Electoral Authoritarianism and Violence: Mapping Electoral Violence in Bangladesh, 2014-2015

Sadia Afrin

Electoral Authoritarianism and Violence: Mapping Electoral Violence in Bangladesh, 2014-2015

Authors

Sadia Afrin

Assistant Professor , Gopalganj Science and Technology University

Author

Keywords:

Election, violence, electoral violence, electoral authoritarianism

Abstract

In 2014 and 2015, Bangladesh experienced widespread electoral violence, boycotts, opposition exclusion, partisan administration, criminalization, state-led repression, and authoritarian tendencies, which were marked by a new type of violence and never before in the history of Bangladesh politics has there been such a prolonged, continuous blockade-hartal programme related to elections. This paper analyses the trends and dynamics of electoral violence in Bangladesh during 2014–2015. Using data from national newspapers, the paper maps 4,518 election-related violence incidents and examines how these events reflect deeper political transformations. Instead of merely quantifying violent episodes, the study interprets how electoral violence operates as a mechanism of control, coercion, and regime durability within an electoral authoritarian framework. The findings reveal that the strategic use of violence by ruling elites not only suppresses opposition participation but also legitimizes authoritarian rule under the excuse of democratic elections. By connecting empirical trends to theories of electoral authoritarianism, this study contributes to understanding how democratic institutions are instrumentalized for autocratic ends. It concludes that strengthening intra-party democracy, reducing criminalization of politics, and depoliticizing state institutions are essential to breaking the entrenched cycle of electoral violence in Bangladesh.

Author Biography

Sadia Afrin, Assistant Professor, Gopalganj Science and Technology University

Sadia Afrin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Gopalganj Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, Bangladesh. She holds an MSS in Political Science from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her research interests include political economy, geoeconomics, political and electoral violence, foreign policy analysis, and social justice and inclusion, with a particular focus on Bangladesh and South Asia. She can be contacted at sadia.pols@gstu.edu.bd or sadiaafrindu12@gmail.com

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Published

05/04/2026

Data Availability Statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article.

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026): JKKNIU Journal of Social Sciences

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Articles

Electoral Authoritarianism and Violence: Mapping Electoral Violence in Bangladesh, 2014-2015

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