Political Fragmentation and Ethnic Cohesion: Understanding Intra-Pashtun Stratification and Its Implications for Social and Political Mobilization

Abstract

This article explores the complex dynamics of political fragmentation and ethnic cohesion within Pakistan’s Pashtun community, focusing on how intra-Pashtun stratification influences contemporary Pashtun political mobilization. While previous studies have examined state-ethnic relations, limited attention has been given to the internal sociopolitical divisions that shape Pashtun collective action. This study argues that the fragmentation of Pashtun political loyalties dispersed among parties such as PTI, JUI-F, and ANP serves as a significant barrier to achieving a unified mobilization agenda. Adopting a qualitative case study approach informed by constructivist theory, political opportunity structure, and frame analysis, the research highlights that Pashtun identity operates as a fluid and contested construct rather than a fixed ethnic category. Findings indicate that efforts to build ethnic solidarity are persistently challenged by deep-seated partisan identities and localized political affiliations, which dilute broader mobilization efforts. The analysis underscores that the struggle for ethnic cohesion is not merely an organizational objective but the very site of political contestation where internal divisions can undermine the potential for collective empowerment as much as external pressures from the state.

Keywords: Pashtun Politics, Political Fragmentation, Ethnic Cohesion, Intra-Ethnic Stratification, Political Mobilization, Pakistan, Constructivism, Identity Politics