Analysis of Identity Politics and Ethnic Conflicts in Pakistan Under the Theoretical Frameworks of ‘Thymus’ and ‘Relative Deprivation’: A Case of Ethnic Uprising of ‘Hazarawal’ In Khyber Pakhtunkiwa

Abstract

As in federation constitutional units possess maximum autonomy. Often federation is associated with plural societies. Being plural society, Pakistan suited absolute federation and constitutionally, Pakistan is a federal state. Eighteenth constitutional amendment ensured federation in Pakistan through which actual provincial autonomy was endowed. One of the major changes in eighteenth constitutional amendment taken was the renaming of NWFP as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which signifies the dilemma of identity politics. The remarking provincial identity stimulated another debate of relative deprivation of Hazarawal ethnic identity, this paper is focused on: the identity crisis and politics of ethnicity have been reawakened after the 18th constitutional amendment. This paper poses that Hazara ethnic uprising is due a constitutional development which is a kind of social contract, by exclusion of a group from such a social contract would result in a big ethnic conflict, what was seen in 1971 in the country. According to the scenario, in this paper I am trying to explore that how relative deprivation of a group in society stimulates a struggle for recognition of their identity? If a disequilibrium created constitutionally not resolved, ultimately would results in failure of federation and disintegration.