STATE, SOCIETY, AND SECURITY VIEWED THROUGH THE PRISM OF DOMESTIC POLITICS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The state provides political, legal, military, and moral cover to the society that resides within its physical and territorial boundaries. A state is primarily a political entity recognised by international institutions for recognition and relations; however, it does not operate in isolation. While state security traditionally meant the defence of the homeland against external physical threats, societal security is evaluated in the context of human security. Pakistani society is highly compassionate and comes forward wholeheartedly in times of crisis, even if it knows the state may not be particularly considerate of people's needs. However, domestic politics in Pakistan are at variance with people's aspirations. The two-family rule, coupled with regular military interventions, has not allowed the country to realise its true potential; therefore, it does not figure prominently in Human Development Indices (HDIs). This paper aims to analyse the State’s responsibilities, its failures to society, and their implications for the State's national security through the prism of Pakistan’s Domestic Politics. Adopting a deductive approach, it is argued that domestic politics in Pakistan often outrun state interests, societal values, and even security imperatives.