Content area
Full Text
Examining the impact of caste system on voting behavior this study deals with a comparative analysis of the two provinces, Punjab of Pakistan and Bihar of India. The two provinces have been picked up representing the study of caste system in Muslim society on the one hand and the caste behavior in the Hindu society on the other hand. This study is based on the many factors analysis such as understanding democracy, voting behavior, impact of culture, and political culture of these two societies. It is a descriptive study based on research which shows that the authority of the people is continuously affected because of caste influence which delays the democratic process in both societies.
Key Words: Punjab, Bihar, Caste-system, Muslim, Hindu, Voting Behavior, Political Culture, Ethno-Regional System, Bridari, Zat.
Introduction
The study of voting behavior is, broadly speaking, a psychological element of the human nature which has a basis of socio-cultural and economic values system of the inhabitants of a particular society. Voting behavior directly leaves its impact on the democratic process of a society and therefore, it is significant to look into the clarification of what is democracy itself which reference to the IndoPakistan domestic politics democracy is not the "government of the people by the people and for the people". Rather, it is conflict between majority-minority based on community of tribes' caste-biradari or ethno-regional systems (Wilder, 1999, p. 56). Therefore, we can define democracy as a process achieving the maximum autonomy for the individual in a political society.
Similarly, we need to understand voting behavior itself and also its importance in a political society, particularly with reference to democracy. The process of democracy takes shape of development through three major sources, "one rationalization of a polity, two differentiation of administration and three political mobilization and political participation of the people in the civil society" (Abbasi, 1988, p. 55). Voting behavior concerns political mobilization and political participation. It is significant to note that maximum mobilization and participation of the people will bring greater opportunity in the developing of democracy that is seeking authority. (Heywood, 1997, p. 16) Therefore voting behavior is an important factor in playing the role in mobilization and participation process. Because, it is voting behavior which actually is...