How is democracy in South Asia? A comparison of the elite and the mass attitudes

Abstract

South Asia is the largest democratic region of the world. It has been the biggest theatre of struggles for democratic development in contemporary times. Countries of the region have passed through variegated political experiences, including attempts to establish authoritarian rule, struggles to restore democracy, violent conflicts and efforts to resolve differences and divisions through negotiation. But, most countries of the region have sustained democracy for most of the time, although they are economically less developed and culturally highly diverse. While structural factors might be important to explain the dynamics of democracy in the region, the attitude of the people towards democracy is no less important in the success stories and the setbacks to democracy. Since we cannot view people as an undifferentiated mass, it may be useful to examine the attitudes of the elites and the masses separately to find similarities and dissimilarities between them. As the elites in any society play a crucial role in sustaining the political system, it is appropriate to know whether the elites of South Asia have favourable attitudes towards democracy, whether the elite and mass attitudes in this regard cohere with each other, and whether the elite–mass differentials are a cause for concern. What does democracy mean to the elites and the masses? Why do they prefer democracy and how much do they support it? How participative or indifferent are they in the political process?