yhwh
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- Feb 25, 2012
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While the civilian government maintains its tenuous hold in Pakistan, the trite question why democracy failed in Pakistan continues to intrigue. The question becomes more interesting when asked why India continues to remain a democratic country.
Professor Philip Oldenburg made an interesting point that Indian democracy is not a normal phenomena but an exceptional one. Pakistan, on the other side evolved like any other third world country. It sounds plausible given most of the countries in South Asia have flirted with democracy and authoritarianism. However, it is pertinent to note that the oldest democracy in the region is not India, it is Sri Lanka, a country more similar in size to Pakistan.
In this scenario, the reason could either be the all powerful Pakistani army or Islam as the state religion. The deep state of Pakistani army is akin to Turkey and the oldest Muslim democracy in the world, Malaysia is an official Islamic state. Like most non Western countries, the democracy in either country is flawed but unlike Pakistan the democratic credentials are getting stronger.
abhisheksharma
Professor Philip Oldenburg made an interesting point that Indian democracy is not a normal phenomena but an exceptional one. Pakistan, on the other side evolved like any other third world country. It sounds plausible given most of the countries in South Asia have flirted with democracy and authoritarianism. However, it is pertinent to note that the oldest democracy in the region is not India, it is Sri Lanka, a country more similar in size to Pakistan.
In this scenario, the reason could either be the all powerful Pakistani army or Islam as the state religion. The deep state of Pakistani army is akin to Turkey and the oldest Muslim democracy in the world, Malaysia is an official Islamic state. Like most non Western countries, the democracy in either country is flawed but unlike Pakistan the democratic credentials are getting stronger.
abhisheksharma