Participation, public policy, political economy and development in rural Bangladesh, 1958–85

During this period, four successive regimes in Bangladesh have felt reluctantly compelled to set up structures for local participation in government. Each found it had to reach out beyond the support of urban and rural élites and the military if it was to move beyond mere stability to real development of the country. Despite many problems, most notably local élite takeover at local level and military coup at national level, there is considerable evidence, particularly from neighboring India, to suggest that local participatory institutions can be successful over the longer term in promoting development for the middle and the poorer rural classes.