Mapping Political (In)Tolerance in the Pakhtun Youth of Pakistan

Abstract

Political tolerance is deemed crucial for political progress as well as the maturity of any society. The present study, therefore, focuses on mapping the political tolerance in the Pakhtun society of Pakistan. In addition to presenting the political history of the Pakhtuns in brief, this article also attempts to locate the foundations of (political) tolerance in Islam (the religion followed by Pakhtuns in Pakistan); by delving into the Holy Book (i.e., Quran) and the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The research was conducted employing a quantitative approach to identify the factors that significantly contribute to the levels of political tolerance in the society under study. The research tool developed by Sullivan, Piereson, and Marcus (1979) — after appropriate modifications considering the contextual dynamics — was used for collecting data from 400 young residents of the district Kohat in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. The respondents varied with respect to gender, area of residence, acquisition of formal or religious education, party affiliation, and political process participation. This research lays out different aspects pertaining to the respondents‘ depicted tolerant, neutral, or intolerant attitudes. Based on the research findings, all variables — except gender — have played a significant role in impacting the level of tolerance in the Pakhtun youth. However, this research has its limitations which may be catered to in future studies.