CAUSES OF INTOLERANCE IN

THE SOCIETY

Group # 03
M.Zeeshan Haider
Nadeem Jaffar
Bader ul Arfeen
Fakhar Imam

Department of Civil Engineering

Quaid-e-Azam College of Engineering &Technology,
Sahiwal

Abstract
Intolerance.Intolerance is in abundant evidence in every phase of
Pakistani social life. Social science is tar enough advanced to indicate the
social results which we may expect from such intolerance. Progress is
difficult it not impossible in an intolerant society. Intolerance breeds
separation, misunderstanding, and hostility between groups. When
groups have no opportunity to settle their disagreements by discussion,
they are apt to resort to fighting. Intolerance therefore plays a leading
part in fostering civic disorders, and especially in fostering revolution.
Repression is the seed of revolution. The particular repression which
breeds revolution is the suppression of freedom in intercommunication for
the mechanism of intercommunication is the organ of adjustment for
conscious social change. Present widespread intolerance threatens to
bring on revolution. The remedy is the conversion of our people to the
scientific attitude of mind.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................3
SOCIAL INTOLERANCE............................................................................................................. 3
ORGANIZATION OF TERM PAPER.............................................................................................. 3
PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF STUDY............................................................................................. 3
CAUSES OF SOCIAL INTOLERANCE.........................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................3
METHODOLOGY AND ANALYSIS.............................................................................3
METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................................... 3
ANALYSIS................................................................................................................................. 3
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................3
 INTRODUCTION
SOCIAL INTOLERANCE:
"Unwillingness to accept views, beliefs, or behavior that differ from one's own" 1

Intolerance is a dangerous and unacceptable quality which should be suppressed to

grow in the society. It destroys the growing power of any country by setting people against
people of different groups. It is a collective version of hate, but is a natural human instinct at
the level of the individual. If someone hurts you, it will be your natural response to hate him.
At the collective level, however, you can hate someone without first being hurt by him. As an
individual, you might hurt the man back; but as a part of the collective identity, you might
even kill someone who has done you no harm.

People living in the intolerant society groups can do aggressive attack in order to
express their denial to the opinions, practices, and behavior of other people related to
different group. Intolerance can be religious, racial or other types however all badly affect
the nation growth and development. It is an international problem because of the religious,
cultural, traditional, customs, or way of thinking differences of people. It is the main cause of
war among people or nations. That's why it is very important to recognize the causes of
intolerance in the society so that we can cater them.

ORGANIZATION OF TERM PAPER:

The term paper is organized into five chapters. The first chapter gives an introduction
to the topic. The second chapter discusses various causes of social intolerance. Literature
review is explained in the chapter three. Research methodology and analysis of results is
given in the chapter four. Chapter five gives the conclusion drawn from this investigation
and suggestions for future work. Finally references are given at the end. Questionnaire is
also attached.

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF STUDY:

1 Oxford English Dictionary, article: the root of our intolerance.
 The purpose of the study is to study the causes of rising intolerance in the society of
Pakistan. In the study various NGO's , religious institutions, human rights commission of
Pakistan and universities are involved.

CAUSES OF SOCIAL INTOLERANCE

Illiteracy:
Illiteracy or lack of education leads the society towards intolerance and
destruction.Without education a society cannot be developed morally Intolerance,
extremism and terrorism will continue to take over our lives. If quality and equal
education is not provided to the generation of today. (Pakistans illiteracy rate rising
intolerance, extremism and terrorism By Maryam Nasir) . The most menacing form of
illiteracy is the religious illiteracy. It is very easy to detract someone in the name of religion
if one does know nothing about religion than theocrats can use him in the way they want to
achieve their filthy personal goals. A well educated person is not confined to worldly
knowledge only.An undeniable quality of any belief system is its permeation into other
parts of the life of whomever subscribes to it many religious affiliations could be classified
as religiously illiterate. Religious illiteracy may be more insidious than we realize, a silent
ignorance underlying countless other national problems.This trend of anti-intellectualism
regarding religion has led to widespread judgmental attitudes and offensive political
rhetoric.(Religious IlliteracyA Silent Ignorance and a Possible Cure).

Bigotry:
Throughout human history, civilizations have been plagued by the
problems that result from peoples prejudice and bigotry toward one
another. In this context, prejudice is a negative attitude that occurs when
people prejudge disliked others, and bigotry is an extreme form of it.
Social scientists have written extensively about the correlates of
prejudice because of its relationship to group conflict and violence (e.g.,
Janowitz 1969). Much of this attention has focused on the connections
between group conflict and a host of social phenomena that are
associated with prejudice, including though not limited to stereotyping,
rioting, terrorism, and, not the least among them, bigotry (e.g.,
Hovland and Sears 1940; Green et al. 1998).

Bigotry refers to extreme intolerance of members of a socially

recognized and vilified out-group. An out-group is a group other than the
one in which individuals perceive themselves to belong. Bigotry is not
simply disagreeing with what someone else believes; it is an
 unwillingness to tolerate or accept the person who holds those beliefs.
(Shut Up, Bigot!: The Intolerance of Tolerance, Ben R.
Crenshaw)

Injustice:
Injustice is one the most crucial causes of intolerance. A Malaysian
politician Steven Sim states that : I think the first step is to realize
that our main problem is not intolerance, but injustice. Do not
fall for this tolerance nonsense. It is about politics, not political
correctness. (The Problem is not Intolerance, it is Injustice.
By Steven Sim , penang monthly august 2016). When a society
faces a system composed of injustice and inequality than the social
cognition of each participant of the society becomes outrageous which
leads a society towards intolerance. In Quran Allah has ordered strictly to
do justice in the society : "O you who have believed, be
persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do
not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be
just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed,
Allah is Acquainted with what you do." (Holy Quran 5:8) .

