The dilemmas of Bangladesh as a weak state in South Asia

Md Abul Hasan

Public Administration and Policy: An Asia-Pacific Journal, 2024, vol. 27, issue 3, 316-329

Abstract: Purpose - The complex environment of regional and extra-regional politics in South Asia renders the region more susceptible to economically and militarily weaker states. This article investigates the challenges Bangladesh faces due to rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics and global political and economic upheavals. Design/methodology/approach - This study delves into the dilemmas encountered by Bangladesh as a weak state through literature review, in-depth interviews, media reports and dialogues. Findings - Four key factors are identified: (a) Bangladesh’s significance to major powers has increased; (b) it confronts many obstacles hindering its pursuit of a purely non-aligned foreign policy due to its strategic importance to these powers; (c) its internal factors including political turbulence, corruption, and fragile external relations, have been detrimental; and (d) the intensification of key powers’ influence has constrained its autonomy. Originality/value - This study underscores that weak institutions, least regional integration, and limited cooperation among states have compromised the autonomy of weak states like Bangladesh in South Asia. There is a need for unity and collaboration among these nations to address dilemmas in the interest of their national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and regional stability.

Keywords: Bangladesh; Dilemmas; Foreign policy; International politics; South Asia; Regional politics; Weak states (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.110 ... d&utm_campaign=repec (text/html)
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.110 ... d&utm_campaign=repec (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:pappps:pap-01-2024-0010

DOI: 10.1108/PAP-01-2024-0010

Access Statistics for this article

Public Administration and Policy: An Asia-Pacific Journal is currently edited by Professor Peter K.W. Fong

More articles in Public Administration and Policy: An Asia-Pacific Journal from Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Emerald Support ().