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Home > Ethnicity, Conflict and Identity: the Sense of Belonging Among the Pakhtuns of Swat, Pakistan

Ethnicity, Conflict and Identity: the Sense of Belonging Among the Pakhtuns of Swat, Pakistan

Thesis Info

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Author

Azim, Syed Wasif

Program

PhD

Institute

University of Peshawar

City

Peshawar

Province

KPK

Country

Pakistan

Thesis Completing Year

2019

Thesis Completion Status

Completed

Subject

Political science

Language

English

Link

http://prr.hec.gov.pk/jspui/bitstream/123456789/12604/1/Syed_Wasif_Azim_Political_Sci_2019_UoP_Peshawar_18.07.2019.pdf

Added

2021-02-17 19:49:13

Modified

2024-03-24 20:25:49

ARI ID

1676724689806

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Violent conflicts have perpetual and perennial impacts on societies. Ethnic and national Identities of the people are no exception to this. This research study reflects on the impacts of conflict and violence on ethnic and national identities. The scarce literature linking conflict and identities (ethnic and national) argues that conflict and violence „soften‟ or „harden‟ these identities. Moreover, the bulging literature on post 2001 conflict in Pukhtun region of Pakistan does not primarily focus on the impacts of this conflict on Pukhtun ethnic and national identities. Using constructivist theoretical position and the case study of Swat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, this study addresses two research questions: what are the implications of conflict and violence in Swat for Pukhtun ethnic identity? And what are the consequences of the ongoing conflict for Pakistani national identity? Theoretically the study refutes the arguments in the literature that identity softens or hardens and argues that the impacts of conflict and violence on ethnic and national identities are complex and multi-dimensional. Methodologically, the study is based on an ethnographic field work comprising in-depth semi structured interviews, focus group discussions, ethnographic observations and field notes arranged from November 2016 to May 2017 in different administrative tehsils of Swat. This study proposes that during the conflict, performing aspects of ethnic identity i.e. cultural code (Pukhtunwali) was affected and transformed in multiple ways resulting in a perception that „ideal Pukhtunwali is dead.‟ Consequently, claims to ethnic identity contextually shift to ascribed aspects of Pukhtun identity i.e. language, land, tribal affiliations, and „birth in a Pukhtun home.‟ Likewise, the conflict adds to the complexity of Pukhtun ethnic identity by sharpening and straining intra-ethnic relations among the Pukhtuns. These diverse and multiple impacts can also be witnessed on different aspects of Pakistani national identity where it is neither lost nor reaffirmed. In this context, the study posits that there is a contest on the assumed unifying nature of Islam as a marker of Pakistani identity. Through the discourse of „pride and sacrifice‟, Pukhtuns own the nation state of Pakistan, yet on the other hand are critical of the state for not acknowledging and compensating the sacrifices of Pukhtuns in Swat. Similarly, Pakistani military is considered as an institution which significantly represents Pakistani national identity by Pukhtuns in Swat. The military‟s persuasive presence in Swat is in question. Celebrating national days like 23rd of March and 14th of August is another significant aspect of Pakistani national identity. Such impacts have significant repercussions for the state of Pakistan.
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