For many, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally in Lahore indicated a nationalist upsurge — the sudden pride in being a Pakistani who was part of the process of an upbeat political activity. The sense of elation was natural, given the fact that crisis rather than the lack of it has become the rule rather than the exception. An average Pakistani seems to be on a never-ending roller coaster ride. Nations that get sucked into such a whirlwind often lose their sense of making appropriate choices. In fact, the appropriate choice becomes the one which provides instant, though short-termed, relief from an immediate crisis.
Under the circumstances, the tendency is to deconstruct existing structures, often at the pace of destruction, and replace them with something which is often militantly nationalistic, self-righteous and generally dictatorial in character. Hence, extreme sociopolitical crises results in extreme solutions that may not bring long-term relief but are akin to a shot of morphine that gives an immediate high.
One of the best examples of what results from the collapse of a sociopolitical system is the rise of the Third Reich in Germany during the 1930s. Burdened by global recession and a humiliating military defeat, the bulk of middle-class Germany found refuge in Adolf Hitler’s ideology. The Fuhrer promised getting rid of the Treaty of Versailles and unemployment. The silver lining was that once in power, the Nazis would change everything that had been spoiled by the ruling elite of those days. The Weimar government was ferociously accused of capsising to the enemy. The moral fabric of German society had thinned to a degree that there was little possibility of questioning Hitler’s logic.
Thus, the rise of the Nazis was phenomenal. From getting 12 seats in 1928, the Nazi party gained popularity, winning 107 seats in 1930 and 230 in 1932. The sociopolitical and cultural discourse also began to change. There was greater emphasis on German traditions and values, which the Nazis promised to reinforce. This became extremely popular with the youth and women. The latter played an important role in enhancing the political power of the Nazis, just like we saw in the case of Maulana Fazlullah in Swat.
The ascendency of the Nazis to power was not a reflection of some inherent unreasonableness of the German people but an indicator of the utter collapse of German society. Eager to survive and frustrated by the callousness of a political structure that didn’t deliver or dialogue, middle-class Germany opted for a dictatorial philosophy that had the potential of providing immediate relief. The German society at that time had completely lost the sense and ability to transform, hence temporary transition was the only option. The choice itself indicated the depravity of the then existing political system for which the best option was Hitler. Every act of political misdemeanour such as making concessions to the forces of evil and compromising on larger public good comes to haunt a state and its society. The Nazi party, which was a natural beneficiary of the flawed system, made gains through the excellent use of technology and modern tools of communication. Part of the problem of a weakening political structure is that the stakeholders are unable to reinvent themselves.
The crumbling power of the Weimer Republic forced various powerful interest groups to search for a more potent player with the capacity to generate a more gripping ideology, which the Nazis presented in the form of fascism or an extreme form of nationalism. Not that foreign players did not have a hand in Germany’s military and economic devastation, but fascism held European powers entirely responsible for the chaos. At one level, the society had become very politicised and, on the other, extremely apolitical because the formula for changing conditions was absolute force and not dialogue and negotiations.
Pragmatism is indeed a double-edged sword. Political survival is necessary but not at the cost of ideals and values. Hitler was a choice made by a society that had forgotten the art to negotiate dialogue and stand up for some principles. In the mid-1930s, when everyone in Germany thought they were transiting to a safe option, they were actually burning all their boats. Transition does not happen without transformation!
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2011.
COMMENTS (54)
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I have just one question: which wild thought would you have in your mind to draw (and i really mean draw) or appreciate a stupendous analogy between the Nazis and PTI? I felt sick reading through the article, and kept thinking 'how afraid can one be of change?'.
This article comes with a perfect timing. I, personally have been a victim of fascist ideology what IK and his party carries. They are not willing to listen to any opposing argument and brand them as corrupt, thug, or in bed with US. Analogy with Hitler's Germany is a perfect case for further study and thesis before it is too late to reverse the wheel. Our country has already suffered a lot in the hands of military, mullahs and babus and now we don't want another category coming in and tearing us apart in the name of nationalism through zealots like hamid gul, shirin mazari, zaid hamid and company. .
