Cultural Politics of Pakistan
The Ismaili Centre Vancouver was pleased to host Dr Stephen Lyon from the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations at the Aga Khan University (AKU ISMC) in the United Kingdom, who spoke to the realities of cultural politics in Pakistan.
Dr Lyon began with a presentation that guided onlookers through how politics in Pakistan is shaped. He illustrated the context of politics as one that is not only embodied and strengthened by marital ties but is also driven by traditions that are present within both local village and nation-level politics. These include power relations, kinship, hierarchy, and personhood. Dr Lyon further explained how relevant cultural symbols are used in politics, such as on voting ballots, to allow for parties to communicate their proposition to citizens and create connections, regardless of the disparity in education and understanding. Moreover, Dr Lyon explained that although certain practices within Pakistan can be seen as polarizing, many are apart of phenomena that are found everywhere.
As a community residing within North America, there can be a tendency for members to be disengaged from the Socio-cultural and Political climate of other nations. However, Dr Lyon, through his eloquent use of local language and ability to connect in an unparalleled and personable manner, educated audience members on a plethora of traditions, ideologies, and systems within Pakistan. This deeper knowledge transference was exemplified by comments from audience members, stating how they were either reminded of past experiences whilst in Pakistan or now shared a deeper connection with the nation. Furthermore, Dr Lyon was a positive ambassador for the AKU ISMC, illustrating the work that its students partake in and the opportunities that are available for international students.
