Populism and Ethno-nationalism

Abstract

The narrative developed in this research is “populism and ethno-nationalism: impacts on human rights in Pakistan”. The populist agenda has made dramatic inroads recently as a nationalistic, xenophobic, misogynistic, and antagonistic to much of the human rights agenda. Therefore, this study depicts the various approaches of populism and how it has impacted the ethno-nationalism and human rights. The problem with populism is that it entails a leader to divide society through mobilization, so does in ethno-nationalism. The extreme intensity of populism causes aggressive acts by groups like discrimination, target killing and oppression through popular majoritarian. Consequently, the ethno populism inculcates the concept of both ethno-nationalism and populism. It is a form of political mobilization in which a leader rallies support from a specific ethnic group along communal lines and it surfaces when nationalism is co-articulated with populism in a political system. Nationalism and human rights is an extensively researched area by experts but there is lack of critical examination and manifestation of populism within these variables in context of Pakistan. Pakistan has constantly experienced the intensity of populism which is stimulus to exclusionary nationalism such that it is wearing away democratic culture. There is a tendency of human rights violation amidst the wave of populism and ethno-nationalism as it mobilizes the civilian in two groups. These groups has tendency to be antagonistic against each other. The study aims to analyse the approaches of populism which has been substantiated in Pakistan. In order to achieve objectives of this research, a qualitative research methodology is used wherein the primary data is used to analyse the human rights violation in arrears to populism and ethno nationalism by means of semi-structured interviews. While, the secondary data is used to gather hypothetical understanding to examine how populism has stimulated ethno nationalism which inculcated the violence. The populist approach by charismatic leader has provided short run or temporary solution to intricate social, economic and political problems of Pakistan. The populism manifests the increases in polarization in society such that it weakens the relation between ethnic, religious and racial groups. This has instigated fears, intolerance and anger within the community that has flare up greater human rights and civil liberty violations.