Analyzing Development of eSport in Pakistan with a Political Economy Approach

Abstract

This paper discusses the emergence of eSports in Pakistan as a case of political economy, the way cultural attitudes relate to changing government policies. Instead of considering these aspects individual or constant we emphasize the ways these aspects impact one another through a time-based process that is complex and tends to be quite cyclic. The study outlines some of those defining points where cultural opposition and the inactivity of policy have mutually supported one another, stalling the expansion of the eSports industry. The study illuminates the question of how and when change is possible, by analyzing historical patterns and systemic barriers. The results can provide stakeholders with useful information when trying to promote the digital gaming ecosystem in Pakistan, as timing, coordination, and context-specific interventions are important. The work is part of a larger picture on how the relations of social norms and state structures in developing countries can influence the formation of emergent industries.