SEARCH ARTICLE

08 Pages : 115-129

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2017(II-I).08      10.31703/gssr.2017(II-I).08      Published : Jun 2017

Mediatization of Politics or Politicization of Media: Women's Perspective

    In accordance with the phased and meta process of mediatization, politicians have grown dependent on media at the cost of their own independence. As a result, politics has become synonym with something negative. Little research in Pakistan has been done to explore perspective of women politicians and journalists on negative perception about politics. To fill up the gap, we constituted focus groups in Multan, Lahore and Islamabad, comprising mostly women politicians (local and national), rights activists and journalists. It has been found that the respondents are mindful of the fact that there has been an increase in representation of women politicians on media since former President Pervez Musharraf allowed private electronic media to operate in 2002. Female participants in Multan feel encouraged by the increase in representation of women on media but those in Lahore and Islamabad believe that media has added to the challenges women politicians are facing. However, all focus groups opined that this situation is reflective of politicization of media, which shows that they have internalized the negative image that media construct of politicians and that they lack the understanding about the process of mediatization of politics.

    Mediatization, Media Logic, Politics, Politicization
    (1) Hassan Shehzad
    Lecturer, Department of Media and Communication Studies, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
    (2) Farish Ullah Yousafzai
    Professor, Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan

12 Pages : 172 - 187

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2017(II-I).12      10.31703/gssr.2017(II-I).12      Published : Jun 2017

Pakistan's Electoral Sociology: Why do Voters' Vote?

    The published literature reviewed indicates that the subject of current research has remained away from scholarly focus. The existing academic literature shows that studies on electoral politics largely focused on social and political determinants of voting behavior. The current study explains that sociology-historical material trajectory of the voting process. This has been continuously shaping aset of dispositions of people through the continued interplay of base structure and superstructure, which have a deep impact on voter choice formation. These dispositions formulate a neo liberal habit us and shape electoral choices of voters controlled by super structural forces who control the process of elections. The present study aimed at investigating the dynamics of voters’ choices. Why do voters vote? This is a key research question that has been explored in this paper.This research focuses on issues in which even electoral systems are operating,and these systems are manufacturing voting choices. The relationship of base structure and superstructures are the major framework that determines the behavior of voters in the larger electoral process. This is qualitative and theoretical study, and evidence have been taken from Hazara and Pothohar regions of Pakistan.

    Election, Politics, Sociology, Vote, Pakistan
    (1) Muhammad Shakeel Ahmad
    Assistant Professor, Centre for Policy Studies, COMSATS University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

19 Pages : 197-203

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-I).19      10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-I).19      Published : Mar 2021

Hindus Us, Muslims, and the Rest Others in Roy's the Ministry of Utmost Happiness

    This study explores self and othering in Roy's novel The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. Roy took twenty years to complete this political romance. The narrator of this political romance talks about the others of Indian society, i.e., religious minorities, political traitors, and low caste groups. These others are always striving to secure a place in a biased Indian society. Their quest for identity has often led them to a blind alley where they have found themselves helpless and oppressed evermore. The situation has become worse under the government of the right-wing Hindu party BJP. This study is an attempt to explore the ways how the weaker part of the society is treated as another and outcast in a so-called secular state. Roy has presented the true face of India. This research tries to comprehend her mind and investigates The Ministry of Utmost Happiness multidimensional and multi-layered tale.

    Hindus, Islam, Muslims, Others, Politics, Racism, Us
    (1) Syed Maqsood Alam
    Assistant Professor, Department of English, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Zahoor Hussain
    Lecturer, Department of English, Bahaudin Zakariya Uinversity, Layya Campus, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (3) Muhammad Ahsan
    Lecturer, Department of English, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, Pakistan.

47 Pages : 470-476

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-I).47      10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-I).47      Published : Mar 2021

Role of Pakhtun Women in Politics: A Case Study of Begum Zari Sarfaraz

    An effort has been made to revisit the political participation of Pakhtun women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa former NWFP. The active role in the politics of Pakhtun women was quite difficult due to socio-cultural constraints. In such circumstances a woman from the elite class emerged on the political scene of NWFP; Begum Zari Sarfaraz who not only participated in the independence movement of Pakistan but also participated in politics after the creation of Pakistan and had rendered great services for women folk as members of national and provincial assemblies. The paper shed light on her opposition to One Unit. The paper also investigates the reason that why she quit politics. There is hardly any literature on the role of Begum Zari Sarfaraz in the politics of Pakistan.

    Politics, Frontier Women, Mardan, One Unit, Zanana (Women) Muslim League
    (1) Hazrat Bilal
    Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Government Degree College Khair Abad, Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
    (2) Shaista Gohar
    Lecturer, Department of Pakistan Studies, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, KP, Pakistan.
    (3) Ayaz Ali Shah
    Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, KP, Pakistan.