@Khusro Mir: Well if you are in Lahore, I would suggest you to see Dr. Mubarik Ali. He has his PhD from Germany as well. He has clear views on this issue.
@Khusro Mir: Surely i need a correction. Iqbal n Nazism have inspiration in Nietzsche. Iqbal tried to Islamise it with the Ibn Arabi's perfect man, insan kamil concept. But all the essence and rethoric is from there. between 1908-1938 surely Iqbal must had kept that contact with German intellectual scene and political development, 1920-to early 1930s was the period of that development. I have not exact timeline of Iqbal's work on hand now so can't able to match up that but surely will do that whenever available to me.
Dear Iftekhar, Allama Iqbal was in Germany in 1907. Hitler came to power in the 1930's. Iqbal was back in India in 1908. How the heck did you get that strange theory that no other person on the planet accepts? And Allama Iqbal was pushing across his idea AGES before Hitler even came close to becoming elected. Check your facts bro. Check your facts.
@observer:
Why is it that the people who oppose secular fascists are declared religious extremists/terrorists?
Fact is that no one in their sane mind supports terrorism, but that does not give secularism an upper hand. Both are the creation of the devil.
@Abdul Rehman Gilani
Once secular fascists are purged from this country, change will come
Allow me to paraphrase you.
Once secular fascists are purged from this country, Qadri will come
An original and insightful angle on the status of our country! Thank you, it made me think. :D
I think this article needs at least 3 readings to enable you to "get it". Superb article indeed which ought to be discussed in the forums of Pakistani universities but unfortunately, the universities in Pakistan country have gone to dogs and I am afraid if chairpersons of Political Science/History/ IR departments of the universities are asked to read this great scribe they might come out with the answer , " It does not bring out the Islamic Principles" Hail horror hail !! My bow to the writer.
@Sajid:
Last time I checked, wasnt it these "secular fascists" who always talked of purging mullahs and Islamists from society? To the extent that they even wanted religion to be purged from the affairs of the state!
And then they declare others fascists!
@Abid P. Khan: Agreed but in the case of Khan, lack of sense of history and historical context is alarming. If one looks back, he was with BB in 70s n 80s, in his own words was very good friend of her but at the same time was so desensitize to the happenings around him. Sitting and enjoying company of Zia when all things were crumbling around him and seeds of today's bitter harvest and corruption culture were being sown. And he was a mature man of 30 not a teenager then.
@Abid P. Khan: Agreed.
@Abdul Rehman Gilani: The idea of purging a particular group out of a country is nothing but Fascist in nature. Your comment clearly showed the contradiction in it, you were calling others "fascists" and failing to see the fascism in your own comment.
Does Imran not see the illegality of accepting help from intelligence agencies? And if he does not, then we will all suffer if he comes to power. But Imran will suffer the most - Nawaz Sharif will back me up on this, if you know what I mean.
@Talha:
I thought the Islamists were part of the Ghayrat Brigade, and the secular fascists the Bay-ghayrats. So doesnt that imply that the secular fascists, who should be purged, also have the credentials of being Bay-ghayrat!
Your mockery just came back right at ya! :D
Very important analogy and perfect timing.
It was the strong German nationalism infused by Hitler that united Germans and allowed to Germany to rise again. So strong was the German nationalism and ethics infused by Hitler that even defeat in World War 2 could not stop Germany from becoming world's third largest economy. People in Germany love Hitler. He Germans a sense of identity and it were the Nazis which layed the foundation of Germany's industrial empire.
Full fledged propoganda has been unleashed against Imran Khan and PTI since Lahore jalsa. But we the youth of Pakistan have decided to bring PTI into power and nobody can change our mind. If PML N and PPP were interested in accountability they would not have blocked the accountability bill in parliament for last 3 years. We need a strong dose of Pakistani nationalism, we need Imran Khan.
