Fizza Batool – författare

This book examines the critical intersection of religion, democracy, and political leadership in three prominent Muslim-majority states—Malaysia, Pakistan, and Turkey. It offers a comparative analysis of the political careers and strategies of Mahathir Mohamad, Nawaz Sharif, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, exploring how these leaders have strategically instrumentalised religion to shape their political narratives, mobilise public support, and consolidate power. By examining the adaptive use of religion as a tool for governance, the book sheds light on the broader dynamics of religious politics in contemporary democracies.Using qualitative research methods, the book investigates the political rhetoric, policy decisions, and symbolic actions of these leaders, analysing how they navigate the tensions between Islamic principles and democratic institutions. Drawing on extensive historical and contextual data, it categorises religious instrumentalisation into three fluid strategies: conservatism, nationalism, and populism. This innovative framework offers readers a fresh perspective on how religion functions as a versatile political tool, making it highly relevant to scholars and practitioners in political science, sociology, and religious studies.

This book examines the critical intersection of religion, democracy, and political leadership in three prominent Muslim-majority states—Malaysia, Pakistan, and Turkey. It offers a comparative analysis of the political careers and strategies of Mahathir Mohamad, Nawaz Sharif, and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, exploring how these leaders have strategically instrumentalised religion to shape their political narratives, mobilise public support, and consolidate power. By examining the adaptive use of religion as a tool for governance, the book sheds light on the broader dynamics of religious politics in contemporary democracies.Using qualitative research methods, the book investigates the political rhetoric, policy decisions, and symbolic actions of these leaders, analysing how they navigate the tensions between Islamic principles and democratic institutions. Drawing on extensive historical and contextual data, it categorises religious instrumentalisation into three fluid strategies: conservatism, nationalism, and populism. This innovative framework offers readers a fresh perspective on how religion functions as a versatile political tool, making it highly relevant to scholars and practitioners in political science, sociology, and religious studies.

Based on semi-structured interviews with ordinary citizens in Pakistan, this book analyses the complex relationship between populism, political identity, and historical experiences in Pakistan, highlighting how populist discourse influences and is influenced by varied interpretations of Pakistaniat - the identification with Pakistan. It introduces a novel theoretical framework for analysing populism in the public sphere, using Laclau's view of populism as a discursive logic and Panizza's definition as a mode of identification. This connection allows for a deeper understanding of how populist constructs form a collective identity amidst diverse demands, particularly through the concept of "the people" as an empty signifier. The book also examines the multiple meanings associated with Pakistani identity and their ties to the rise of populism, addressing gaps in existing literature regarding the demand side of populism and its impact on both politicians and the public.

Based on semi-structured interviews with ordinary citizens in Pakistan, this book analyses the complex relationship between populism, political identity, and historical experiences in Pakistan, highlighting how populist discourse influences and is influenced by varied interpretations of Pakistaniat - the identification with Pakistan. It introduces a novel theoretical framework for analysing populism in the public sphere, using Laclau's view of populism as a discursive logic and Panizza's definition as a mode of identification. This connection allows for a deeper understanding of how populist constructs form a collective identity amidst diverse demands, particularly through the concept of "the people" as an empty signifier. The book also examines the multiple meanings associated with Pakistani identity and their ties to the rise of populism, addressing gaps in existing literature regarding the demand side of populism and its impact on both politicians and the public.

This book presents a new theoretical model for mapping how populist leaders construct “the people”, using simultaneous processes of inclusion and exclusion. Applying this model to Pakistan's distinctive political landscape, the work analyzes the populist discourse of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Imran Khan, highlighting the key similarities and differences in their construct. The comparative analysis underlines how Pakistan’s political history, including the role of religion, the military, and dynastic politics, shapes populist politics in the country.By centering a non-Western case, this book challenges dominant frameworks and offers an accessible, comparative lens on populist discourse. It will be of interest to scholars and students of populism, Pakistani politics, and discourse analysis, as well as to those interested in the broader dynamics of democratization in hybrid political systems.