SEARCH ARTICLE

56 Pages : 582 -590

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2020(V-II).56      10.31703/gssr.2020(V-II).56      Published : Jun 2020

From Elitist Authoritarianism to Bonapartist Populism: The Bhutto Factor in Pakistan

    Right from its inception in 1947, Pakistan has been ruled by an elitist pattern inherited by British Colonial rule. After eleven years of authoritarian dictatorship under General Ayub Khan, the people of Pakistan launched a movement that was a class-conscious movement in its nature. The movement gave rise to Bhutto, and after the sad demise of the Eastern wing of the country, he took over the power. Though he implemented the unmatched egalitarian reforms in various sectors but espoused "Bonapartist" actions not only against his political opponents but his own party stalwarts, journalists and trade unionists, which shadowed his revolutionary reformist agenda. Such "fascist" populism paved the way for another military dictatorship which tore up the very fabric of democratic norms and civilian supremacy. The study examines the transition from elitist authoritarianism to Bonapartist populism. The regime shift was followed by the installation of various elitist groups led to the re-emergence of the same elitist authoritarian rule cultured by Gen. Ayub and his ancestors.

    Civil-military-bureaucratic Oligarchy, Elitist Rule, Martial Law, Bonapartism, Feudalism, Populism, Authoritative Rule, Fascism, Egalitarian
    (1) Abid Hussain Abbasi
    Assistant Professor, Department of Pakistan Studies and History, National University of Modern Languages Islamabad
    (2) Azhar Mahmood Abbasi
    Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies and History, National University of Modern Languages Islamabad, Pakistan
    (3) Muhammad Anwar
    Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies and History, National University of Modern Languages Islamabad, Pakistan

07 Pages : 105-114

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2017(II-I).07      10.31703/gssr.2017(II-I).07      Published : Jun 2017

Varying Written Perspectives on Politics of Pakistan

    Every discipline has its own specific perspective. The very difference of varying perspectives draws a line primarily between scientific and nonscientific knowledge. Then, amongst sciences it differentiates the rational from the empirical sciences. Apart from the natural sciences social sciences also utilize both rational and empirical approaches to science. Even, with in both of these perspectives there are also some other perspectives of social sciences. The present paper attempts to explore these perspectives as per the varying approaches of the respective writers contributing to the domain of the politics of Pakistan. A number of scholars have explored the politics of Pakistan. A brief review of them shows that they have studied the phenomenon of politics in Pakistan as per their respective approaches. The varying perspectives of these researchers can broadly be categorised into four main approaches i.e. 'Elitist Approach', 'Marxian Approach', 'Ideological Approach', and 'Praetorian Approach'. Every researcher of social science should necessarily understand the difference of these perspectives before initiating his investigation in to the politics of Pakistan. This paper aims to engulf the writings of all the potential writers in this field.

    Politics, Elitist, Marxist, Ideological, Praetorian, Approaches, Perspectives, Pakistan.
    (1) Sajid Mahmood Awan
    Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research (NIHCR), Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
    (2) Sana Hussan
    Senior Research Fellow, Humanity Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan