Young Pakistanis in the Public Sphere: ‘New’ Community Organisations

Abstract

Chapter 2 detailed how welfare organisations were a way through which the first generation got involved in mainstream, local-level electoral politics. For the pioneer generation, involvement in welfare organisations was a role for biraderi elders, whose status as ‘immigrant brokers’ was, in turn, institutionalised in the patronage system. For younger Pakistanis, getting involved in community activism can also stem from, and lead to, ambitions for a role in mainstream electoral politics. However, instead of building up status as ‘biraderi brokers’, younger Pakistanis build up cultural capital: the skills and confidence to get involved in electoral politics. Of course, not all those who get involved in community activism want to end up in electoral politics.