THEOCRATIC AUTOCRACY IN PAKISTAN BETWEEN 1977 TO 1988 FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF GRAMSCI'S THEORY OF CULTURAL HEGEMONY

Abstract

This paper employs the Gramsci's "Theory of Cultural Hegemony" to investigate the objectives, methodology, and outcomes of theocratic political approach opted by the autocratic regime in Pakistan between 1977 to 1988. Gramsci Cultural Hegemony theory provides parameters of analysis such as "traditional intellectuals," "manufactured consent," "civil society," "political society," "organic intellectuals," and "historic bloc," which serve as concrete foundations for data analysis through the qualitative research methodology. This paper is significant as it elucidates how "political society" (authoritarian regimes), rather than choosing coercion, exercise “soft tools” over "civil society" (religious intellectuals) to manufacture the consent of the masses. This paper is unique as it has attempted to apply the Gramsci's cultural hegemony theory in its true essence to bring to light the long-term repercussions of the hegemonic policies of Zia's rule and to answer the unanswered questions regarding the foreign and internal policy challenges in today's Pakistan.