UNDER THE SPECTRE OF INSECURITY MAKING SENSE OF THE FORMATION OF PAKISTAN’S NATIONAL NARRATIVE: A REALIST PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Narratives are an important part of nation-building. National narratives not only inculcate a sense of self; they also address a nation’s sense of security as well as insecurities. National narratives are an outcome of a nation’s collective historical experience and the ideas on which it is built. States facing security challenges and situated among or in a hostile neighbourhood, use their national narrative to achieve alignment both internally and externally. Pakistan’s national narrative is a testament of it.  Since 1947, it has been facing threats to its national security. Pakistan’s national or meta-narrative addresses all such concerns. This paper focuses on the formation of Pakistan’s national narrative and the factors involved in its formation. Grounded in the Realism school of international relations theory, the paper overviews and critically analyses Pakistan’s national narrative and its contributing factors. This is followed by the development of a “structural–ideational framework” to make sense of the process of the formation of Pakistan’s national narrative.