The flawed contract

A transparent and mutually beneficial social contract between the rulers and the ruled is indispensable for sustainable development and social harmony. However, such a contract thrives only in societies where both parties are conscious about each other’s obligations and imperatives. In other words, a productive social contract warrants enlightenment of both parties.

The social contract built in the name of democracy in our country is flawed and favour the elite. Though the patronage and politicisation of institutions has been a conspicuous feature of our democracy, what isn’t political in the earnest is the practice of power brokers, including so-called mainstream parties. They are apolitical and unapologetic in the national affairs. Rather than managing governmental affairs for the larger good of the country, the hybrid power elite used political tag as a ploy to ascend and strengthen their power grasp. From the public’s systematic deprivations to Hobbesian choice in the ritualistic elections, they make all efforts to keep the status quo intact.

To this end, all elite groups — civilian, military, bureaucracy, judiciary and religious — co-sponsor each other for securing stakes. They thrive on the systematic deprivation and politicisation of the masses. They have kept the masses socio-economically deprived and intellectually dwarfed. Most of the poverty alleviation programmes in the successive tenures have been so myopically framed that instead of improving socio-economic conditions of the targeted masses, they have inculcated in them the habit of inaction and beggary. And it’s these plotted public miseries that they have been cashing on in the name of democracy for over seven decades now. And the powers-that-be have ensured consistency of selected elite that best served their interests.

Contrary to the elite, the public is politicised and polarised in our country. The larger chunk of the population is thoughtlessly affiliated with power elite on obsolete feudal, ethnic, nationalistic, jingoistic or religious bonds. For most of the people aren’t conscious of the actual worth of the vote and keep on voting the same electable for generations. Firebrand sloganeering, populist narratives and demagoguery make them forget their own life and future of their children. Hence, they are apt at dancing in the tune of power elite. In the meantime, the elite class keeps on feasting in their palaces and playing with their pets.

Moreover, the elite’s unapologetic attitude and self-righteousness have kept the country off-track. Rather than reforming their policies in sync with emerging dynamics and public welfare, they have kept on blaming the preceding governments for the mess, only working to claim their fair share and make room in the next setup, caring a damn about people’s welfare and country’s future.

As a result, the empowered class keeps on thriving both in power and prestige at the cost of the inclusive socio-economic development. Fragile economy, abject poverty, skyrocketing inflation, rising unemployment, rampant corruption, surging suicide rates, growing intolerance, scourge of terrorism, social alienation and divisions are some manifestations of these elite-centric national policies. At the same time, the life of over half of the country’s population is turning out to be tragedies.

The deteriorating plight of ordinary people warrants a rethink of the long-pursued policies. Power brokers need to realise that respecting the social contract in the truest sense can usher in an era of national prosperity. For that to happen, pro-people policies directed at inclusive social development are a must. Else the long-cherished dream of Pakistan as a welfare state would remain a wild goose chase.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2022.

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