The News: A Strategic Pivot for Pakistan

In a significant pivot from its historical narrative, Pakistan is currently charting a course towards a national identity forged by recent triumphs rather than past grievances. The nation recently celebrated a substantial military achievement in May 2025, securing a decisive victory against its traditional rival, India. This military success was swiftly followed by a diplomatic coup: Pakistan successfully mediated a critical dialogue between the United States and Iran at a time of escalating tensions, thrusting itself into a pivotal role on the global diplomatic stage.

These dual successes are not merely isolated incidents but represent a concerted effort by the Pakistani state to cultivate a more unified and forward-looking sense of nationalism. This strategic direction stands in stark contrast to a prevalent global trend where nations increasingly define their core identity through shared historical suffering, a phenomenon scholars term “victimhood nationalism.”

Background: Understanding Victimhood Nationalism

The concept of Victimhood Nationalism, meticulously explored by South Korean historian Jie-Hyun Lim in his 2025 seminal work, highlights a contemporary shift in how nations construct their self-image. Instead of celebrating grand victories, many modern states now actively compete over who has endured the greatest historical suffering. This internalization of past tragedies, as Lim argues, grants a nation a collective moral immunity, allowing political leaders to weaponize shared trauma to foster nationalism while conveniently overlooking their own historical shortcomings or current problematic policies.

Lilie Chouliaraki, in her 2024 book Wronged: The Weaponisation of Victimhood, further elaborates on this, positing that across the political spectrum, leaders are now routinely claiming victim status. This strategic deployment of grievance serves as a powerful shield against critique and a potent rallying cry for popular support, transforming victimhood from a psychological response into a strategic political instrument.

Global Manifestations: Israel and India

One of the most compelling examples of victimhood nationalism is observed in Israel’s national narrative. The memory of the Holocaust, an unspeakable collective trauma, is deeply embedded and sanctified within the state’s foundational purpose. When Israel faces international scrutiny or censure for its military actions or its treatment of Palestinians, the invocation of the Holocaust often serves as an immediate deflection. By framing geopolitical conflicts as an extension of historical anti-Semitism, Israeli leaders leverage past victimisation to justify aggressive policies and sidestep accountability. This narrative is consistently reinforced globally through well-funded lobby groups influencing political, social, and cultural discourse, despite significant dissent from many Jewish individuals who critically view Israel’s policies.

Similarly, India under the Narendra Modi government has increasingly embraced a narrative steeped in victimhood, particularly through the lens of Hindu nationalism, or Hindutva. This ideology is deeply rooted in the premise that Hindu culture and faith suffered violent suppression during centuries of Muslim rule in the subcontinent. This perceived historical grievance is then projected onto contemporary Muslim-majority Pakistan, casting it as a direct continuation of this ancient trauma. Modi’s public statements, such as his reaction to Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes in May 2024 (“Instead of helping us crush the terrorists, Pakistan attacked us!”), can be seen as micro-manifestations of this larger victimhood narrative, portraying India as an innocent party unjustly targeted.

Ironically, historical scholarship often debunks the exaggerated claims of widespread temple destruction and persecution under Muslim rulers. Richard M. Eaton’s 2004 work, Temple Desecration and Indo-Muslim States, meticulously details that only a small fraction of India’s numerous temples were affected, challenging the widespread victim narrative.

Historical Parallels and Consequences

The “Lost Cause” myth, propagated in the American South after the Civil War (1861-65), offers another classic historical example. Defeated Confederate sympathizers reframed their pro-slavery fight as a heroic, albeit doomed, struggle for states’ rights against an aggressive North. This narrative, a form of white nationalism built on “heroic tragedy,” continues to influence right-wing discourse in the region.

The consequences of anchoring national identity in past suffering can be profoundly damaging. Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe, for decades, built its national identity almost entirely on the legitimate trauma of British colonial exploitation. However, weaponizing these grievances as the sole basis for nationalism led to disastrous economic policies, including land grabs and hyperinflation, resulting in national decline and international isolation.

Impact on Pakistan: Forging a New Path

For decades, Pakistan has grappled with an international image often characterized by demonization and isolation, largely stemming from specific military and ideological misadventures. In this context, the state’s deliberate shift away from a grievance-based narrative towards one built on concrete achievements marks a critical inflection point. This new approach offers significant strategic advantages, both domestically and internationally.

By leveraging its recent military victory and diplomatic successes, Pakistan aims to foster a stronger, more unified national identity. This move stands to replace a potentially divisive or defensively oriented nationalism with one that inspires confidence and collective pride in tangible accomplishments. Domestically, this can translate into greater social cohesion and a shared sense of purpose. Internationally, this pivot is designed to transform Pakistan’s global standing from one of perceived instability or defensiveness to that of a capable, responsible, and impactful regional power.

Embracing an achievement-based nationalism allows Pakistan to escape the trap of “diminishing returns” often experienced by states that constantly demand recognition for historical wounds. Such a perpetual focus on victimhood can exhaust international goodwill and foster paranoid foreign policies, leading to further isolation. Instead, Pakistan’s new narrative is poised to generate durable soft power, attracting global respect and fostering partnerships built on mutual interests and proven capabilities, rather than defensive justifications.

Analysis: The Power of Achievement-Based Nationalism

The contrast between victimhood-centric and achievement-centric nationalism is stark, with profound implications for a nation’s trajectory. While the former can breed paranoia, justify aggression, and lead to international isolation, the latter fosters confidence, promotes constructive engagement, and garners genuine respect.

A shining example of achievement-based nationalism is South Korea. Rather than dwelling on the brutal trauma of Japanese occupation (1910-1945), South Korea consciously rallied its people around the collective triumph of rapid post-war industrialization and technological dominance. By anchoring national pride in tangible economic and technological achievements, South Korea built a dynamic, forward-looking, and confident national identity that commanded global admiration and partnership. This approach not only fueled unprecedented economic growth but also established the nation as a significant global player and innovator.

Pakistan’s current strategic shift mirrors this successful South Korean model. By prioritizing recent successes – a military victory and significant diplomatic mediation – Pakistan is actively constructing a national identity rooted in capability and positive global contribution. This move is not merely about boasting; it’s a profound reorientation of national purpose. It signals a departure from a reactive, grievance-driven posture to a proactive, success-driven one.

The global validation and partnerships that Pakistan is now attracting underscore the efficacy of this new approach. Unlike the defensive isolation that characterized much of its past, building nationalism on tangible triumphs generates a highly durable form of international soft power. This path promises not only enhanced national self-esteem but also a more secure, prosperous, and respected place for Pakistan in the complex tapestry of 21st-century geopolitics.