Muhammad Bilawal Kamran
Elite Capture in Pakistan
What is elite capture? It simply refers to a few individuals or groups’ monopolies on resources, whether political, economic, cultural, educational or financial. A small group captures all the resources, and the general public remains deprived.
How can a small group capture the resources of the majority of the people? Elite capture begins with the monopoly of political power. Irrespective of the form of governance, whether democracy or autocracy, the elite controls the power of making a government. Afterwards, they monopolies the legislation and law-making. They make the laws, delegated laws and other rules that only favour the elite’s interest. Then, they control the judiciary and executive so that the interpretation and implementation of laws remain in the control of the elite in a country. They also create influence with armies, religious authorities and all other groups, which could hamper the elite interests. Elite represents financial interests; therefore, they can easily influence religious, political, judicial and administrative interests.
Pakistan faces the fundamental challenge of elite culture. The inherent social caste and tribal system garner the concept of elitism. Then, the religious and cultural layers also support the formulation of an elite culture. Hence, the fabric of society makes a privileged orientation. Therefore, it is a far more significant challenge not only to resist it but also to break it. It is a society of privileges, and ordinary people do not resist it.
The elite in Pakistan is above the law. That roots deep into the foundation of society’s embedded class system, colonial hangover and autocracy. Almost all social, religious, ethnic, economic and political assemblages are represented by their clan-elite in the collective life of the state and society. Consequently, all these diverging clan elites formulate a common invincible elite. Astonishingly, the religious elite, inherently opposite in code, also has carved a charter of co-existence with other clan elites. History indicates that these divergent elites never resisted one another but rather secured a common elite clique.
Elites in Pakistan monopolise the state and society. Their de facto resistor regulates social, cultural, economic and political orders at the expense of the public at large. That weaves religious, cultural and political narratives to control the logical wits of the common people. It wheels the people politically so that no middle-class leadership nor party may emerge from the ashes of middle-class despondency. It exploits the economy and develops cartels. It defeats the administrative and judicial checks and balances. Such expansive influence is only possible once all power clusters safeguard one another and sponsor the joint interests of a common clique. Public institutional bureaucracies also join the elite factions as the former has powers and the latter resources.
How divergent clusters of power join hands to arrange a common elite. Marriage is a binding force among different elite factions. Marriage is a social contract, and that can effortlessly be extended to business and political contracts. Preferably, all clan elites, including public institutional bureaucracies, marry one another, making an invincible elite. Although the clergy elite is part and parcel of the elite clique, they often remain aloof in intermarriages. Hence, the elite clique becomes a powerful cartel and leisurely decides the fate of the people at recreational elite clubs over a cup of tea. One can quickly grasp the orientation of the elite if one has ever feasted at Gymkhana Club, Lahore.
Can Pakistan break the elite capture? Most of our research work only indicates the problems rather than the solutions. The best way to break the elite capture is consistency in democracy. The present elite culture is due to the undemocratic forces that never allowed democracy to grow and mature. Democracy is the political way of life of a nation. Repeated elections make a mature democracy. Pakistan needs all tiers of government, including local governments, to function. The devolution of power, whether political, legislative, financial or administrative, is critical to breaking the elite capture in Pakistan. The reformation of the judiciary and the rule of law is also vital. The elite capture shall always remain in place until the Judiciary in Pakistan provides justice to all and sundry.
Lastly, it’s the people’s decision whether they want to break it or not. They must choose those representatives who could break the elite capture. Pakistan needs middle-class political parties and leadership. The art of voting should be the people’s final destination in Pakistan. If they learn the power of their vote and exercise it accordingly, they can break the nexus of the elite in Pakistan. Otherwise, how can the elite compromise their interests?
