Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism in Bangladesh

Author(s)
Mostofa, Shafi M D
Subedi, D B
Publication Date
2021-09
Abstract
We examine the changing nature of an authoritarian regime, which is emerging from the social and political conditions shaped by the unconsolidated democracy in Bangladesh. Drawing on desk-based research combined with interviews from the field, we argue that the current form of the authoritarian regime in Bangladesh represents the characteristics of competitive authoritarianism. We find that authoritarianism in Bangladesh combines "election manipulation" with three additional social and political mechanisms: "marginalization of political oppositions" leading to the oppositional void, "institutionalization of authoritarian policies," and "co-option of religious leaders." By adding these new mechanisms of authoritarian politics and tracing the links between politics and religion, we aim to expand the theory of competitive authoritarianism and unpack the puzzle of democratic consolidation in Bangladesh.
Citation
Politics and Religion, 14(3), p. 431-459
ISSN
1755-0491
1755-0483
Link
Language
en
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Title
Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism in Bangladesh
Type of document
Journal Article
Entity Type
Publication

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