Civil–Military Relations and Their Impact on Democratic Governance in Pakistan

Abstract

Since the country's independence, civil-military relations (CMR) have dominated Pakistani politics. The role of military influence patterns in Pakistani democratic government from 2010 to 2024 will be examined in this essay, including patterns of military influence through formal institutions, unofficial political interventions, resource distribution, and security policymaking. By combining a review of the literature (formatted literature), a qualitative analysis of significant civil-military episodes (2018–2024), and a small-sample quantitative estimation of the magnitude of military influence on democratic outcomes using cross-temporal indicators of democratic performance (V-Dem) and military influence (military expenditure as a percentage of GDP; coded instances of overt military political intervention), the study assessed the direction and magnitudes of military influence on democratic outcomes. It has been concluded that sustainable democratic government in Pakistan should involve long-term, gradual institutional amendments to decrease incentives to military political participation, and enhance civilian capacity to handle security without prioritizing democratic standards.