Godwins Law, Ms Siddiqa. There is just one party that is comparable to the National Socialist Party in terms of a once charismatic Leader with a cult of personality, a highly sophisticated party structure which can organize a mass of people at a moments notice.Which crushes internal and external dissent brutally.Which can effectively manipulate the media or silence it to cover its many crimes. Which expounds values of secularism, equal opportunity, anti establishment stand while at the same time functions by all accounts as fascist dictatorship.Which compels every government to accept its every whim and injects its party into the organs of the sate at any chance its given. Which now is the perfect marriage of its political class and the corporate interest of the city it controls. Its a certain party in Karachi which remains unnamed in many reports in this very new paper....
Mr. Moderator and Readers.
Sorry, I don't know how this happened but Wiemar Republic Timeline is as follows:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TimelineoftheWeimarRepublic
Not as per my message above which somehow got corrupted.
@Mrs Z Khan: Agree with you. If I may add, it is amazing that ET never passes an opportunity to criticize Imran Khan, now Aeshya Siddiqa, who wrote an intellectually pathetic distortion of history by linking IK's rally with failure of the Wiemar Republic and rise of Hitler. I read History at University and the Interwar years in Europe did not in any shape or form resemble anything with Pakistan. These were years of massive upheaval and deaths (37.5 million killed and casualties in WW1) in Europe which wiped away centuries of Kings, Sultans, Tsar's and Kaiser's. The objective of Versailles was to pin the guilt on Germany to impose $57 billion in reparation payments plus 25% of German export earnings over 35 years. Germany lost territory in Europe and all its colonies in Africa. Its industrial complex was destroyed - in Essen Krupps and Thyssen Steel armament works were destroyed and dismantled - to make Germany an agricultural country unable to wage war again in Europe. Inflation followed as a result that made Reichmark 5.2 billion equivalent to $1, wiping away various asset-classes of wealth and savings. As if this wasn't enough the 1918-19 Influenza Pandemic wiped away an estimated 20-40 million people worldwide in the age group of 20-40 years. Such was the devastation that women could not find marriageable spouses and population fell for many years. I don't want to quote a library of books on this subject. Suffice it to read the attached to see events in Germany and effects of Influenza:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TimelineoftheWeimarRepublic http://virus.stanford.edu/uda/
When one reads your stuff he not only enjoys an educated view point but also learns. Imran and the PTI may be the wrong man, in the right place, at the right time. But he is the only man available the others, including the uniform, have failed and failed miserably.
@ Talha i second that.
It is a great tribute to the present day Pakistan to compare it with the Weimar Republic. While I take the comparison as glorifying for us, I do not see any compelling parallels to construct an analogy. Neither are there any striking similarities between the personas of Hitler and Imran. Though Imran may take it with a glee, thinking he can write a different end to his story. {But then Hitler also thought he could achieve what Napolean could not – conquer Russia.} However, I must concede, Shireen Mazari does have the frills (though not the substance) of a Goebbels. By the way, all power to Imran for holding the largest ever pro-establishment rally in the history of Pakistan.
@Iftekhar You are very right. Nietzsche's ideas about "Ubermensch" were Islamised by Iqbal. He shunned rational thinking and covered ideas with a thin layer of "Islamist" esotericism. He does too much of sloganeering with the intent of rousing emotive response. Not unsurprising that Taleban sympathizers find Iqbal's ideas appealing. He was a product of his time.
Germanic folk were/are a very hard working with Protestant work ethics. Being precision seems to run in their veins. Mimicking their traits is next to impossible.
spot on Ayesha Siddiqa
food for serious thought. what is worrisome is the possibility that imran khan may be getting played for a sucker by an establishment that has no interest in any real change in pakistan, or in him. and millions of his supporters will also get taken along for the ride.
