The Dynamics of Social Unrest in Pakistan: Examining the Causes and Consequences of Internal Dissent and Political Division (2019–2024)

Abstract

Un-governability has incrementally increased, and internal conflict in Pakistan has increased, especially after the year 2019, due to political polarisation, economic instability, and regional division. This research explores the factors that inform social protest in the country, with particular attention to the linkage between financial, political, and social elements of protest. These spark-off actions include electoral disputes, increases in inflationary rates, employment, and Structural Adjustment Programmes imposed by the International Mound that have led to dilution of public confidence in leaders and the government. Regional political rivalry with major parties like PTI, PML-N, and PPP required intensification of the division that destabilised the country even more. Ethnic and regional rifts, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, have widened due to original complaints added to broader national problems. The security situation in the region has worsened due to a resurgent terror activity and some disputes over the border with Afghanistan, adding to public dissatisfaction. Moreover, social media’s ability to coordinate protests and share biased stories has been determinative of the form of protest. Prospective of this, this research seeks to understand the causes and implications of this social unrest to decipher how factors such as economic strain, political crises, and security threats equally impact society’s cohesiveness. It also identifies avenues for stability making and the solution to the expressions of discontent within the context of Pakistan’s volatile socio-political structure.