The Role of Political Parties in Strengthening or Weakening Democracy in Pakistan

Abstract

Democratic systems rely on their citizenry for feedback and communication. Political parties act as the bridge and are thus called the backbone of democracy. In Pakistan, political parties have been important for democratic development and the establishment of democracy since independence in 1947, but the contribution of political parties for democracy has been a point of controversy. Political parties provide a means of participation, representation, and the formulation of policies and governments. They have also been accused of employing dynastic politics, of inconsistent internal democracy, corruption, active partisanship, and the promotion of inter- and intra-institutional turbulence and instability. This paper analyzes the contribution of political parties for democracy in Pakistan by focusing on the evolution of political parties, their internal structures, politics, and governance. It employs qualitative research methods and analyses a variety of secondary literature. Political parties have historically promoted the continuity of democracy, the mobilization of the electorate, and political education. Political parties have a number of negative attributes as well and have a legacy of personal politics, a lack of internal democracy, and a lack of cooperative politics. The research identifies the absence of democracy, internal discipline, and issue-based politics as the main barriers to the democratic governance of the country.