In this changing world where democracy is the norm, and the whole world is militant against the army dictators the chance of army takeover in Pakistan is bare minimum. Gone are the days and the US support when Pakistani dictators were being financed and nurtured by the West. Now the method of takeover would be different and in the form of a puppet govt to provide army the fig leaf. It would be more than Ayub holding BD elections and forming a political party, Mush holding elections and getting his PML-Q League elected, etc. Now the military dictator would have to be more “creative” and rule from behind the scene. With one dictator falling after another, even Pakistani army is not going to be that adventurous.
Pakistan has a population of about 180 million and is comprised of 4 federating units with distinct languages and religious/sectarian, social & economic differences. There are only a few things that unite us but the rise of PTI reminds the writer of Nazi Germany. What!!! The so called left/liberal segment of Pakistani society is akin to a eunuch that itself cannot beget anything but is jealous of anyone that can. If you have problems with PTI or Imran Khan, who has been in public eye for most of his adult life, then gather your ilk and form a party/forum that beholds your ideals and can influence Pakistani society. Until then... Imran Khan is going to change Pakistan and for good. It will be a much better place to live even for people like you.
@khan jr:
Secular Fascists isnt an oxymoron, and if you have been blessed with intelligence( and I hope you are) then you will understand in what sense and connotation I have taken it.
that level of homogeneity isn't emerging in near future as of that time's Germany, we are much more 'kata kat' of nation but still Iqbal took symbols n spirit of that time to seed these tendencies, 'militantly nationalistic, self-righteous and generally dictatorial.'
Aysha this is the best one I read from you. We need reformation & not a revolution which eats its children.
Imran is softening the ground for the right-wingers to capture Pk................He may be the Mullah Omar of Pk or can become the Erdogan of Turkey. But he as clowns around him like Shireen Mazari who can sink his Titanic faster than expected.
@Madam Siddiqa, I have always been a great admirer of your writings, but, I feel this article of yours is somewhat odd and not doing justice to the image of you that I hold. Comparing present Pakistan with the Weimar Germany is just outrageous. Germans were a nation, even before Bismark united them with iron fist, whereas Pakistan is an artificial entity which is still trying to find an identity as an independent nation. Therefore, your implied "national anger" at the "defeat" is ridiculous because Pakistan, in its entire brief history, never tasted any kind of success or victory. The recent hype about Imran Khan in Pakistan only reflects the fragility of the country as a nation state. An ordinary, egoistic, naive and ill educated person like Imran khan, gaining popularity with the middle class urban burger boys, only goes to show that Pakistan has lost the race with the rest of the world, because even the most backward African countries have elected the true leaders like Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, who successfully turned a hell called Liberia into, at least, a livable place and that is no small an achievement. Imran trolls usually ask, if not Imran who do you vote? Nawaj, Zardari or Altaf? I would say, latter three of them are better alternatives than the delusional Imran Khan, simply because a corrupt, but wise ruler is far more preferable than a stupid leader with suicidal tendencies. Therefore, Nawaz or zardari zindabad!!
Once the Beghairat Islamists are purged from this country, then change will come.
I was scrolling down the page, reading comments, and then I fell off my chair laughing. It was at Abdul Rehman Gillani's comment. "Secular Fascist" :D
Imran ain't Hitler. Hitler was not a puppet. He was genuinely pained for his nation. He was a great visionary. He transformed German society into most vibrant societies. The economy which was on the verge of collapse before Nazis, became so powerful that they fought the war with THE WORLD and still after 5 years, German factories were producing and its trains were running! He made the mistake of not sticking to the plan he initially crafted. Nazism was not right but then communism and capitalism ain't good too. Imran is a bubble and puppet of those who cannot survive a full fledged war more than 1 week.
