Exploring Students’ Perception of Democratic Consolidation in the Post-July 2024 Movement in Bangladesh

This study examines university students’ perceptions of democratic consolidation in Bangladesh in the aftermath of the July 2024 Movement, a landmark moment in the nation’s democratic trajectory. Emerging from widespread student-led mobilization, the movement renewed debates on institutional accountability, civic freedoms, and democratic reform. Against this background, the study aims to explore how university students interpret the meaning, progress, and future prospects of democratic consolidation in post-movement Bangladesh. Despite growing scholarship on democratic consolidation in Bangladesh, limited attention has been given to youth perceptions in post-movement political contexts. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, it combines a quantitative survey of 300 students selected through simple random sampling from five major public universities with 15 in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted via snowball sampling among active participants in the movement. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis. This methodology assesses attitudes toward political stability, institutional trust, civic rights, participatory governance, and reform priorities, while also capturing the nuanced views students attach to their political experiences. The findings reveal that students are cautiously optimistic about the democratic process and broadly agree that electoral and constitutional reforms are essential for strengthening institutional accountability. A strong emphasis is placed on political stability and the rule of law as prerequisites for democratic resilience. However, skepticism persists regarding the consistent protection of civic freedoms and the effectiveness and impartiality of democratic institutions. They conceptualize democratic consolidation not merely as a formal arrangement but as a dynamic process requiring credible institutions, participatory governance, and sustained reform. This study contributes by amplifying student voices as essential indicators of Bangladesh's democratic trajectory, highlighting both the promise and challenges of the post-July democratic future. Overall, the study concludes that democratic consolidation in Bangladesh is an evolving process that requires continuous reform and stronger civic engagement.

Democracy, Democratic Consolidation, July 2024 movement, Bangladesh

1. Ahmed, N. (2011). Parliament and democratic consolidation in Bangladesh. Australasian Parliamentary Review, 26(1), 198–212. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Chowdhury, N. (2025). The return of politics in Bangladesh. Journal of Democracy, 36(1), 65-78. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.2025.a947884 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Croissant, A., & Lorenz, P. (Eds.). (2012). Coalition politics and democratic consolidation in Asia. Oxford University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Diamond, L. J. (1999). Developing democracy: Toward consolidation. Johns Hopkins University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Diamond, Larry, Plattner, M. F., Chu, Y., and Tien, H. (eds.). 1997. Consolidating the Third Wave Democracies: Regional Challenges. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Gasiorowski, M. J., & Power, T. J. (1998). The structural determinants of democratic consolidation: Evidence from the Third World. Comparative Political Studies, 31(6), 740–771. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Ghosh, S. C. (2024). Conceptualizing student movements in Bangladesh post-2013: A qualitative and comparative case study of the quota reform movement and the road safety movement. Social Identities, 29(6), 1–21. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Haque, M. M. (2025). Civil resistance and student activism in the political struggles of Bangladesh (1947–1971). Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh (Humanities), 70(1), 89–108. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Hood, S. (2010). Political development and democratic consolidation in Asia. Asian Journal of Political Science, 18(3), 221–239. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Jahan, R. (2018). Political participation and youth movements in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Political Studies, 12(2), 45–63. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Khan, A. A. (2015). The politics of constitutional amendments in Bangladesh: The case of the non-political caretaker government. International Review of Law, 2015(9). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Linz, J. J., & Stepan, A. (1996). Problems of democratic transition and consolidation: Southern Europe, South America, and post-communist Europe. Johns Hopkins University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Linz, J. J., & Stepan, A. (2001). Toward consolidated democracies. Journal of Democracy, 7(2), 14–33. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Merkel, W. (1998). The consolidation of post-autocratic democracies: A multi-level model. Democratization, 5(3), 33–67. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Merkel, W. (2004). Embedded and defective democracies. Democratization, 11(5), 33–58. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Morlino, L. (2019). Democratic consolidation. In W. R. Thompson (Ed.), The handbook of political, social, and economic transformation. Oxford University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Nasrin, S., & Rahman, M. (2019). Youth and democracy in Bangladesh: A study of political engagement. Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, 4(4), 375–392. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Parnini, S. N., & Othman, M. R. (2014). The crisis of democratic consolidation in Bangladesh. Asian Affairs, 45(3), 405–423. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Rahman, T. (2009, March 27). The problems of democratic consolidation in Bangladesh. The Financial Express. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Riaz, A. (2021). The pathway of democratic backsliding in Bangladesh. Democratization, 28(1), 179–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2020.1818069 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Schedler, A. (2001). What is democratic consolidation? Journal of Democracy, 9(2), 91–107. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Shin, S.-j. (2019). Democratic transitions in South Asia: Prospects and problems in Afghanistan and Bhutan. Comparative Democracy Studies, 15(2), 151–175. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Sorensen, G. (1993). Democracy and democratization: Processes and prospects in a changing world. Westview Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Zakaria, F. (1997). The rise of illiberal democracy. Foreign Affairs, 76(6), 22–43. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Zakaria, F. (2013). The future of democracy in Bangladesh: Between transition and consolidation. Asian Survey, 53(2), 300–323. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Global Political Economy and Educational Reforms in the Global South: An Evolutionary Study of Ghana
• Electoral Militarization and the Challenges of Free and Fair Elections in Nigeria: A Focus on the 2023 Presidential Election
• Political Awareness and Engagement in Relation to Voting Behavior among College Students
• Role of Community Leaders in Ensuring Secure Electoral Process in Nairobi City County, Kenya
• Assessing the Delivery of Local Disaster Management Services and Client Satisfaction through SERVQUAL Dimensions