Political Systems in South

Asia
South Asia
 System
• A regularly interacting/interdependent group of Units forming an
integrated whole
• Every system is delineated by its spatial and Temporal
Boundaries
• Surrounded and Influenced by it environment
• Described by its structure & purpose
• Expressed in its functioning
 Political System
• Oxford Dictionary
“Political System in any persistent pattern of Human
relationship that involves power, rule and authority, It is
collectively of Political Institutions (i.e. Government)
Associations (i.e., Political Parties)
Organizations performing roles based on a set of norms and
goals
Colonialism, Nationalism & Independence
in South Asia

• Policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over

another country, occupying it with settlers and exploiting it
economically and politically.

• India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

• Laos, Combodia, Syria……
Nationalism
• An ideology that gives a group of people a sense of togetherness.
Unity by imposing in them some sets of identities. (Lingusitic,
historical, cultural, territorial or RELIGIOUS)

• European Nationalism
• (Territorial Nationalism)
• Religious Nationalism
• Muslim & Hindu nationalism
Ceylon Nationalism Movement (Sri Lanka)
Nation
• Group of people (Those who belong to different religions, Languages
or cultures ???)
• Role of Identity markers ….
• Benedict Anderson : Imagined Communities
Most people in this group have never met each other
This community is envisioned as both limited (By its borders) and
sovereign (it has the ability to self-govern)
Border control is one mechanism of maintaining national identity by
“Protecting” the nation from dissolution in other cultures
 Colonialism
Pakistan India Bangladesh Afghanistan S. Lanka Nepal Bhutan Maldives

Britain   Britain Britain     Britain

1947 1971 1919 1948 1923 1949 1965
1757 Battle of Plassey            

1764 Battle of Buxer            

1857 Independence War            

1858 End of East India company            

& British Rule established

1947 Withdrawal of British            

Political System* of South Asian States
• Pakistan & India are parliamentary Federal Democracies (Legislature,
Executive, Judiciary)

• Afghanistan and Bangladesh practice unitary style (a centralized government.)

• Sri Lanka is a unitary semi presidential democracy (President exists alongside
P.M)
• Maldives unicameral People’s majlis (Consists of One house/assembly)
• Nepal is federal Democratic Republic (representatives of the citizen body)
• Bhutan constitutional Monarchy (Monarch sharing powers with constitutionally organized
government)