12/08/2026
Reforming an oligarchical and bureaucratic democratic Governance in Bangladesh
Abstract: This research paper analyses Bangladesh's characterization as a hybrid political system, integrating conventional democratic institutions with oligarchic influence and a robust, transactional bureaucracy. Utilizing the concepts of "hybrid regime" and "competitive authoritarianism," particularly those articulated by Steven Levitsky and Lucan A. Way, the study delineates structural constraints: elite capture, insufficient horizontal accountability, politicized administration, and restricted electoral competition.
It presents a structured reform framework that incorporates institutional restructuring, bureaucratic professionalism, judicial independence, and civic empowerment. The article contends that lasting democratization necessitates both top-down institutional reforms and bottom-up societal pressure, coordinated by credible enforcement mechanisms and international normative support.
To read the full Research Paper:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/412147795_Reforming_an_oligarchical_and_bureaucratic_democratic_Governance_in_Bangladesh