Pakistan: A Society Shaped by Violence

Abstract

This article explores how violence has profoundly shaped Pakistani society, impacting its historical trajectory, cultural identity, and social dynamics. It examines recent high-profile incidents, such as the near-lynching of a woman for her attire in Lahore, the murder of a tourist in Swat, and the killing of a Sri Lankan manager in Sialkot, as reflective of deeply rooted violent behaviors. Through theoretical perspectives from scholars like Robert Sapolsky, Piaget, and Plato, the paper suggests that violence in Pakistan is not merely a spontaneous phenomenon but is inherited from historical survival mechanisms and reinforced by socio-political and environmental influences.

The article traces this legacy to events like Partition, which saw massive inter-communal violence, and the civil war in 1971, which further embedded violent methods within the national psyche. Political and social policies from the centralized governance under Ayub Khan to the Islamist reforms of Zia-ul-Haq have often marginalized dissenting voices, creating an atmosphere where violence becomes a response to conflict and a means of maintaining power.

Further, Pakistan’s underfunded and inconsistent education system, coupled with limited efforts to promote emotional intelligence, has hindered societal growth and fueled intolerance. Despite rising literacy rates, educational reforms have failed to promote critical thinking and empathy, allowing cycles of violence to persist. To move forward, the article concludes that Pakistan must prioritize comprehensive education and emotional development as pathways to break free from its entrenched culture of violence, nurturing a more civil and equitable society.