THE FORGOTTEN PERIPHERIES: AUTHORITARIANISM AND MARGINALIZATION OF SOUTH ASIA

 

Authoritarianism or autocracy had its roots long before the colonial time, but Neo-Authoritarianism or so-called Colonialism grew after 1857 in South Asia. This governmental legacy of the British went on after the partition of 1947. Although the ruling strata were democratic, authoritarianism continued to shape South Asia’s political dynamics. Evidence to the preceding argument is the Indian Citizenship Amendment Act, Aragalaya of 2022 in Sri Lanka, protests during the detention of Imran Khan and the student revolution in Bangladesh. Such Brutal use of power and the enforced surrender of the public also caused many extra-judicial killings. The Pundit massacre in India, military operations in KPK and Baluchistan and the still unsolved case of the 100000 IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and the Eastern bombing in 2019 in Sri Lanka are blatant examples of this account. This article explores the austere of authoritarianist governments in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, and they have shaped the socio-politico-economic situation of once called subcontinent.

Pakistan has been a creaking region since independence. The curse of Totalitarianism was born only after four years on independence as Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated in 1951.the accession of eight prime ministers during the first ten years is a clear indication of the draconian ruptures in Pakistan. This period of Despotism was then followed by military coup of General Ayub Khan from 1958 to 1969.Situation worsened when authoritarianism served as a catalyst of public hatred and Bangladesh got separated in 1971.This Schism was again followed by Zia’s martial law. The same game of thrones went on till 2010 when de facto civilian governments came on the front but still military remained the de jure power till now.Rauf Nawaz in his article, “Erosion of Democracy” published on 12^th may, 2025 in Harvard Review stated that Media influencing and the manipulation of elections are clear indications of the authoritarianist mafia. Aftermaths of the individual-centered governments grew in coercion, such as the May 9 Riots, the protests during Imran Khan’s Incarceration, the Doctrine of Necessity, 1947 and the Hudood Ordinance of 1979.In fact, authoritarianism in Pakistan has grown its roots so much that even state institutions are used for personal glory.

Pakistan’s counterpart, India, the largest economy in South Asia, is also crushed socio-politically by Absolutism. Tripundana Singh in the Journal of Democracy on 23^rd April stated that democracy’s ability to sustain in India is depleting. Due to its largest economic power, crony capitalism is flourishing there, which results in the exploitation of resources. Due to such traumatic actions, endangerment of the climate has become a focus of concern for policymakers. The Forest Rights Act is clear evidence of the above argument. Besides climate destruction, extra-judicial killings, and political climate have become a synonym of brutalism in India. The Pundit massacre and the recent Indo-Pak war are accounts of the BJP’s tyrannical ruptures. The same is articulated in Lyla Mehta’s article,” Inequality and Authoritarianism in India,” published on 13^th march, 2025 in which she has called India’s political turmoil as, “Tocqueville Paradox”.Arundhati Roy gas also propagated the same opinion about Modi’s fascism in er book,”Azadi”.So, authoritarianism is deteriorating India's path to development and marginalizing it whose prospects can be seen in Khalistan movement and the rising naxalism in India.

Once called East Pakistan, when Bangladesh got separated in 1971, instantly Caesarism wore the cloth of subjugation. Just after four years of freedom,, Sheikh Mujjib-ur-rehman, the freedom fighter got assassinated in 1975.Sheikh Hasina came to power and Bangladesh drowned in the sea of anarchism. Narcissism entered the mentality of the public and political turmoil began. On 4th April, 2025, Oxford Press Review published an article about Sheikh Hasina's government that she misused the power to coerce her counterparts. The illegal quota system was also a backlash on the distribution of economy. Her government from January 2009 to August, 2024 dumped Bangladesh under sum of atrocities and social losses. The democracy weakened so much against this one-man government that even the students protest met with brutal wave of firing.15 Amendment to the constitution stands as a clear witness of the despotic competitive autocracy. Media bias till today is at its peak in Bangladesh. So, authoritarianism breaches have filled watershed pages in Bangladesh’s history. The anti-authoritarianist government there has washed impartiality, justice and equality in Bangladesh.

As disciplinarianism in South Asia is so much deep rooted that it is now on the brink of warfare. Terrorism has come out as result of such dire type of unyielding governance. Warm relations has diminished in South Asia and uni-polar power has brought deteriorating consequences for it.The major terrorist elements such as TTP in Pakistan, Naxalites in India and Harkat-ul Jihad Islam in Bangladesh are also born of this unitary system of governance. The same can be said about Tamil tigers in Sri Lanka which has made suppression common in Sri Lanka. Although authoritarianism has persisted in North Korea and Saudi Arabia, in South Asia, it has led to intense violence. Ethno-factionalism has also emerged as a consequence of this authoritarianism. Much of the regional conflict and the rising sense of superiority among castes in people are the fruits of the illicit seed of populism. The Sunni-Shia conflicts in Kurram and the ultra-nationalism in Nagaland and Manipur in India give a vivid reflection of the impediments of oligarchism in South Asia.

Authoritarianism is a grave political and social problem that should be the focus of concern for policymakers. Sam Hananel, in his article, ”how democracies defend themselves against authoritarianism, ”published on 9th April,2025, stated that freedom, equality and justice should be the top priority of governance strata in South Asia. Hybridization of power should be brought to an end, and military rule should be abolished.UNHCR (United Nations Human Rights) standards of justice should be incorporated in the judicial system of South Asia. Paul Stinland, in his Article published on 3rd September 2020, stated that the un-biasedness of the judiciary should be promoted as it is the institution of equality. Independence and transparency should be there in Electoral politics, and the right to vote should be granted to all. Apart from it, opposition is a very integral part of the sustainability of democracy. So, full right of difference of opinion would be helpful in wiping out autocracy from South Asia. That’s why, being pragmatist and implementing these solutions, democracy will certainly be successful in governing South Asia.

In conclusion, South Asia is so much paralyzed by authoritarianism. Ayesha Jalal’s book,” Authoritarianism in South Asia”, sheds light on all its dark aspects. Fascism in South Asia is also a brainchild of neo-authoritarianism.Niaz Murtaza in Dawn on 19th August, 2025, has stated that Zia’s regime was the worst of all as democracy was so much fabricated then. Same goes with BJP’s premier, Narendra Modi, who was in an illusion about Pakistan’s defense before the Indo-Pak war. Rajapaksa brothers' authoritarian rule brought the same flaws in Sri Lankan governance. So, authoritarianism should be wiped off from South Asia to retain democracy and spread equity between all. We should  be stern to evolve our own system of governance. Foremost among all is china which has developed its own system of governance and has experienced an economic boom. The year 2025 is going with great upheavals in world order as anti-hegemonism is on its way. so, we should certainly benefit from it and should work towards economic booms with the help of cordial relations for which,”Anti-Authoritarianism” should be the slogan.