Atif Mehmood | Published July 14, 2024
The author is deeply interested in social and political issues, focusing on analyzing their impact on society and policy development. It is to be noted that the opinions articulated herein are exclusively the author’s own and do not reflect the views or stances of the author’s employer or those of Pakistan Chronicles Online. For correspondence, the author may be contacted at atif@live.ie.
Polarization splits society into groups that disagree on views, values and identities. This can cause political problems, social conflicts, violence and intolerance. Many things can cause social polarization, like economic differences, cultural differences, media influence, political differences, ethnicity, religion, sect and ideology factors.
Social polarization is a major issue that hampers the political, economic and social progress of Pakistan. In my article, I briefly explain the causes and effects of social polarization in Pakistan and suggest some possible ways to address them. Polarization in Pakistan is influenced by various factors. Social fragmentation is largely caused by the unequal distribution of income and wealth in our society. Economic inequality has created a divide between the rich and the poor, and produce resentment, mistrust and hostility among different social groups. Economic inequality has also affected the access to education, health care, and social services, which have widened the social gap. The oppressed and neglected groups in our society faced various difficulties, such as lack of education, health, water, justice and employment. They also have fewer opportunities due to factors like corruption, nepotism, and discrimination which I have discussed in detail in my column "Major Issues after Independence".
Pakistan has faced regular establishment takeovers, constitutional challenges, and political unrest, which have disrupted the democratic system and institutions, and diminished the confidence and authority of the state. The political parties or groups take more extreme, inflexible, and uncompromising stances, and the political discourse has turned more hostile, contentious, and inflamed. Political division has eroded the common ground and the willingness to cooperate and compromise among different political players and harmed the democratic systems and norms. The absence of efficient and responsible governance has also allowed extremist groups, to take advantage of the resentment and ambitions of our nation.
One factor that contributes to social polarization is the existence of various cultural groups in a society. Pakistan is a country with a lot of diversity, where people belong to different ethnicities, languages, religions, sects, and cultures. Cultural diversity enriched our society by offering different views, beliefs, and customs, but it has also caused disputes and friction in our society due to lack of acknowledgement and adapt to each other. Cultural diversity has also questioned the prevailing or common culture, and triggered responses of anxiety, bias, and discrimination in Pakistan.
A major factor in social polarization is the influence of the media on how people think and act. Media influence in Pakistan has altered the way people process and understand information and form their opinions and values. Media influence has also generated echo chambers, where people only access and spread information that matches with their current views and dismiss or reject information that contradicts them. The social media impact has made people more likely to prefer and believe their own group, and more likely to disregard and mistrust other groups and their perspectives. The society is more inclined to stick to and support their views, and more reluctant to change or question them.
Social polarization in Pakistan has caused many negative consequences. A consequence of social polarization is the loss of social unity and peace in our society. Social disintegration happened when the social groups became more separated, divided, and hostile, and when the social ties and confidence among them diminished or vanished. Social disintegration has reduced the sense of attachment and identity and raise the feelings of estrangement and normlessness. Social division has led to ongoing violence and insecurity as an outcome, which affects both individuals and groups. Pakistan has experienced many cases of violence based on sectarian, ethnic, or religious differences, which have taken thousands of lives and damaged the social cohesion.
Polarization has damaged to the political system and the governance in Pakistan. Another way of seeing this is through the political breakdown that occurs when the political actors get more split, rigid, and unaccountable, and when the political institutions and processes get more corrupted, warped and ineffective. Political breakdown has hindered the capacity of our society to deal with the shared issues and difficulties, and to adapt to the shifting needs and expectations of the people.
Polarization has made our society more violent and conflicted. Social groups are more hostile, aggressive and intolerant, which could lead to a civil war, God forbid. This has harmed the social fabric of Pakistan and the infrastructure and caused human pain and loss. It has weakened the national identity and unity, and made different groups and regions feel alienated and isolated. It has also affected the international image and reputation of our beloved country and limited its potential for cooperation and integration with the global community.
Social divisions have impaired the development and poverty alleviation efforts, by creating waste, imbalances, and disputes in the distribution and use of resources. They have also diminished the social cohesion and collaboration, which are vital for accomplishing the shared objectives and hopes of the people. The projected cost of conflict and violence in Pakistan is 15% or more of GDP, which could have been spent on productive and social sectors.
