PTI Election Success in Pakistan: Socio-Political Aspect

Occupation: Associate Professor
Affiliation: Institute of Asian and African Studies, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

Asia and Africa Today

Edition

Issue 7

Pages

32-38

Abstract

The article explores the features of internal political and socio-economic developments within the Pakistani society that predetermined the electoral success of PTI. The first-ever rise of this party to power following 2018 general elections drew a wide response: unexpected by many, it elaborated the model of political interaction which has been forming in the country over the past decades. As it stands, PTI`s current predominance in the political arena signifies a slump in the popularity of traditional political favorites. However, given the social and cultural specifics of Pakistan, the situation is apparently more complicated. As a number of researches demonstrate, Pakistani society is ethnically heterogeneous and highly stratified; it is run by traditional models of interaction. In this context, the rise of one party and the fall of another mark more than just a sudden whim of preferences within the disillusioned electorate. It is, first and foremost, a confirmation of the informal commitments that allow a common Pakistani to consider themselves a part of a certain social group. It might be a sign of a deep and long-term social change, underlaid by its own causes. A closer look reveals that the remarkability of PTI success follows a certain logic. This article is focused on determining what kind of social changes formed the basis of PTI electoral triumph, and whether this victory adds any new elements to the previously formed political discourse or merely unravels previously existing tendencies.

Keywords

Pakistan, elections, PTI, Imran Khan, clientelism, «vote bank»

Received

01.08.2019

Publication date

07.08.2019

Number of characters

26626

Cite

GOST	Filimonova A. PTI Election Success in Pakistan: Socio-Political Aspect // Asia and Africa Today – 2019. – Issue 7 C. 32-38 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750005566-4-1 (circulation date: 20.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750005566-4
MLA	Filimonova, Alina "PTI Election Success in Pakistan: Socio-Political Aspect." Asia and Africa Today 7 (2019):32-38. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750005566-4
APA	Filimonova A. (2019). PTI Election Success in Pakistan: Socio-Political Aspect. Asia and Africa Today (7), pp.32-38 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750005566-4

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