If parallels between the current situation in Pakistan and Hitler's Third Reich must be drawn, then I think the rise and lure of Islamic Fundamentalism would be a more apt candidate than Imran Khan. However, to attempt to paint IK as some Hitler-like figure (and perhaps the recent PTI rally as equivalent to a Nuremberg rally) is, I think, far-fetched - even mischievous.
IK’s politics might appear naïve to some, but I don’t think they can be regarded as fascist. True, IK appeals to Iqbal’s philosophy and both Hitler and Iqbal found inspiration in the philosophy of Nietzsche, but that is hardly grounds to regard Hitler and IK as being ‘cut from the same cloth’. If anything, it is the Islamic Fundamentalists who regard Hitler as a hero who are closer to Hitler in both their rhetoric and murderous inclinations. It is there that the real danger lies.
Hitler has been described by Professor Alan Bullock as an example of moral and intellectual cretinism. I think this could equally well be said for many of the mullahs and their gauleiters.
The comparison may or may not be apt but IK is naive and delusional and the people are desperate.
I suppose we should be grateful that no one is calling for the army to take over.
But trying to topple the government through street violence could play right into their hands and then we will ALL loose.
Political survival is necessary but not at the cost of ideals and values. Hitler was a choice made by a society that had forgotten the art to negotiate dialogue and stand up for some principles. In the mid-1930s, when everyone in Germany thought they were transiting to a safe option, they were actually burning all their boats. Transition does not happen without transformation!
NAILED IT!
Going by IK's and others' principal preoccupations, Pakistanis don't care about the economy or education or jobs- they care about war. War waged, not on their own, but on US, China, Saudi Arabia's money, which Pakistanis claim as their right. In contrast, Germany not only paid for its own wars, it paid its opponents war reparations afterward. Germany thus indulged in its Nazi ideology at its own cost, unlike Pakistan which demands others pay for Pakistan to indulge in its ideology and its wars.
@Abdul Rehman Gilani.
You want a purge of 'secular fascists'? Do you know what fascist or fascism actually means?
Or is it simply a word which you have recently learnt and find useful to hurl at those whose views you disagree with (without actually having a clue of what it means).
very well said by the author ... proud to b a pakistani...
well how Iqbal's views fit there...he was in Germany around that time and taking rhetoric of that time and symbols try to islamize and humanize that Nazi ideals. And no doubt Iqbal is much fascinating to youths under IK.
I am not sure if comparing to Weimer Republic is the right way to approach the Pakistani malaise. The rise of populist movements or leadership, around the world, cannot be compared to weaknesses of the Weimer Republic or rise of Nazism in Germany. I hope Pakistan does not go that far. Populism is an outcome panted-up grievances, lack of sense of direction, inability of the leadership to channel the popular demands into public policies. Growing economic uncertainty (read stagflation) adds fuel to the existing frustrations.
Once secular fascists are purged from this country, change will come.
The Wiemar Republic of the 1920s is probably an apt example to describe current day Pakistan, but Imran Khan is hardly Hitler material (though Hamid Gul might be!)
I hope you aren’t comparing Adolf Hitler with Imran khan, or post war Germany with Pakistan. Germany achieved unification through ‘blood and iron’ as Bismarck put it. Prussian militarism and extreme nationalism was an essential part of their culture. Hitler was aided by the German military and business elite which hated and feared the communists. German army was reduced to a mere 100,000 under the Treaty of Versailles while Hitler controlled over 2 million paramilitary SA troops in 1930. Nazis had strictly disciplined and ideologically motivated party members who took each and every institution of the state including the media, army and bureaucracy.
Well written. Your view about Weimar Republic is so accurate. Those who raise your hopes on empty slogans which they know cannot be achieved, can lead to dangerous results like in Germany. The current government is weak and is short on delivery, but it is elected by people and IK has the right to convince people to topple it at the next elections in 2014. But claiming to solve many problems in 100 days is a target of dream fabric. Some might call it fooling people, like Hitler did.