Parliamentary Democracy in South Asia: A Regional Comparative Perspective
Author(s)
Kukreja, Veena
Abstract
Discusses the nature of parliamentary democracy in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, noting the roles that dominant political parties have played in each of the three countries. The author suggests that “there is no incompatibility between one dominant party regime and genuine parliamentary democracy” because such parties provide for accommodation and integration of varying factions. This broader party concept has been most true of the Indian Congress Party, which has established a nation-wide mass base that can assimilate new groups into the system. In contrast, neither the Muslim League in Pakistan nor the Awami League in Bangladesh have been successful in this respect. In large part, India has escaped military rule due to its strong party system.
