Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explains the concepts of democratization and introduces the problems and developments in the democratic and political processes of the South Asian countries. It discusses the developments and practices of democratic institutions and the military's interventions in the politics of Pakistan and Bangladesh. The book describes the political developments which took place during the Bangladesh's freedom movement, which was initiated as a movement for democracy. It examines electoral politics, electoral systems and processes in the South Asian democracies. The book focuses on the political developments in the post-Congress period in India and post-Ziaul Huq political developments and democracy in Pakistan. It examines the restoration of democratic process in 1991 in Bangladesh. The book investigates the state of party politics and the role of parties in building institutions and in the democratization process in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.