1. A Pakistani-American
Civic Association
and its
Experience of 9/11
Diasporic Diplomacy in a Time of
International Tension
Sept 2004:
Congressman Vito Fossella (NY) and Pak Foreign Office Spokesman Jalil Abbas Jalani
2. Thesis
• A robust Muslim civil society can be established, however the following must be
considered:
I. Democratic institutions must take into account local traditions.
II. Civil society requires a secure environment in which to flourish.
The environment changed after 9/11 resulting in an environment which was
not conducive to the flourishing of a Muslim American civil society.
III. These elements lead to larger questions about whether in
Middle East countries, Islam and the development of democracy are
compatible with one another.
IV. Provides some preliminary thinking based on the experience
of Pakistani-Americans in Staten Island, New York
2
3. I. Importance of Culture
“Culture provides a repertoire or ‘tool-kit’
of symbols, stories, rituals and world views,
which people use in varying configurations
to solve different kinds of problems”
Ann Swidler, “Culture in Action: Symbols and Strategies”
American Sociological Review, 1986
3
4. Civil Society
• Consists of a base of traditions upon
which democratic forms are based.
• A civil society may be defined as a
society in which groups aggregate the
views and activities of individuals,
and which act to defend and promote
the interests of their respective
constituencies.
4
5. Staten Island, NY “An Ethnic Smorgasbord”
• Population up 17% 443,728
• White Population decreased from 85% to 78%
• Black and African American population rose 2% to 10%
– 42,914
• Two major new Immigrant Groups:
– Asians up 48% to 25,071
– Hispanics up 77% to 53,550
• Census 2000 figures might be under reported
• Asian ethnicity sometimes reported in Other categories
5
7. • Collective society rather
than emphasizing
individualism
• Large social functions
• Strong commitment to
hospitality, your guest
is a gift to you
• Honor concept similar to
that in Far Eastern
cultures
Mother and Daughter
7
8. Examples of Democracy within Cultural
Context
• Community Board appointments –
– The late Rosalie Flanagan, CB Director
– Borough President vs. City Councilman
appointments
• Local Political Party
– Executive Committee ‘slate’ followed by
unanimous vote by County Committee (~250)
– Pak-American Civic Organization ~ Executive
committee consensus vote
8
9. No Single Type of
Pakistani Organization
• Pak Cultural Association – Executive Committee by
invitation, Doctors, Dentists, Business Owners
• Local Mosque – Governing body by invitation only
• Pak-American Civic Association
– Decision to open Executive Committee to entire Pak
community a la Ali Bhutto (’70s Pak Peoples Party)
• The Pakistani American Congress
– Constitution changed to hold elections for Executive
Committee, privacy in voting, election tallies published
– Positions previously decided by consensus
9
10. Pak American Civic Association ~ Pre 9/11
• Cultural-Political functions - 1000+ attendees
• 3 Members in Local Political Party (LPP) Executive
Committee
• 2 members in LPP State Committee
• Newly organized Political Club under umbrella of LPP
initiated by members
• Involvement in all aspects of local politics: fund-raising,
signatures, literature drops, phone calls, temp jobs in
Board of Elections, Election Day watchers, etc.
• All their major functions attended by City, State and
Federal Politicians and Political Party representatives
• Community Service Award by LPP, Gov Pataki
• Women’s Club VP ~ Child Advocates
• NYS Chair Women’s Health Committee
10
11. Cultural Shows served as a medium to bring together large
Pakistani groups and the Political Community
11
12. In attendance: Community Board District Manager (NYC Govt),
LPP County Chairwoman (Political entity),
District Attorney candidate (Law), Newspaper Reporter (Media)
12
15. Pakistani Political Functions
• PM Muhammad
Nawaz Sharif
• Former PM Benazir
Bhutto, PPP
• Pres. Of the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan
General Pervez
Musharraf
15
16. Benazir and LPP Chairperson
The Civic Organization
was not restricted in
meeting with leaders
of various political
parties and some
members attended a
function hosted for
ex-PM Benazir Bhutto
16
18. Post 9/11
• The organization dropped its plans to run
a candidate for City Council or State
Assembly
• Large Cultural-Political Functions were
discontinued at my request
• Candle-light procession for firemen was
discouraged by local police department
• Food prepared for WTC site workers
• Two positions lost –LPP Exec Committee
18
19. Initial Efforts
“The association coordinates social
events to unify the Island Pakistani
community and raise political awareness”
Staten island Advance October 28, 2001 19
23. Newspaper Circulation NYC Media Solutions, SRDS Newspaper
Advertising Source, March 2005, Vol. 87 #3
Total NDM Outside
Daily News M-F 715,052 676,521 38,531
Sat 545,216 508,441 36,775
Sun 786,952 738,362 48,590
NY Times M-F 1,133,763
Sat 1,045,347
Sun 1,677,003
NY Post Morn 686,207
Sat 481,860
Sun 455,511
SI Advance 23
M-Sat 65,607 Sun 81,830
24. Newspaper Searches
• “Frequency of terms ‘islami* and terror*’ increased by quantitative
count after 9/11 and are not yet back down to pre-9/11 figures in all
three NYC newspapers with largest circulations: NY Times, NY
Post, Daily News: March 1999 to March 2005 via computer search
• Words may have been replaced by: insurgents, other terms
• Front headlines for Sunday SI Advance had 52% penetration in
2004 in SI households: .02% national or international news
pre-9/11, .06% after 9/11: March 1999 through March 2005
• Numerous extra headlines re terrorism included in SI Advance in
new section located between Front page and World News page.
