With mainstream parties traditionally at the centre, political gatekeeping and coalition building have faithfully acted as conduits to representation. The mandate to serve the public through a principal-agent relation has guided politicians with a focus on constituent preferences and demands. However, in the recent political environment of populist demands, political actors have found themselves negotiating within the confines of a harsh rhetoric of exclusivity. Since democracies are meant to secure inclusive representation, the disparity between those excluded from and those included on the political agenda has pushed minorities to secure political representation. Pakistani Americans are no different.
The US #MidtermElections 2018 were closely observed by political analysts. Candidates across the country unapologetically pushed gender, religion and culture to the forefront of their campaigns. Immigrants and women navigated and challenged the status-quo, transcended traditional expectations and claimed space for themselves.
The increase in number of Pakistani Americans who filed and ran for office and who secured party nominations (for races ranging from local to national) in the #MidtermElections2018, marks an evolution in the diaspora’s political engagement. Regardless of the election outcomes, majority of Pakistani American candidates successfully navigated the entrenched party system by securing nominations and paving the way for more inclusive agenda setting through party structures.
Pakistani Americans are certainly not new to the games of political and civic engagement. Over decades the community has established political action committees to support local and national campaigns, foster dialogue with legislators on Capitol Hill and facilitate cultural and educational exchanges
This increase in political participation suggests the relatively young diaspora’s integration into mainstream dialogue and decision-making. From the diverse makeup of California and New Jersey to the politically entrenched cultures of Tennessee and Texas, and all places in between, Pakistani American candidates relied on grassroots networks and alliances around issues of healthcare, social justice, immigration, civil liberties and economy.
As Pakistani Americans evolve in political representation, they continue to change paradigms of expectations and, as minority participants, help move American society towards a more inclusive political space.
The writer is a PhD candidate in political science at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a former political appointee of St. Louis County Government
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Iran will not negotiate under "intimidation" as…
Sri Lanka votes Thursday in a second national election in as many months with a…
In staffing his incoming administration, President-elect Donald Trump has so far veered from the conventional…
Typhoon Usagi slammed into the Philippines' already disaster-ravaged north on Thursday, as authorities rushed to…
Glenn Maxwell's blistering knock, combined with a solid bowling performance, guided Australia to a convincing…
The Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) in collaboration with Serena Hotels, is organizing Chief of the…
Leave a Comment