Change Management: Emerging need for SAARC

Kazi Mohoshin Al Abbas

In the discipline of Management Science, Change Management is one of the important, vast, complex and sensitive components. As far as present statehood is concerned, governing of a nation is equally dependent on leadership quality and management skills.

And of course, change management is nowadays a very important phenomenon of governance as technology is changing almost in every year, international political equilibrium running through almost unpredictable dynamics, regional economics is reshaping sharply and national political scenarios are modifying frequently.

SA Region

In terms of above mentioned phenomena, South Asian (SA) Region is running through a changing time. Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Bhutan have witnessed sharp changes in political chime. Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan are a littlie bit static with their problems and prospects.

Bhutan has a significant progress towards democracy. The Himalayan monarchy is moving towards Democracy and already the country has conducted a general election and going to enact a democratic constitution, which may lead the country to a republic.

With this progress, the administration and of course the Royal Members should prepare themselves for a changed governance pattern, though it is a tough job, the nation should manage the change by any means.

Failure of the management of changing factors may cause for a social, political and cultural commotion. It is expected that the nation would be able to manage the changes by their own. As far as South Asia is concerned, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) members should be proactive for capacity building of the Bhutan if their nation needs or wants to do so.

In Nepal there is a very significant and historic change in terms of social and political phenomena. The people of Nepal changed the 240-year-old monarchy by a general election, in which Maoist emerged with majority that also an indication of change in political practice and culture.

To understand the changing phenomena of Nepal we should look back to the student’s movement of 80s of last century which was led to a peoples upsurge and finally the royal power vowed to make it as a constitutional monarchy.

The King went behind the screen; the politicians come down on the stage of politics and government. The then student leaders of Nepal stated at that time that the job was well done but half done. This comment became a true when a blood shed went on in royal family and the absolute monarchy came back.

Social changes

This happened in Nepal for not considering the social changes by the authorities and they were not able to go through a proper change management process that pushed the nation along bloody internal conflict and again pressed the country on a changing situation.

As of the current political accomplishments, it must be logical to comment that all concerned of the country are concentrating on politics, especially on power game only. The changes of social phenomena, structure of power in rural Nepal, cultural changes and the aspiration of people are a bit less understood by the politicians.

Hoping that the experienced and learned political leaders of Nepal would be keen to and able to manage the changes, otherwise it could be led to another social and political deviation.

Political scenario

Pakistan, as a nation is managing a very frequently changing political scenario. At first, it should be mentioned that with the blood of Benazir Bhutto Pakistan earned an elected government and a parliament instead of military dictatorship or military-backed democracy.

After having an elected government the nation is fighting against the autocratic system which was built up under an undemocratic authoritarian administration. But the majority of the population, especially the educated people want to be ruled by a democratic system and want to live in a peaceful environment.

The present coalition government is the result of the changed sentiment of people. Moreover, there is another change going on through the common Pakistani’s psychology in terms of opposition to feudal lords and apparently be keen towards business community.

For an example: it could be cited that when PPP and Muslim League (Nawaz) were negotiating the structure of government, landlords were under pressure not to be in power-center. As of now, the business community is the emerging social power and landlords are crumbling in terms of social influence. The nation should manage the social changes with wisdom, skill and brilliancy.

Very recently in the political pitch of India, Congress has lost its grip and no other party, except BJP, has a nation-wide presence. As a result political alliances are in a frequent reshaping process.

As of my personal memory, in the year of 1990 a South, South-East Asian Student Leaders Consultation meeting was held in Allahabad, India. Lal Bahadur Singh was the president of Allahabad University Student Union and host of the student leaders gathered in the city.

Opposed

I was personally present in the programme and we were talking about the problems of the region and the globe.

At one stage of discussion, religious fundamentalism came up as one of social problem in India. Lal Bahadur Singh opposed the opinion and said that this is a problem of Pakistan and for Bangladesh as a legacy. After a decade it was proven by the time that this issue was a problem of South Asia and of course no need of examples.

It was not the problem of Mr. Singh, it was the mental frame of educated middle class of India.

This change in Indian mass psychology was ignored by the social and political leaders and as a consequence they lost their base. Present trend of change in the Indian socio-political hemisphere is basically linked to the booming private sector economy.

As of my understanding corporate culture does not run through a democratic practice. It is mostly run by an autocratic manner with a blending of flexibility, which is apparently a democratic practice but in reality it is autocracy. On the contrary, the political practice of India is a better democratic practice in the globe.

The internal contradiction of corporate influence and traditional democracy makes a bizarre in the social trends and evolution. This phenomenon must be endorsed by the social, political and civil society leaders.

It should be told that Bangladesh is the country of frequent political change among the SAARC members. At the time of its birth, the nation’s dream was to be a democratic country with socialist economic system.

Few days later Bangladesh experienced a one-party system then military autocracy and finally a Westminster Democratic system, which was emerged apparently as feudal democracy.

After a long journey, the present Bangladesh is governed by an extra constitutional but socially excepted interim government that is committed to make Bangladesh a Democracy.

Zigzag journey

Through this zigzag journey, the society lost its democratic norms, tolerance and honour to others; average social honesty is also grilled by a big question.

Moreover, in rural Bangladesh non-farm activities have enhanced significantly and absorbing the rural unemployed agriculture manpower, a stronger business community has emerged in the power circle, NGO activities are also become a part of social life, and exported manpower has also a significant role in socio-psychological changes.

On the other hand, fundamentalism is also a social change which is contrary to secularism that the spirit of independence movement. These changes should be managed by the social and political leaders with due attention.

Internal changes

Among the SAARC members, Maldives is a country of stability yet. But people are increasingly empowered by information and various schools of thoughts and obviously there are some changes going on in the society and social psychology. If the nation does not able to meet the demand of time, internal changes could lead to change of social power structure.

Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are living with conflict and war. The changes in society and social psychology should be observed sharply to protect any emergence of chauvinism.

Here should be discussed that South Asia has a single ancient history with different heritage, tradition and socio-cultural diversity.

To understand the commonness and uniqueness of social changes of the region among various entities, we should go through the ancient history that could help us to manage the changing phenomena of the region.

Shearing of experience among SAARC members is also an essential for social development of the region. In view of human development, to manage the changes, developing people-to-people relations and ensuring collective efforts by the Political Leaders of SAARC countries are the must.

The upcoming SAARC summit which will be held in Sri Lanka could be the forum to determine the changing phenomena of the region and a point to develop a system to manage the Changes. In view of all, SAARC should be more effective and stronger to face the Global Challenges as well.

The Author is a senor journalist based in Dhaka. His special focus areas are the socio-political developments in South Asia.