24
25. Perpetuators called:
Pre-9/11: Post 9/11:
Extremist Muslim rebels Militants
Rebels Suicide bombers (4)
Separatist groups Islamic militants (2)
Guerrillas Militant group
Hijackers Terrorist cells
Insurgents Militant Muslim group
Militia Network headed by OBL (3)
Militant gunman guerillas
Militants gunmen (4)
25
26. Number of Times “Islam__ and Terror_”
Appeared in the Same Article
1200
1000
800
NY Post
600
Daily News
400 NY Times
200
0
1999 2001~ 9/10 2002 2004
26
27. Activities of other organizations
• Yearly picnic continued each summer
• Non-political
• New organization:
The Council of Pakistan, in Brooklyn to help
Pak women learn English (NY-1 News Channel
Report) reported thousands of Pakistanis leaving the
Coney Island Avenue area in Brooklyn.
27
28. “You're right at the epicenter of a
tremendous (and largely awful) storm.
I do see parallels now with the treatment
of the Japanese, perhaps more with the
less harsh treatment of Germans during
WWI.”
Stephen P. Cohen, Senior Analyst, Brookings Institute, 3/13/05
28
29. Conclusions
• …Hardly an environment for a flourishing
Muslim-American civil society..
• However, it wasn’t as bad as it could have
been, I believe based on the support of
President George W. Bush, and on down
through the State and City levels of
government.
• Potential Implications for the
Development of Democracy
29
30. 8 Lessons Learned in the
Promotion of Democracy Around
the World
• There are many models of democracy.
• Elections do not make a democracy
• Democracy takes time.
• Democracy rests on an informed and educated populace
• Independent and responsible media are essential.
• Women are vital to democracy
• Political and economic reforms are mutually reinforcing.
• Although it can be encouraged from outside, democracy is best built
with people from within.
• Richard N. Haass, director of the Policy Planning Staff, US Department of
State, “Toward Greater Democracy in the Muslim World”, The Washington
Quarterly, Center for Strategic and International Studies and the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 26:3, pp 140.
30
31. New Initiatives
• American Muslim Group on Policy Planning , Saban Center,
Brookings Institution December 2004
• To provide perspective, integration, efforts at diplomacy, educational
outreach, and television targeting to convey a positive message to
Muslim populations.
• In addition, several participants recognized that civil liberties issues
were hindering American Muslims, and the discussion ‘exhibited
the challenges of inclusiveness and exclusiveness that have
characterized Muslim-American issues since 9/11.’
“Bridging the Divide? The Role of the American Muslim Community in US Relations with
the Wider Islamic World”, December 13, 2004
31
32. • Adam Ereli, Deputy Spokesperson of the US
State Department outlined goals and
approaches of the US government and ways in
which American Muslims could work with the US
government in promoting democracy, stability
and prosperity.
• To counter the forces of extremism and to build
trust, the US State Department would like to
provide a ‘compelling, alternative vision of
opportunity, participation, and change to the
Muslim community.
32
33. American Muslim Group on Policy
Planning
• Farid Senzai,
The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
• Currently being developed in terms of structure, and its funding
mission.
• I urged them to start a website, take interviews with newspapers for
publicity purposes and look towards the general Muslim-American
community to fund their initiative. The Web-site is also a way to
request applications for scholars willing to participate in their
endeavor.
Farid Senzai, telephone conversation, March 11, 2005
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