Notwithstanding Bangladesh’s recent success in both creating a market friendly structure of economic governance and holding periodic elections, its political system continues to be marked by clientelism, rampant corruption and widespread violence. The country faces the major challenges of fostering a culture of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law as the politics of mutual distrust have re-emerged with renewed strength into a dysfunctional political landscape. This volume examines the failure of liberal democracy to take root and asks, despite the presence of a vibrant civil society, why is Bangladesh still struggling to institutionalize democracy?
Providing much needed analytical context to explore the theoretical and empirical dimensions of the role of civil society in the democracy and development of Bangladesh, the volume brings together well established international authors to explore key ideas and debates from a wide range of disciplines. Through this the contributors raise intriguing questions about the prospects for liberal democracy and social development in a Muslim majority country.
