A Split Identity: Religion and Identity Formation in Pakistan

Author: Ashely Brooke Caudill

“Like many other post-colonial nations, Pakistan has struggled with the process of constructing a national identity. Many Pakistanis have grown weary after years of investing in a system that is plagued with instability, having been subjected to several increments of military rule. Past attempts to establish a national identity have failed to generate support among the elites and masses. Instead of one vision for Pakistan, several competing identities have been advanced in the national dialogue. Although several key aspects of Pakistan's identity are still unresolved, the role of Islam and the state is perhaps the most contested."