With political parties at the center of traditional American politics, political gatekeeping and coalition building have faithfully acted as conduits to representation. The mandate to serve the public through a principal-agent relationhas guided politicians with a focus on constituent preferences and demands. However, in the recent political environment of populist demands, political actors have found themselves negotiatingwithin confines of the harsh rhetoric of exclusivity. Sincedemocracies are meant to secure inclusive representation, this disparity between those excludedfrom and those includedon the political agendahas pushed minorities to secure political representation, including Pakistani Americans.
The US #MidtermElections2018 were closely observed by political analyst as candidates across the country unapologetically pushed gender, religion and culture to the forefront of their political campaigns. Immigrants and women, through participation, navigated and challenged the status-quo of the inner dimensions of political recruitment and gatekeeping, transcended traditional expectations and claimed space within American politics.
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
The Pakistani Americans are certainly not new to the game of political and civic engagement. Through the decades, the community has continued to establishpolitical action committees (PACs), supportlocal to national campaigns, foster dialogue with legislators on Capitol Hill and facilitate cultural and education exchanges. These efforts have helpedcultivate a certain political identity which resulted in increased collective mobilization of #getoutthevote campaigns and #voterregistration drives and strategically organized campaign contributions. This mobilization, organization and facilitation of Pakistani Americans towards active participation isattributed to the need to secure rights, safety and voice and most recently, due to the growing polarized and anxious political climate.
The increase in number of Pakistani Americans, who filed and ran for office and who securedparty 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. 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 each place in between, Pakistani American candidates relied on grassroots networks andalliances around issues of healthcare, social justice, immigration, civil liberties, and economy.
As Pakistani Americansevolve in political representation (both from the periphery of mobilization campaigns towards active engagement of contesting elections)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, Political Science at the University of Missouri St. Louis and a former political appointee of St. Louis County Government