The ouster of Bangladeshi's government is the latest example of political volatility in South Asia — a region struggling to achieve stability, let alone democratization.

M uch of South Asia is in a period of transition at present. While the political contours within individual states vary, much of the region is still plagued by authoritarian rule.

Achieving lasting political stability in South Asia would require entrenching democracy. But this is no easy feat. India notwithstanding, the region remains in thrall to longstanding autocratic ...