Understanding Nationhood from a Social Constructionist Lens: A Study of Pakistan’s Political Discourse (1947-1988)

Abstract

This dissertation examines the case of nationhood in Pakistan from a social constructionist lens. After outlining the fundamental explanations of the inherently elusive subject of nationalism and its associated branches, primarily; nationhood, the building blocks of Pakistan‟s nationhood are established. It is argued that Pakistan emerged as a „constructed‟ territory and hence, most part of its national narrative is an ensual of the discourse generated by its political elites, since the beginning. For this reason, discourse analysis of the rhetoric and monologue of noteworthy political figures including, Quaid e Azam, Gen. Ayub Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Gen. Zia ul Haq; is carried out to establish the indubitable influence of Pakistan‟s political leadership in constructing the country‟s sense of nationhood. This socially constructed sense is explored in the background of political and social milieu that facilitated the nourishment of a particularly non-cohesive sense of nationhood. The changing pattern in the political rhetoric and its subsequent effect on national behaviour is then used as a basis to essentially stress the role of political elites in forming well-bound nations.