Democratic Backsliding in South East Asia: Comparative Case Study of Bangladesh and Nepal

Author(s)	Ms. Ayesha Hannath, Prof. Dr. Sejal Madhavi Yadav
Country	India
Abstract	This paper examines democratic backsliding in Bangladesh and Nepal through the lens of state practices that erode civil liberties, judicial independence, and social inclusion. Both countries emerging from authoritarian or monarchical pasts, demonstrate how formal democratic institutions can coexist with authoritarian modes of governance. Bangladesh illustrates the consolidation of power through digital repression and electoral manipulation, while Nepal’s democracy is weakened by chronic political instability and entrenched social hierarchies. By integrating theories of “illiberal democracy” (Zakaria), “democratic erosion” (Levitsky and Ziblatt), and “postcolonial state fragility” (Chatterjee; Jaffrelot), this study argues that democratic decay in these contexts is inseparable from human rights violations. It concludes that rights-based democratization must move beyond procedural legitimacy to encompass inclusive participation, institutional autonomy, and the substantive freedoms that constitute the moral core of democracy.
Keywords	Democratic backsliding, Human Rights violation, Youth Protests, Civil Liberties, Political Repression
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 6, November-December 2025
Published On	2025-11-16
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i06.60818

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