| ID | 160930 |
| Title Proper | mimicry of the state as a state practice: the regulation of rickshaw licenses in Dhaka (Bangladesh) |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Suykens, Bert |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Around half a million cycle rickshaws are currently active in Dhaka, Bangladesh. With only 86,000 official licenses available, different types of organizations supply licenses to most rickshaw drivers. These non-official licenses mimic the language of the state. This article argues that while these licenses appear as part of non-state, hybrid, or twilight institutions, they in fact constitute a state practice. Based on approximately 200 semi-structured interviews at six locations in Dhaka and offering a conceptualization of the Bangladesh state as a party-state, the article shows that the operation of non-official rickshaw licenses and the mimicry entailed is an inherent part of party-state governance, one which is not morally neutral. While most respondents saw the everyday benefits of non-official licenses in the absence of sufficient official ones, the latter remained the most prized and, if made available, respondents agreed that the former would become redundant. |
| `In' analytical Note | Critical Asian Studies Vol. 50, No.3; Sep 2018: p.422-441 |
| Journal Source | Critical Asian Studies 2018-09 50, 3 |
| Key Words | Bangladesh ; Governance ; Party-State ; Rickshaw ; Language of The State |