Democracy in South Asia : Potential and Perils

Democracy has been an evasive word in South Asia. Time and again, South Asian countries have succumbed to the anti-democratic forces, making military coups and authoritarian rules a regular feature of the region. In 2021, Afghanistan fell to the extremist rein of theocratic forces of Taliban that has gripped the entire Asian region into the quagmire of terrorism. In 2021-22, Sri Lanka and Pakistan witnessed political instability following large scale protests against their government, finally leading to the ouster of the incumbents. In August 2024, Sheikh Hasina’s government collapsed in Bangladesh causing her to flee the country and bringing an interim government in place. South Asia has been constantly marred with communal riots, ethnic riots, civil war, steep poverty, low economic growth, constant conflicts, prevalence of conservative and theocratic forces, terrorism, women repression. Peace, development and growth of the region have also been sabotaged due to the interference of the foreign forces. The region is also a battleground to maintain Balance of Power and execute The Great Game.
The panel will discuss the factors responsible for the democratic backsliding in South Asia. It will also discuss the political machinations under play in the region. A newer insights into the above themes are surely welcome. The panel will also discuss the need to re-look at the theoretical underpinnings of the democratic system in South Asia. It will look at the current democratic models that have fallen short of evaluating, assessing and predicting the potential and perils of democracy in South Asia. It will examine the newer ways or theoretical lens of trying to analyze the political system in South Asia.