For example, in Sri Lanka, in an unprecedented symbolic ruling, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka found the Rajapakse brothers – the leadership of the right-wing, dictatorial ruling party for the last several years – to be responsible for Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.37 This ruling provides unique jurisprudence that connects political corruption and authoritarianism to economic crises. In Pakistan, the dominance of the military plays a critical anti-democratic role, intertwining political failure with economic instability. The military, wielding immense governmental and economic power, has historically overshadowed civil governance. Military expenditures consume a significant portion of the national budget – around 19 percent as of February 2023 – while the tax system remains severely underdeveloped.38 This imbalance has intensified socio-political tensions, as the military, despite its vast influence, employs only a small fraction of the labor force, further entrenching authoritarian control over the state.39 IN THE REGION, THE CONTEXTS OF ECONOMIC COLLAPSE AND POLITICAL UPHEAVAL ARE CLOSELY CONNECTED, ENTRENCHING AUTHORITARIAN POWER THROUGH VIOLENCE AND BY SUBVERTING DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES SUCH AS ELECTIONS. In the region, the contexts of economic collapse and political upheaval are closely connected, entrenching authoritarian power through violence and by subverting democratic processes such as elections. In Pakistan, the 2024 election was marked by significant military involvement and allegations of widespread rigging, while Imran Khan – former Prime Minister and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party – has been incarcerated, with a military-favored candidate becoming Prime Minister. His removal, prompted by the United States (US) State Department pressure due to his stance on the Ukraine conflict, led to a militaryfavored candidate’s rise to power.40 This shift was accompanied by violent crackdowns on PTI supporters and the passage of draconian 37 Al Jazeera. (2023). Sri Lanka top court finds Rajapaksa brothers guilty of economic crisis. Al Jazeera. https://www. aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/15/sri-lanka-top-court-finds-rajapaksa-brothers-guilty-of-economic-crisis 38 Saleemi. S. (2023). Why Pakistan’s economy is in deep crisis. D+C. https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/climate-change-and-other-global-developments-are-severely-exacerbating-pakistans-home-made 39 FairPlanet. (n.d.). For its economy’s sake, Pakistan must cut military spending. Retrieved from https://www.fairplanet.org/editors-pick/for-its-economys-sake-pakistan-must-cut-military-spending/ 40 The Intercept. (2023). Imran Khan, Pakistan, and the U.S. State Department: Secret cypher reveals push to remove prime minister over neutrality on Ukraine. 9 August. https://theintercept.com/2023/08/09/imran-khan-pakistan-cypher-ukraine-russia/ 21