ELECTIONS AND IDEOLOGICAL ALIGNMENTS: UNDERSTANDING THE SHIFTING LANDSCAPE OF PAKISTANI POLITICS

Abstract

This study explores how ideology shapes electoral behavior and party alignments in contemporary Pakistani politics. Using a qualitative research design, the study draws on in-depth semi-structured interviews with political activists, university students, and community leaders across Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, alongside a documentary analysis of party manifestos and media discourses from the 2018 and 2024 general elections. The findings reveal that while voters and parties frequently invoke ideological narratives—such as religion, nationalism, and populist reform—electoral choices are often mediated by patronage networks, local power structures, and pragmatic concerns such as economic opportunity and service delivery. Party manifestos display ideological positioning but are often reinterpreted or diluted in practice to accommodate shifting alliances and regional dynamics. Moreover, the rise of social media has amplified ideological polarization, particularly among urban youth, yet this digital discourse rarely translates into consistent voting patterns. The study concludes that ideology in Pakistani elections operates more as a symbolic and mobilizing force than as a consistent framework for political decision-making. By foregrounding lived experiences and discursive practices, this research highlights the complex interplay between ideology, identity, and pragmatism in shaping Pakistan’s shifting electoral landscape.