NEW DELHI – With the world witnessing a resurgence of great-power rivalries, democratic governments are resorting to covert operations to influence weaker states, often through supporting regime change. Unfortunately, rather than promoting democracy on a global scale, these actions are actually undermining it, especially when authoritarianism is on the rise.
Although local military forces play a significant role in regime changes, external support can also heavily impact the outcomes. In recent examples, Pakistan saw its military orchestrating the removal of Prime Minister Imran Khan, reaffirming its authority over the government. Similarly, Bangladesh witnessed a military intervention prompted by a student uprising, resulting in the temporary displacement of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the installation of an interim civilian-led administration under the leadership of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
These maneuvers highlight the complex dynamics at play in global politics and the ongoing struggle between democracy and authoritarianism.