Politics across the globe has become increasingly complex. But far more interestingly, a similar pattern is being witnessed across major democracies. Nationalism has taken over the world by storm, and leading politicians all over the world seem to have tamed this overpowering tide in their favour. But for how long? And how far do these narratives truly go?

In our special report this week, we take a look at the political and nationalistic narratives in some countries, including Pakistan, India, America, England and Germany. The recent election in England perhaps is just the beginning of a complicated political challenge surrounding nationalistic narratives. How Boris Johnson, who has played with Brexit to his advantage, manages to work through it is something only time will tell. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s rise in American politics is a testament to nationalistic political strategies gaining momentum with time.

There is a rising tide of Hindu nationalism in Narendra Modi’s India today. The civil society and the opposition political parties are protesting against the newly enacted citizenship laws as well as the National Register of Citizens. Modi’s critics say there is enough evidence to be convinced of a concerted effort on part of the Indian government to marginalise the country’s largest minority, Muslims.

In Pakistan, the politics of identity has always remained integrally attached to nationalism – an idea that to date remains vague and fluid. To top it off, nationalism has been attached to the concept of religion, making the identity debate all the more complicated.

How these global narratives take shape in the coming times will be determined by the will of the peoples influenced by the new breed of
politics.