Democracy : is it appropriate for post colonial developing countries?

Khan, Anushe Aliya.

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Khan, Anushe Aliya.

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Thesis (M.A.L.S.)--Georgetown University, 2009.; Includes bibliographical references.; Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format. The thesis focuses on Pakistan and Bangladesh, as two case studies in the search for a probable answer to the problem of failing democracies in post colonial developing economies. Both nations have the same post colonial legacy and have been committed to democracy in different periods of their history, only to revert to periods which have been markedly non-democratic.; Relevant literature has been reviewed for an understanding of the theories and the current status of democratization globally, and specifically for Pakistan and Bangladesh. For the analysis, I have applied a framework for quality assessment to evaluate how the "democracies" fare against quality standards and what dimensions are the most lacking.; From the readings, it is evident that military and civilian rule in Pakistan, benefitted only a small percentage of the population, with limited trickledown effect. While in Bangladesh, under civilian rule economic liberalization did lead to marginally better economic growth, the problems of corruption and lack of visionary leadership continue to plague the country.; Authoritarianism through military rule did not result in sustainable social and economic progress in both countries, and unlike in an electoral democracy, there is no embedded mechanism to change an authoritarian government. The failure of military rule at various times throughout the states' interconnected histories, point towards liberal democracy based on rule of law and institutions of democracy, as an effective governance mechanism, that promises participation and access to all its citizens. However, there is weak bottom up pressure at the grassroots level and civil society, for government reforms, that are much-needed as pre-conditions for effective liberal democracy to take hold.; A top down approach through international pressure from donor governments, multilateral development institutions and aid agencies that tie development aid and for Pakistan, military assistance, to progress made on reforms that strengthen institutions of democracy and democratic processes, maybe the most viable option. This approach will be much less palatable to Pakistan, than to Bangladesh, and results initially will be incremental and barely visible; however the international community should persevere, while it still wields enough influence, as it continues to hold the purse strings.