A Two-Day International Conference on

                                  DEMOCRACY’S UNDOING: SOUTH ASIA AND ITS POLITIES

                                                                   March 20-21,2025

                                      Organised by SRM University,Andhra Pradesh, India

Concept Note

In a recent text, British political philosopher, David Runciman intriguingly suggests that democracy is dead except
that the news hasn’t reached us yet. How do we think through this provocative statement? If previously in the 20th
century, the demise of democratic polities in different societies took visible forms of open, violent rebellions and
military coups, is its demise in today’s world taking different forms? What forms might these be? Are the democratic
institutions being undone precisely through a recourse to these very institutions, that is to say, is democracy undoing
itself?
Usurpation of democratic institutions, voices, sensibilities and processes through neo-liberal crony capitalism,
democratically instituted majoritarian political formations, cataclysmic technological mutations led by new social
media and generative AI, extreme deepening of inequities and ongoing and seemingly irreversible ecological crisis,
all perhaps index the truism that inhere Runciman’s prophetic proclamations. We must note here the irony of all of
this given the “End of History” celebrations of liberal scholars and global public in the early 1990s when democracy
seemed to be the only remaining plausible form of polity, following the collapse of the communist states.
In this context, we must ask how have the South Asian democracies fared in recent decades? In the aftermath of the
Cold War, democracy seemed to be flourishing in South Asia: India’s one-party dominance gave way to coalition
politics, Pakistan witnessed movements towards civilian rule, Nepal transitioned from a monarchy into a federal
republic and Sri Lanka and Maldives experienced increased political stability. However, in the last decade, this
deepening of democracy has led to the rise of strong populist leaders. Many argue that these populist leaders have
eroded rule of law and normalized violence. They have used constitutional and legal framework to erode civil liberties
and transform their states into majoritarian regimes. Despite these challenges, recent political developments- such
as restoration of opposition in India’s parliament, success of Imran Khan’s party in the recent election despite a ban
and end of Hasina’s rule by the student-led movement in Bangladesh- perhaps suggest that the popular will has
slowed down the wholesome decline of the South Asia into majoritarian polities.
So perhaps democracy has an afterlife in South Asia as much as in other parts of the world. However, we must
consider the question that if democracy like any other polity has had its own origins, its time of rise and fall, and if it
has indeed reached that terminal time, what next is in store for us? What is the nature of polity we inhabit – perhaps
in its early stages- that we still mis-name democracy?

At this international conference, we will assess the state of democracyin the region. Our discussion will be guided by
the following questions:

• How and why democracies are degenerating into majoritarian polities?
• Is the restoration of liberal democracypossible or are we moving towards ‘authoritarian capitalism’?
• Is populist majoritarianism an index of crisis of late capitalism?

Possible themes may include, but not limited to:

• Religious Nationalism and Homeland Fantasies in South Asia
• State of Minorities and South Asia
• Erosion of Civil liberties in South Asia
• Rise of Populism in South Asia Women and Politics in South Asia
• Ethnic Conflicts in South Asia
• Challenges of Inequality and Poverty to Democracy
• Technology, late capitalism and democracy
• Technology and authoritarian capitalism

Guidelines for Submission of Abstract

Abstracts within 300 words and a brief bio-note should be sent to:Email id: conf.polisci@srmap.edu.in

Deadline: February 10, 2025 Decision: February 15, 2025

Registration Fees will include Conference Kit, Accommodation and Food

UG/PG Students: INR 500

Research Scholars/PDF: INR 2000

Faculty Members: INR 3000

Travel cost upto INR 15000 will be reimbursed.

Selected papers will be published in an edited volume

                                                                                                                                     Contact us:conf.polisci@srmap.edu.in