Role of Youth Movement in Conflict: Case Study of Pakistani Young Doctors

Abstract

The youth is a primary participant in waging conflicts and bringing social changes. It can change the dynamics of a conflict with its participation. In Pakistan, young doctors are organizing protests and strikes against the government to achieve requisite economic benefits and promotional rights. Visionary policies towards health sector, identity crisis, frustration and disparity between young doctors’ ambitions and achievements are the reasons for doctors’ protests and strikes. The current study tries to explore/unearth the nature and causes of Pakistani young doctors’ frustration on society and government through a profound analysis of Frustration – Aggression Theory by Dollard et al., and Relative Deprivation theory by Ted Robert Gurr. Through a questionnaire, conducted on 1000 (one thousand) sampling size of young doctors, the study aspires to draw a relationship between ‘frustration – aggression’. Doctors from each province are represented in the sample according to population size of all the provinces. Participants were selected by convenient sampling method. The study also identifies and investigates the role of deprived and frustrated young doctors’ protests and strikes in their conflict against the government. The study is important as comprehensive research has not been conducted to understand the demands of the young doctors and the impacts of young doctors’ protests and strikes on society and government. It finds that deprivation and frustrations have strengthened young doctors’ activism leading to aggression (street protests, strikes and boycotting duties) instability and health crisis.