Transitional Polity of Pakistan: Analysis of Political Order and Decay

Author(s) : Aneela Malik, Rizwan Jafir

Abstract:

This article examines the evolution of Pakistan’s transitional polity, analyzing the interplay between modernization, class structure, and political institutionalization. Drawing upon theories33 of political development by Samuel P. Huntington, Francis Fukuyama, and others, it explores how Pakistan’s post-colonial state inherited colonial structures but failed to establish stable political institutions. The paper focuses on the emergence and transformation of the middle class—from the colonial salariat to a fragmented, consumer-driven group—and its limited role in democratization. Using a historical-analytical method, the study argues that Pakistan’s middle class, while expanding economically, has remained politically passive, enabling elite dominance and contributing to political decay. The research concludes that the silent collapse of Pakistan’s middle class signifies a deeper erosion of state accountability and democratic vitality within a procedural democracy.