics.
Radical religious parties who have successful backing of the conservative Pakistani demographic
has been rising, and gaining more and more power. A few weeks ago, the Tehreek E Labbaik Ya
Rasool Allah Pakistan (TLY) was successful in making the government surrender to all their
demands, including that of the Oath. It would be disingenuous to completely ignore the changing
political dynamics within Pakistan. This ideology has also gained political recognition, like the
candidate backed by Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah, who campaigned on strict blasphemy laws and
managed to secure 6% of votes in the National Assembly elections. New radical parties which can
also be described as purely radical movements like Tehreek E Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah Pakistan
(TLY), Lashkar-e-Taiba and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi have been actively gaining more support in areas
like Jhang. This kind of populism has been based around a certain ideology, rather than a leader
or charismatic authority these parties. The Tableeghi Jamat, while claiming to be apolitical, has a
very strong reach. If needed, they too can stop the entire country. This is why the government has
stayed cognizant of these parties and actively make efforts to not anger them.
However, the rise of populism in Pakistan comes with its limits. Islamic parties that are strong in
their rhetoric don’t have chances of sweeping electoral success, like that in India, since they need
a wider voter base for that. There is nothing unusual or out of the ordinary that has been happening
in the Pakistani context. Political party structures have been similar here like they have prevailed
in the past, Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) have not shifted their
narratives. Considering the trends in Pakistan, patronage and leadership charisma still dominate
support. When compared to the vast reach of populist parties in France, India and US, there is still
a long time before their rhetoric streamlines within Pakistani Politics.
Word Count: 551 words.