This paper explores the role of deliberation in the democratization of Pakistan. It analyzes the case of the Pakistan Lawyers’ Movement during the military dictatorship (2007- 2009) and how it paved the way to the process of democratization in the country. Although the democratization of societies at large has always been at the core of deliberative theory,comparative studies of democratization have completely missed the deliberative aspect, which makes the transition to democracy possible. Through Dryzek’s concept of deliberative capacity, this paper investigates the role of Pakistan Lawyers’ Movement in building this capacity across different locations in the political system. This paper attempts to interpret the Pakistan Lawyers’ Movement through the lens of deliberative theory. This Movement throws new light on the normative aspects of deliberative theory and also helps us to understand the nature of deliberation in an authoritarian non-Western context. The case of the Pakistan Lawyers’ Movement provokes reflection on the normative principles of deliberative democracy, helps us to understand the nature of deliberation in an authoritarian context, and extends current scholarship on the comparative studies of democratization.
Key words: Deliberative Theory, Pakistan Lawyers’ Movement, Democratization.
