The idea of freedom is deeply imbedded in the political cultures of South Asia. Especially the experiences of absolute power of royal dynasties and, later, of colonial rule had triggered the quest for justice, civil equality and democratic forms of government. Freedom for all citizens and responsible government were, thus, the most important values to be secured when finally the societies of South Asia gained their full and unequivocal independence in the middle of last century.

Yet, as a main political direction, liberalism was and remained weak in comparison to other political directions and mainstreams. When the anti-colonial struggle came to an end, it was primarily socialism, its off springs and variations, which became dominant in many countries of the region. The opponents of socialism usually gathered around ideologies and concepts, which – although lacking a coherent ideational framework – can best be subsumed as conservatism. In all political camps, nationalism in various forms played an important role for the origins and developments of political parties. When, in the course of time and as a general trend, deficiencies of the political systems and misgovernment of the ruling parties and elites became a more or less constant pattern, thus putting the democratic set-ups themselves under enhanced pressure, new forces of opposition with their own bases of legitimacy and interpretation of history grew in importance. Religious extremists found their ways into the political spectrums of South Asia, whether of Hindu, Islamic or Buddhist denomination.