Publication

This brief analyzes statehood and governance in South Asia. The author argues that apart from India, political instability and violent conflicts are frequent and that achieving monopoly of power poses problems for almost every country in South Asia. According to the author, democratic legitimation is demanded by many people, but in fact democratic, religious and ideological forms of legitimacy as well as clientelism exist side by side. And while competence for macroeconomic regulation is growing in South Asia, this brief shows that there are major deficiencies in the areas of security, the legal system and social welfare in most countries in the region.