DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION IN

PAKISTAN
 INTRODUCTION

• Democracy develops through a process, not overnight

• It cannot be achieved in a mechanical fashion
• Leaders of Pakistan have been only marginally interested in the development of
democratic institutions
• Pursuit of survival strategy has lead to the strengthening of autocratic state
structures
 WHAT DOES THE DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESS ENTAIL

• According to Robert Dahl, the democratization process is a vision of a political

system in which the members:
- regard themselves as political equals
- are collectively sovereign
- possess enough resources and institutions needed to govern themselves
WHY DEMOCRACY IS CONSIDERED SUPERIOR TO OTHER
FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

• It promotes freedom – both individual and collective

• Promotes human development – focus on responsibility’s for one’s own choice
• Surest way to advance and protect collective interests
• Article 19 (which deals with the freedom of speech):
“Subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory
of Islam or the integrity, security or defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly
relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt
of Court.”
• The Constitution does espouse the promotion of human development but does
not bind the government to do anything substantial. Article 29:
“These principles shall be regarded as being subject to the availability of resources..”
• Collective interests marred by sectarian and ethnic divisions
 Most of these problems owe to the power hunger of politicians and their lack
of political skills in resolving and accommodating religious and ideological
differences
 HINDRANCES TO DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION

• Lack of political consciousness and democratic culture

• Strong nexus of bureaucracy and military
• Internal Party Dynamics
• Democracy as a façade to legitimize existing power relations and social
structures based on feudalistic orientation
 CENTRALIZATION AS A HINDRANCE TO
DEMOCRATIZATION

- Why both civilian and military rulers have failed to centralize power?
• Autonomy to the real power brokers within provinces can undermine
governance efficiency and the legitimacy of the center
• Weak local institutions mean economic power and policy making can’t be
decentralized  Central government favors the landed and business elite
• Paranoia of the military establishment regarding the threat to Pakistan from India
 skeptical outlook towards its ‘bad’ neighbor is to be kept at the forefront of
any policy
 KEY QUESTIONS

• Does the country’s Islamic orientation disrupts the democratic process? Is there
an inverse relation between Islam and Democracy?
• Is the Panamagate Court Decision a positive step in strengthening
democratization in the country?
• And finally does Pakistan even need Democracy??