19 Pages : 188 - 201

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-I).19      10.31703/gssr.2022(VII-I).19      Published : Mar 2022

Coverage of Populism Related Content in Pakistani Media: An Analysis of the Coverage of Dawn and The News

    Populists are dominating the world's political situation. The election campaign of Donald Trump in the United States, the emergence of right-wing populist parties in Eastern Europe, and the popularity of Narendra Modi of India prove that we live in a populist world. Populism has also returned to Pakistan as cricketer-turning politician Imran Khan's popularity was attributed to a massive publicity campaign. This article aims to evaluate the populist coverage of Pakistan's political parties in media. This research study aims to answer the question of which political party shares more populist views, in what form they share it, and who the targets of these populist views are. Therese archer has utilized the "Quantitative Content Analysis" as a research method to answer the outstanding research questions. The news coverage of the two leading English-language newspapers of Pakistan, namely Dawn and The News International, has been studied. A total of 278 news stories we reexamined during the month of the 2018 elections. The findings support that Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf was the most populist party and the Shariffamily/PMLN was the prime target of anti-elitist views shared by PTI.Findings also support that The News International gave more coverage to populist narratives than Dawn.

    Populism, Media Politics, Political Parties, Elections
    (1) Fazal Ullah
    M.Phil. Scholar, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan
    (2) Amir Hamza Marwan
    Lecturer, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.
    (3) Mussarat Anwar
    Associate Professor, College of Home Economics, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.

21 Pages : 224-237

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).21      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).21      Published : Mar 2023

The Feudal and Political System in Pakistan: A Historical Analysis of South Punjab (1969-1990)

    The term "feudalism" is often used to describe a social order in which land is held by an elite group that is not subservient to a monarchy or government. In return for their service to the king or his kingdom, his subjects are granted land. In the feudal system, the male head of the family (typically a large joint family) is accountable for the maintenance of the home and the land that has been bequeathed to him. It is true that the social structures of feudalisms in Medieval Europe and Medieval India shared some similarities; however, the feudalism that developed in Pakistan (which was a descendant of Indian feudalism) had its own unique roots and characteristics that were shaped by local history (such as the influence and intent of invaders) and culture. According to land reforms
    adopted in 1959, each individual's yearly produce from 500 irrigated and 1000 non-irrigated acres was capped at 36,000 index units. This study looks at what happened to feudalism in Pakistan's Southern Punjab between 1969 and 1990, and it offers solutions to the problems that led to its decline.

    Feudalism, Social-Economic, Sociology, Politics, Economics
    (1) Sohail Amin
    PhD Scholar, Department of Pakistan Studies, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Aftab Hussain Gillani
    Chairman, Department of Pakistan Studies, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan.

40 Pages : 438-446

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).40      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).40      Published : Mar 2023

Understanding Women's Political Motivations in KP: Unveiling the Driving Forces

    This study examines the reasons why women get involved in politics, concentrating on the National Assembly and provincial assembly members of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. The relevance of family connections, which facilitate women's entry into politics, is revealed via thematic analysis of interview data. Important motivators include persistence, character traits, inspirational leaders, alluring party platforms, and a need for accountability. Women can participate in politics if they are financially independent and have free time. The study expands on earlier research by illuminating the intricate interplay of institutional, cultural, and individual factors influencing women's political involvement. It places a focus on the necessity of addressing gender-related barriers and encouraging educational reforms to provide women with more leadership abilities. For societal change and democratic governance, political decision-making needs to be more gender diverse. The results provide useful information for political parties and authorities looking to create a welcoming environment for women in politics.

    Women in Politics, Political Participation, Motivation, Family Connections, Leadership, Gender Equality
    (1) Sumera Farid
    Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, KP, Pakistan
    (2) Raza Ullah Shah
    Assistant Professor, Department of Management Sciences, Qurtuba University, Dera Ismail Khan, KP, Pakistan.
    (3) Sajjad Hussan
    Lecturer, Department of Social Work, University of Malakand, Chakdara Dir Lower, KP, Pakistan.

33 Pages : 364-375

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-II).33      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-II).33      Published : Jun 2023

Politics of Hate and Social Media: Thematic Analysis of Political Hate Discourses on Facebook

    This article documented the presence of politically motivated hate content in online political discourses and also explored major themes against political opponents in Pakistan. A total of 744 posts were collected from Facebook pages affiliated with two major political parties. The amount indicates the significant amount of politically motivated hate content presented in online political discourses. The data were thematically analyzed from which 3 major themes emerged. The data revealed that political discourses were filed with denigration of opposites through abusive and disgusted language followed by the dehumanization of opposites such as naming and comparing with different animals like dogs, pigs etc. It was also found that character assassination was done by framing opposites as morally and socially characterless, by accusing them as sexually corrupt, drug addictive, and as well homosexual etc. Lastly, the opposites were framed as "anti-state", "traitors" and "foreign agents who have become "threats" to national peace, cohesion and integrity of the state and as well to destabilize the country.

    Hate Speech, Media Framing, Thematic Analysis, Political Discourse, Social Media, Pakistani Politics
    (1) Muhammad Akbar
    PhD Scholar, Institute of Media and Communication Studies, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Aasima Safdar
    Assistant Professor, Institute of Media and Communication Studies, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.