Author: Brahma Chellaney
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…
Recent events in Bangladesh, including a military-backed regime change and desperate pleas for $6.5 billion in international bailouts, have raised concerns about the country’s future. The fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has also sparked a troubling resurgence of radical Islamism and attacks on religious minorities. Just a few years ago, Bangladesh was on track for rapid economic growth. However, the current situation paints a different picture. The country is now scrambling for financial support, with requests for billions in bailouts from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Japan International Cooperation Agency. This turn of…