Dynasticism in Politics in South Asia

2018/05/12, Kathmandu
NPrakash Thapa

Monarchy is a political system where with the law of necessity or we can say naturally a dynasty

rules the country either ceremonially or directly. No matter how they execute power dynasty are the

head of the state where a common citizen are obliged to retain their position. But, did you ever think

without monarchy can a country be run by dynasty system. If you study about south Asian politics, country like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal have followed this system. Those four countries consists political parties in their respective countries were leadership are always awarded to the people of their dynasty. For example,In India Congress (I) is always ruled by Gandhi-Nehru family. Similarly in Pakistan, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is headed by the family of Zulfalikar Bhutto ,moving towards Bangladesh the two major political parties Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Awami League both are govern by the family of Ziaur Rahman and Shiekh Mujhibar Rahman where as in our country Nepali Congress is headed by Koirala family (most of the time). Common thing between all this dynasties based parties are that there previous generation had significant contribution in their political achievement of their respective country and they always wanted to take credit of it. Dynasticism also occurs in the local and state level politics as well. Even this system is seen as both brazen and bizarre it is going on and on. Some of reasons for the continuation of dynasticism are: necessity to select a loyal retainers to hold on power who will not harm for material gain, another is the importance of personalities in contests stripped of ideological content and a third reason is high level of illiteracy and ignorance which makes a famous name a determining factor for millions of voters. The opposition inside and outside the party tries to raise the voice against dynasticism. Raising issue against this system has given successful result to opposition of outside of the party rather than those of inside. People who raised this issue inside the party had been either compelled to leave the party or their political career are finished in short-run.

So, dynastic politics looked increasingly fragile day by day. As the rising capable and potential leaders are backed by the system, even voters seems to dislike the rule .South Asia has proved as the most fertile ground for political dynasties. This system remains crucial to understand and indicate the future leaders in South Asia. They may not always be entirely blood relations but rather deeply co-dependent networks of families, unless and until the trend is minimized or vanished it will create a real threat from which few hundred families will corner the political market.

P.S : This is a series based article on Dynasticism in politics in South Asia.

Mr. Thapa is a student of Economics and Law, and youth political activist.