Lack of social values:

Social values are an important part of the culture of a society. Society values , norms
and institutions explain the way in which social processes operate in a giver society . They
are the social sources of patterned interaction. Values account for the stability of a social
order. They provide general guidelines for conduct.

Tolerance is the key in maintaining social relations of harmony and

peace, by respecting differences in people, cultures, lifestyles and religions.
Tolerance is a virtue of character as well as a learned behavior. (Importance
of Tolerance as a Social value, Pitlane magazine)

when the society inclines towards the social values then the society is said
to be tolerated society apparently when there are no values in the society and
there is declination in the moral values and norms there will be intolerance in the
society.

Discrimination:
"Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of
people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex." (Cambridge Dictionaries Online.
Cambridge University. Retrieved 29 March 2013.)
 Discrimination has direct consequences on those people and groups
being discriminated against, but it has also indirect and deep
consequences on society as a whole. A society where discrimination is
allowed or tolerated is a society where people are deprived from freely
exercising their full potential for themselves and for society.
Discrimination is very close to intolerance. When a society tolerates
discrimination towards any of the social grounds than the society inclines
towards intolerance.

Poverty:
If we don't succeed in eradicating poverty and ignorance in our Country, then we
will not be able to combat the the phenomenon of intolerance. (L'Osservatore Romano by
Paul Bhatti, Adviser to the Prime Minister for National Harmony in Pakistan Dec. 24,
2011).
Poverty is a major cause of social intolerance and threatens to divide
a nation because of income inequality. This occurs when the wealth of a
country is poorly distributed among its citizenswhen a tiny minority has
a majority of the money. Wealthy or developed countries maintain
stability because of the presence of a middle class. However, even
Western countries are gradually losing their middle class. As a result
there has been an increased number of riots and clashes. For society,
poverty is a very dangerous factor that can destabilize an entire country.
The Arab Spring is a great example of how revolts can start because of
few job opportunities and high poverty levels. Poverty fuels terrorism by
creating a state of misery and frustration that pushes people to join
terrorist organizations. But more research shows, it is more complicated.
LITERATURE REVIEW
methodology and analysis
methodology
analysis

conclusion and recommendations

1. Violence in any society is detrimental for its growth and development?

2. Major factor which is causing violence in society is intolerance?

3. Intolerance is unacceptable and undesirable trait in a society?

4. People who are less educated are more intolerant?

5. Uneducated mind fails to acknowledge diversity of thoughts because of

limited intellectual exposure?

6. Bigotry generates intolerance in society?

7. A bigot fails to understand that there are more than one way of getting
things done in a correct manner?

8. A bigot insists that his own way is the only right way?

9. Do you agree injustice sprouts hatred and eventually creates a feeling

of intolerance towards community doing it?

10. Do you think our socialization and social value system has intrinsic
intolerance towards some sectarian and racial groups?

11. Do you think the people who face discrimination also grow intolerant?

12. Do you agree that poverty in any way is related to growing

intolerance?

APPENDIX A
Causes of intolerance in the society of Pakistan
Questionnaire Survey

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

QUAID-E-AZAM COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
(AFFILIATED WITH UNIVERISTY OF ENGINEERING AND
TECHNOLOGY, LAHORE)
6KM PAKPATAN ROAD NEAR ENGRO FOODS LIMITED, SAHIWAL,
PAKISTAN

CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT
 All information gathered here will be kept strictly
confidential and will be used solely for research and analysis.

INSTRUCTIONS

Please take a look at the following questionnaire and based

on your experience try to answer correctly as many as possible.
If you think questionnaire is not suited to your expertise please
forward it to a person, preferably in your organization.

RESPONDENTS INFORMATION

NAME:

NAME OF
ORGANIZATION:
DESIGNATION:

EXPERIENCE:

CONTACT
INFORMATION:

Causes of intolerance in the society of Pakistan.

State your level of agreement to each of the statement

such that:

1= Lowest Agreement 3= Neutral Stance 5=

Highest Agreement

Statements 1 3 5
Violence in any society is detrimental for
its growth and development.

Major factor which is causing violence in

Pakistani society is intolerance.
 Intolerance is unacceptable and
undesirable trait in a society.
Uneducated mind fails to acknowledge
diversity of thoughts because of limited
intellectual exposure.
In Pakistan people who are less
educated are more intolerant.
Religious bigotry is generating
intolerance in Pakistan.
Injustice sprouts hatred and eventually
creates a feeling of intolerance towards
community doing it.
In Pakistan injustice is the one of root
causes of intolerance.
Our socialization and social value system
has intrinsic intolerance towards some
sectarian and racial groups.
Poverty in any way is related to growing
intolerance in Pakistan?
Inequitable division of resources is also
fostering intolerance in Pakistan.
Syllabus and course content of
religious seminaries is also a big
contributing factor in growth of
intolerance in Pakistan.