Скачать или смотреть POLITICAL SCIENCE SERIES || GLOBALIZATION UNDER DEMOCRACY || PAKISTAN's PERSPECTIVE

Globalization under democracy, from a Pakistani perspective, reflects a complex and often contradictory interaction between global forces and domestic democratic development. Since its independence, Pakistan has experienced alternating periods of democratic and authoritarian rule, and globalization has influenced both the opportunities and constraints faced by democratic governance. In the democratic context, globalization has shaped Pakistan’s political institutions, economy, civil society, and public discourse in significant ways.

Economically, globalization has integrated Pakistan into the global market through trade liberalization, foreign direct investment, and engagement with international financial institutions such as the IMF and World Bank. Under democratic governments, economic globalization has often been justified as a pathway to growth, employment, and development. Export-oriented sectors such as textiles and agriculture have benefited from access to international markets, while remittances from overseas Pakistanis have become a vital source of foreign exchange. However, globalization has also exposed weaknesses in democratic decision-making. Policy choices driven by global economic pressures, including privatization, subsidy reductions, and austerity measures, have sometimes limited the autonomy of elected governments and reduced their responsiveness to popular demands. This has contributed to public dissatisfaction and weakened trust in democratic institutions.

Politically, globalization has influenced democratic norms and practices in Pakistan by promoting ideas of constitutionalism, human rights, rule of law, and electoral accountability. International organizations, global media, and transnational advocacy networks have played a role in encouraging democratic transitions and condemning military interventions. Democratic governments have often relied on international legitimacy and support to strengthen civilian rule. At the same time, external geopolitical interests, particularly in the context of the war on terror and regional security dynamics, have sometimes undermined democratic consolidation by empowering non-democratic actors and prioritizing stability over popular representation.

From a social and cultural perspective, globalization has expanded the democratic space in Pakistan by increasing access to information, education, and global communication networks. The spread of digital media and social platforms has enabled greater political awareness, public debate, and citizen mobilization, especially among youth and urban populations. Civil society organizations, journalists, and activists have used global democratic discourses to demand transparency, minority rights, and gender equality. However, this openness has also generated cultural tensions, resistance from conservative segments of society, and concerns about external influence on national identity and values, which democratic governments must carefully navigate.

Institutionally, globalization has affected the functioning of Pakistan’s democratic system by encouraging governance reforms, decentralization, and capacity building. Democratic initiatives such as local government reforms and judicial activism have been influenced by global governance models. Yet, weak institutions, elite dominance, and socio-economic inequality have limited the ability of democracy to distribute the benefits of globalization equitably. As a result, globalization has often deepened disparities between regions, classes, and social groups, posing challenges to democratic inclusion and legitimacy.