Editorial
Recent events in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh have seen public outrage spill onto the streets as citizens express their frustration with their leaders. This discontent has led to leaders fleeing to seek asylum in other countries, following scenes of public exuberance as citizens entered previously off-limits palaces. In Bangladesh, this public revolt is ongoing.
South Asian countries, except for India, have not reached their expected growth rates, leading to lowered regional expectations. Conflict and unrest have contributed to this underperformance, with internal trade and development initiatives like SAFTA remaining ineffective due to unresolved conflicts, particularly between India and Pakistan.
Dynastic politics have historically dominated South Asian countries, with ruling families employing specific tactics to maintain power. However, the rise of social media and the Generation Z demographic has disrupted this cycle. The public can no longer be suppressed as information and protests spread rapidly, challenging traditional power structures. For example, the public outcry following the extrajudicial killing of a student in Bangladesh resulted in widespread protests and demands for change.
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Resistance to oppression is a key element of political movements, and South Asian nations have faced challenges in the form of dynastic authoritarianism, leading to harsh crackdowns on public dissent. Although resistance movements have emerged in response to economic struggles, such as in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, the situation in Bangladesh has been driven by student-led protests advocating for safer streets and social justice.
The ongoing events in Bangladesh are significant and may lead to lasting change in the region. Whether the student-led movement in Bangladesh will transform power politics into public politics and put an end to despotic, dynastic rule remains uncertain, making it a situation worth closely monitoring. However, real change is always a difficult outcome. Mostly, the power group grabs the power in vacuums. Therefore, it is believed that evolutionary changes are the best changes.
