Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
After a decade of democratic deepening, South Asia is experiencing a period of democratic backsliding. Incumbent governments are wielding a variety of tools—from populism to digital repression and violence—to further entrench their power. But democracy is as much about opposition as it is about government. A new Carnegie project on the politics of opposition in South Asia shines a spotlight on actors challenging the status quo from the outside—from political parties and civil society to social movements and armed actors. Unpacking opposition dynamics helps explain the consolidation of autocratic governance in the region, gauge the possibilities of democratic renewal, and understand the dynamics of armed conflict.
While voters across South Asia were once optimistic about the future of democracy, recent political setbacks in the region have dampened these hopes. However, most accounts of democratic backsliding focus on the strategies and tactics of regime incumbents, leaving little room for close study of opposition forces.
The dominance of powerful regime incumbents in South Asia, from the BJP in India to the Awami League in Bangladesh and the military in Pakistan, should not obscure the reality that the opposition space in the region is dynamic, fluid, and highly consequential.
The Maldives has sought to strengthen ties with India, yet the political opposition is seeking to wean the country off this relationship. Will the heated rhetoric have an impact?
Bangladeshi opposition parties have failed to support the country's democratic consolidation since 1990. Explanations can be found from the colonial era to the present day.
As political parties turn to the 2024 general election, much of the opposition has found itself in a crisis that began long before the present era of BJP dominance.
Sri Lanka’s momentous protests toppled an unpopular leader and could be a sign of more change to come, though the path forward will not be easy.
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