Comparative

Political Systems
A comparison of Pakistan and India
Group Members
Muhammad Sajjad
Junaid Haleem
Waqar Ali
Scheme of Presentation
Introduction
Historical Background
Political Structure
Political Parties in Pakistan and India
Electoral Systems
Role of the Military
Political Challenges
Foreign Relations
Conclusion
 Introduction
Comparative Politics is a subfield of political
science that studies the similarities and
differences between political systems in different
countries.
It is a comparative approach to understanding how
political systems work.
It can also help us to better understand our own
political system.
It is an essential tool for understanding the
political world around us and for addressing the
challenges that we face.
 Historical
Background
 Feature Pakistan India

Formed 1947 1947

Role of religion in its creation Significant None

Ideologies that have shaped its

Islamism, Military rule, Democracy Secularism, Socialism, Gandhism
political development

Majority religion Islam Hinduism

Tradition of military rule Yes No

Secular democracy No Yes

Political Structure of
Pakistan & India
 Feature Pakistan India
Federal parliamentary democratic
Form of government Parliamentary democracy
republic

Federal structure Yes Yes

Head of state President President

Head of government Prime minister Prime minister

Bicameral (National Assembly and Bicameral (Lok Sabha and Rajya

Parliament
Senate) Sabha)

Multi-party system Yes Yes

Political Parties in Pakistan
Political parties play a vital role in any
democracy, as they provide a platform for
citizens to participate in the political process
and to hold their elected officials accountable.
Electoral systems determine how citizens cast
their votes and how seats in the legislature are
allocated.
The military can play a significant role in
politics, both directly and indirectly.
The two major political parties in Pakistan are the Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Muslim League-
Nawaz (PML-N).
Other notable parties include the Pakistan Peoples Party
(PPP), the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), and the Awami
National Party (ANP).
Political parties in Pakistan are often divided along
regional, ethnic, and religious lines.
The military has a long history of intervening in politics in
Pakistan, and this has had a significant impact on the
development of political parties.
Influence of Money and
Corruption in Pakistani
Politics
Money and corruption play a significant role in
Pakistani politics.
Political parties need large sums of money to
run election campaigns, and this has led to a
reliance on wealthy donors.
Corruption is also widespread in the Pakistani
government and bureaucracy.
The influence of money and corruption has
undermined the credibility of political parties
and has made it difficult for ordinary citizens
to participate in the political process.
 Political Parties in India
India has a multiparty system, with the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC) as the
two major players.
Other notable parties include the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP),
the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), and the
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
Political parties in India are more diverse than in Pakistan,
and they represent a wider range of ideologies.
The military has a strong tradition of civilian control in
India, and this has allowed political parties to develop more
freely.
Strong Presence of Regional
Parties in India
India has a strong presence of regional
parties.
Regional parties are often based on regional
identity, language, or culture.
Regional parties can play a significant role
in Indian politics, as they can hold the
balance of power in the national legislature.
The rise of regional parties has made the
Indian political landscape more fragmented
and complex.
Rise of Hindu Nationalism in
India and its Impact on the
Political Landscape
The rise of Hindu nationalism in India has
had a significant impact on the political
landscape.
The BJP is a Hindu nationalist party, and it
has been the dominant party in Indian
politics for over a decade.
The rise of the BJP has led to increased
polarization in Indian society, and it has
made it more difficult for minority groups
to participate in the political process.
Electoral Systems in
Pakistan and India
Both Pakistan and India use the first-past-the-
post system for their national elections.
In the first-past-the-post system, the candidate
who receives the most votes in a constituency
wins the seat, regardless of whether they receive
a majority of the votes.
This system can lead to the formation of majority
governments, even when the winning party does
not receive a majority of the popular vote.
Pakistan also uses a proportional representation
system for its Senate elections.
Role of the Military in
Pakistan and India
The military has played a significant role in
Pakistani politics since the country's
independence in 1947.
The military has staged six coups d'état and has
ruled Pakistan for over half of its history.
The military remains a powerful institution in
Pakistan, and it has a significant influence on the
country's foreign policy and security.
The military has a much smaller role in Indian
politics.
There has never been a military coup in India,
and the military is under civilian control.
Political Challenges in
Pakistan
 TERRORISM AND SECURITY CONCERNS:
Pakistan has faced a long-standing threat from terrorism, both from
domestic and foreign groups. This has had a significant impact on the
country's security and stability.

POLITICAL INSTABILITY:
Pakistan has a history of political instability, with frequent changes in
government and periods of military rule. This has made it difficult for the
country to develop and implement long-term policies.

RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY

INDIA:
Pakistan has strained relations with its neighbors, particularly India. This
has led to tensions and conflicts in the region.
Political Challenges in India
 COMMUNAL AND RELIGIOUS TENSIONS:
India is a diverse country with a variety of religions and cultures. This
diversity has led to communal and religious tensions from time to time.

ECONOMIC INEQUALITY AND POVERTY:

India is a developing country with a large population. This has led to
economic inequality and poverty, which are major challenges for the
government.

REGIONAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY:

India is a large country with a variety of regions and ethnic groups. This
diversity can make it difficult to achieve national unity and cohesion.
Foreign Relations of
Pakistan and India
 Feature Pakistan India

Complex and have fluctuated over

Close.
time.
The United States is India's largest
Pakistan has been a major
trading partner, and the two countries
Relations with the recipient of US military and
have close strategic ties. India is a
United States economic assistance, but the
member of the Quadrilateral Security
relationship has been strained by
Dialogue (Quad), which also includes the
issues such as terrorism and
US, Japan, and Australia.
nuclear proliferation.

Complex.
Close. China is India's largest trading partner, but the
China is a major provider of military two countries also have a number of disputes,
Relations with
and economic assistance to Pakistan, including over their border. India has been
China and the two countries have close trying to reduce its dependence on China, and
strategic ties. has been strengthening its ties with other
countries, such as the US and Japan.
 Strong.
Pakistan is a member of the
Relations with the Muslim Organization of Islamic Cooperation
world (OIC), and it has close relations with
countries such as Saudi Arabia and
Turkey.
Good.
India has good relations with most
Muslim-majority countries, but its
ties with Pakistan are strained.

Strained with India, but good with most

others.
Relations with Good with most neighbors, but
Pakistan's relations with its neighbors,
neighboring countries strained with Pakistan.
such as Afghanistan and Iran, are often
influenced by its relationship with India.

Caught in the middle.

Caught in the middle.
India is also trying to balance its
Impact of the US-China Pakistan is trying to balance its relations
relations with the US and China,
rivalry with the US and China, which are both
but its ties with the US are
major powers in the region.
stronger.
SUMMARY
Pakistan and India are two of the largest and most populous countries in the
world, with different political systems and foreign relations. Both countries
face important challenges, but they also play important roles in the South
Asia region.
The political systems of Pakistan and India have a significant impact on their
foreign relations. Pakistan's political instability has made it difficult for the
country to develop and implement long-term foreign policy goals. India's
more stable political system has allowed it to develop strong foreign relations
with a variety of countries, including the United States, China, and Japan.
Both Pakistan and India face important challenges, such as poverty,
inequality, terrorism, and strained relations with each other. However, both
countries also play important roles in the South Asia region. Pakistan is a
nuclear power and a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC). India is a major economic power and a member of the G20.
The political systems and foreign relations of Pakistan and India will
continue to play a significant role in shaping the trajectories of these two
countries in the years to come.
Thank You
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