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ADRN members from South Asia
Pandemic Crisis and Democratic Governance in South Asia
- Part I -
ADRN members from South Asia
- India & Bangladesh & Nepal & Sri Lanka & Pakistan -
The outbreak of COVID-19 has proven that new forms of threat can heavily affect the development of democracy as well as democratic practices. COVID-19 is not only a life-threatening issue; it is also evolving into a problem for the maintenance and promotion of democracy. In order to address this global issue, the Asia Democracy Research Network (ADRN) has been conducting research on the Pandemic Crisis and Democratic Governance based on country cases since 2020. As part of this research project, EAI has planned a working papers series composed of eleven working papers, the third set of working papers including the cases of South Asia.
Country Case 7: India
Governance in India During the Pandemic
Kaustuv Kanti Bandyopadhyay, director of Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), and Kaustuv Chakrabarti argue that the pandemic has hugely impacted the lives and livelihood of millions of people in India. It has decelerated economic growth and increased the unemployment rate. India’s weak public health governance was manifest in its limited capacity to provide adequate healthcare and medical personnel. The pandemic is expected to push 4000 million informal workers into deeper poverty and instigate discrimination towards migrant communities. Not to mention, a series of protests and assertion of rights illustrate that Indian politics have reached a critical juncture.
Country Case 8: Bangladesh
Pandemic Crisis and Democratic Governance in Bangladesh: An Analysis
Rezwan-ul-Alam, the Director of the Knowledge Management team at Manusher Jonno Foundation, states that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the linkage between public health outcomes and democracy, human rights, and governance in Bangladesh. The author explains that there were several cases filed against journalists and local media that exposed corruption scandals in the health sector – an apparent illustration of infringements on the freedom of speech. The author asserts that it is important to build foundations for a more rights-based, effective, and accountable system of democratic governance to combat against a national emergency.
Country Case 9: Nepal
Crises in Nepal: Rise of the Pandemic and the Rise of Threat to Governance
Pradip Pariyar, Executive Chairperson of Samata Foundation, states that Nepal’s management of COVID-19 could have been enhanced if proper policies were implemented and safety protocols were monitored. The author claims that Nepal increasingly appears to be governed based on exclusion and intolerance, given that the provision of relief materials in response to the COVID-19 pandemic was disproportionate and other discriminatory measures. Low-income groups have been hit harder than others. With no concrete measures yet to fight against the national emergency, he posits that the government should take necessary measures to protect its citizens.
Country Case 10: Sri Lanka
Pandemic Crisis and Democratic Governance in Sri Lanka
The Centre for Policy Alternatives, an independent, non-partisan organization in Sri Lanka, explains how the COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges in Sri Lanka, with socio-political effects spanning far beyond the immediate public health and economic crises. The authors state that the political landscape built following the COVID-19 pandemic has been conducive for democratic backsliding. With worrisome developments unfolding in Sri Lanka upon the outbreak of COVID-19, de-democratization of the government was accelerated, resulting in executive aggrandizement and a trend towards militarization. In this regard, the authors call for the government and civil societies to take action.
Country Case 11: Pakistan
Pandemic Crisis and Democratic Governance in Pakistan
Aasiya Riaz, Joint Director at PILDAT, explains that the emergence of hybrid governance in the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan has brought about concerns regarding whether it is an apt solution to pandemic management. The author explains that state-led measures highlighted further entrenchment of Pakistan’s hybrid governance system. She asserts that the involvement of newer structures such as the NCOC and NLCC in pandemic management was not only ineffective, but has brought to the fore the weaknesses that exist in Pakistan’s democratic governance structure.
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