DEMOCRATIC BACKSLIDING AND RISING AUTHORITARIANISM UNDER THE GUISE OF ELECTORAL PROCESS: CASE-STUDY OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Competitive authoritarianism and democratic deficit are the problems faced by the contemporary world. Although, the autocratic regimes, too, contain democratic structures including a functional parliament, independent media and provision of fundamental human rights ensured through the existing constitutional instruments but, in essence, the democracy and democratic spirit remain nonexistent in such societies. A deeper insight into such political systems reveals that the political parties pretend as working independently and exercising political power through the chosen leadership but intrinsically the power is vested somewhere else that is in those institutions which, although, are established to defend the geographical boundaries of the state but the inept democratic leadership provide them space through its exercise of power in such a way to accomplish and accumulate personal wealth hence such state institutions have to intervene so that the very basic structure of the state might remain intact. Pakistan is also not an exemption in this regard where the democratic regimes continuously disappointed the general public for not satisfying their basic needs and not adopting any long term economic policy which would meaningfully resolve the problems faced by them. In that background, the instant study analyzes the state of democratic governance in Pakistan being applied currently and which had been followed in recent past. It finds that true democracy never existed in Pakistan whereas it is the need of the hour for the state of Pakistan to respect the popular will reflected through the electoral process.      

Keywords: Democratic Deficit, Hybrid Regime, Democratization, Democratic Backsliding