The issue of social polarization in Pakistan is complex and difficult to resolve. There is no quick fix or easy way to deal with polarization in Pakistan, and it needs the state, the political and the religious forces, the society, and the international community to work together and cooperate. The democratic process and institutions need to be enhanced, and the involvement and voice of all parts of society in the political system need to be ensured. The state also needs to improve its governance and accountability and provide the essential services and rights to the people, especially the groups that are left behind or discriminated against. The improvement and stabilization of the democratic system and institutions, which can uphold the rule of law, the division of powers, the protection of rights, and the involvement of the people, and which can provide effective governance, accountability, and representation to the people. The constitution of Pakistan should be the guiding principle for every institution.
There is a need to lower the economic and social gaps and generate more possibilities and advancement for the disadvantaged and marginalized groups of society. There is also a need to improve the social security and support systems, and give the people access to quality education, health, water, sanitation and other facilities. The enhancement and growth of the delivery of essential services and opportunities, such as education, health, employment, and justice, which can enable the social and economic advancement and improvement of the nation, and which can reduce the disparities and resolve the complaints among various groups and regions.
There is a need to create a culture of social cohesion and inclusion and appreciate the variety and differences of the country. There is also a need to challenge the views and agendas of radicalism and aggression and uphold the values and principles of harmony and collaboration. A shared and inclusive national identity and vision that can embrace and honor the country's diversity and plurality, and that can inspire a feeling of unity, solidarity, and patriotism among the people.
A way to fight social polarization is to support economic justice and lessen economic inequality in a society. Economic justice means having policies and programs that share wealth and resources fairly and equally, eliminating and stopping corruption and favouritism in the public and private sectors, to rebuild and improve the people's faith in the state and society, and to allow the resources and opportunities to be shared and used fairly and effectively. Another way to lessen social polarization is to teach people about psychology and lower the psychological factors that make them more polarized. Psychology education can help people learn about the mental and social mistakes that influence their thinking and decisions, and how to avoid them. Psychology education can also encourage self-examination, reasoning and compassion.
The Government and all stakeholders need to promote cultural communication and respect between different cultural and ethnic groups in a society. This can be done by creating opportunities and venues for the groups to talk, engage, and share their perspectives without any fear, beliefs, and customs, and where they can gain from and value each other. Cultural communication can also enhance mutual comprehension, tolerance, and acceptance. The prevention and control of extremist and militant groups which can lower and eradicate the religious and sectarian violence and terrorism in the country, and which can foster the moderation and tolerance of the people.
There is an urgent need to improve media literacy and decrease media bias in the society. Media literacy can be achieved by teaching and enabling the people to scrutinize and assess the information they get and disseminate, and to identify and oppose the media bias and distortion. Media literacy can also promote diversity, pluralism and responsibility in the media. Encourage political moderation and lower political polarization in the society by supporting communication, collaboration, and agreement among different political actors, and by reinforcing the democratic institutions and norms that control and balance the political power and representation. Political moderation can also increase civic involvement, participation and accountability.
Social polarization is a complicated and diverse phenomenon that can harm the society and the people. Polarization is a serious and complex challenge that Pakistan confronts today, and it harms the country's stability, development, democracy, as well as its people's welfare and harmony. We can foster a more peaceful, diverse and democratic society that can enable Pakistan to realize its potential and aspirations as a peaceful, prosperous and democratic country by promoting economic justice, cultural dialogue, media literacy, political balance, psychological awareness, creation and development of a common and inclusive national identity and vision, improvement and integration of the democratic system and institutions, eradication and prevention of corruption and nepotism, improvement and expansion of the provision of basic services and opportunities, restriction of extremist and militant groups.
© 2024 Pakistan Chronicles Online. All Rights Reserved.
The content posted in pakistanchronicles.online community pages is created by members of the public. Hence, views expressed therein may not be those of pakistanchronicles.online. pakistanchronicles.online is not responsible for any content posted by members of the public on pakistanchronicles.online. Ensure to view Disclaimer section of this website for mor information.
