Democratization and the relevance of history: the case of Pakistan

Many political scientists have argued, on the basis of extensive quantitative data, that democratic governments result in greater spending in health and education and in a redistribution of resources in favour of vulnerable groups. Democratic governments are also often associated with a decrease in levels of interstate conflict and in internal violence. And yet, there are cases – such as Pakistan – in which this has not occurred. Why have these ‘democracy dividends’ not been realized in Pakistan? This paper addresses some of the reasons why democratic governance in Pakistan has not translated into social welfare and peace, and highlights that the impact of democracy is time and context-specific. Therefore, greater attention must be devoted to the historical and societal peculiarities of each country.