Do political party bans work?

Illustration: TBS

Recently, there's been a lot of talk surrounding the demand of banning Bangladesh Awami League (BAL) and some of its affiliated parties for their involvement in the 15-years long autocratic rule in Bangladesh. 

While the leading parties like Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami are not aligned with the demand, leaders of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) are vehemently vocal about the ban. 

Banning political parties for their ideology or involvement in treason or rebellion is not new. Following World War II, the Allied powers banned fascist organisations to deter a resurgence of fascist ideologies. Similarly, communist and nationalist parties have been banned by various regimes for their potential to challenge existing political orders. 

Political party bans typically arise from attempts by ruling governments or international coalitions to prevent the spread of ideologies viewed as extreme, dangerous, or destabilising. While the objective of these bans is often to suppress radical or authoritarian ideas, the outcomes vary widely. Some parties manage to return to influence, while others fade due to sustained suppression, societal shifts, or the loss of popular support.

Shadique Mahbub Islam. Sketch: TBS

From Europe to East Asia and the Middle East, there are examples of parties that re-emerged despite bans and those that did not. 

Banned political parties that made a comeback 

The Allied powers enacted strict measures to dismantle the National Socialist German Workers' Party or Nazi Party after World War II. This included banning Nazi symbols, literature, and organisations as part of "denazification" efforts, which are still in effect today. 

However, neo-Nazi groups have periodically re-emerged in various forms across Germany and Europe. These groups exploit nationalism, economic concerns, and anti-immigration sentiments to attract followers. Although these movements have not regained power, their persistence demonstrates the difficulty of fully eradicating ideologies associated with banned parties, especially when certain social and economic triggers remain unaddressed. 

Legislative bans on neo-Nazi organisations continue in Germany, but periodic outbreaks of neo-Nazi activity indicate that the ideology endures despite restrictions. Alternative for Germany or AfD is the prominent far-right party with seats in the German federal parliament and even in the European Parliament. 

Another example is Sinn Féin of Ireland. Sinn Féin was banned in 1918 by the British government to suppress the Irish independence movement. Sinn Féin had gained significant support for its nationalist cause, advocating for Irish independence from British rule. 

However, the ban failed to curb its influence; Sinn Féin regrouped, maintained its ideological stance, and continued to rally popular support. It later led to the establishment of the IRA (Irish Republican Army), which used armed resistance to further its goals. 

After the prolonged military struggle against the British government, a period called 'The Troubles,' Sinn Féin eventually re-entered politics, becoming one of Ireland's leading political parties and participating in peace negotiations. 

Sinn Féin shows how a political ban often fails when the ideology in question resonates deeply with a population, as the party effectively channelled nationalist sentiments that transcended legal restrictions. 

In the Middle East, Muslim Brotherhood, a religious-political movement, has shown such resilience. Banned multiple times, the Muslim Brotherhood has demonstrated remarkable resilience in Egypt. Originally established as a religious and social organisation, it later developed into a political movement with a significant following. It inspired similar parties to form in Tunisia, Syria, Algeria, and Iraq. 

Successive Egyptian regimes banned the Brotherhood, viewing its Islamist ideology as a threat to secular governance. The Brotherhood re-emerged after the 2011 Arab Spring, even achieving a brief period in government with Mohamed Morsi's presidency. 

There, they competed under the name Freedom and Justice Party.  Later, after General Sisi came to power, he once again clamped down on the party, banned it and prosecuted its leadership. 

Still, they are still influential, albeit significantly weaker than before. 

Founded as the Movement of Islamic Tendency in 1981, Ennahda was inspired by the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. In 1989, the dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali banned the movement. It was revived under the leadership of Rached Ghannouchi. 

Following the Arab Spring, Ennahda emerged as the largest political party in Tunisia, forming a coalition government. But, the coalition failed, and now, the party members and leadership are being persecuted. 

The Tunisian government has detained at least 17 current or former members of the party, including Ghannouchi, and closed its offices around the nation since December 2022.

The Ba'ath Party, which ruled Iraq under Saddam Hussein, was banned following the US invasion in 2003. The US and allied Iraqi authorities enacted policies to dismantle Ba'athist structures and prevent a return of its ideology. 

However, former Baathists maintained influence in various forms, with some joining insurgent groups or shifting to other political platforms. 

Although the Ba'ath Party as an organisation did not formally re-emerge, its influence persists, as seen in the ideological elements that inform certain insurgent movements. 

A different situation occurred with the Islamic Dawa Party under Nouri Al Maliki. The Dawa party was banned in 1980 and its members sentenced to death in absentia by the Iraqi government. But, after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, they came back to the political scene. Nouri Al Maliki served as the Prime Minister of Iraq from 2006 to 2014 and as Vice President from 2014 to 2015 and again from 2016 to 2018.

Political parties that failed to return

The Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) was effectively eradicated following an attempted coup in 1965. The Indonesian military, under General Suharto, launched a brutal anti-communist purge that killed an estimated 500,000 people. 

The PKI was banned, and its members were systematically persecuted. At that time, it was the third largest communist party in the world. 

Unlike Sinn Féin or the Muslim Brotherhood, the PKI was unable to recover due to the intense social and political backlash, coupled with legal prohibitions against communist activity. Indonesia's anti-communist sentiment and state-enforced censorship further reduced the possibility of a communist revival, rendering the PKI's legacy virtually nonexistent in the nation's political landscape.

The Falange, a fascist party central to Francisco Franco's rule, disintegrated after Spain's transition to democracy. Following Franco's death in 1975, Spain embraced democratic reforms, and the Falange was effectively banned as it held strong associations with Francoist authoritarianism. 

While fringe nationalist groups have since promoted elements of Falangist ideology, the party never returned as a significant political force. The Spanish government's efforts to erase symbols of Franco's rule and promote democratic values have helped prevent any revival of the Falange. 

Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamist organisation advocating for a caliphate, has been banned in multiple countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, and several Central Asian states. Governments see Hizb ut-Tahrir as a destabilising force with a radical agenda that threatens national security. 

Unlike the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizb ut-Tahrir lacks broad grassroots support and has been largely ineffective in re-establishing itself. 
Its failure to gain widespread acceptance, combined with tight surveillance and restrictions in many countries, has hindered its influence, demonstrating how bans can be effective when organisations lack broad public appeal and face stringent enforcement.

After 5 August, Hizb ut-Tahrir made some public appearances in Bangladesh, but it faced significant backlash from the citizens and the political parties. 

Turkey has enacted periodic bans on communist parties and leftist groups since the early 20th century, viewing them as threats to national unity and stability. The government's hostility toward communist ideologies, coupled with strict political and legal controls, has prevented any significant return of communist parties in Turkey. 

While underground leftist movements continue, communist parties remain fragmented and have not re-emerged as a potent political force. Turkey's success in keeping communist parties at bay illustrates how strong government opposition and social rejection can effectively marginalise ideologies associated with banned parties.

Effectiveness of political bans

The cases show a spectrum of effectiveness in political party bans. Key factors determining the success of these bans include the societal resonance of the ideology, the strength of governmental enforcement, and the political and social environment post-ban.

Political parties rooted in popular movements or ideologies that resonate with the public, such as Sinn Féin's nationalism or the Muslim Brotherhood's Islamic identity, often retain influence despite legal restrictions. To some extent, it is true for AfD, who relied on xenophobia and racism to gain a foothold. 

In these cases, the ideological foundation remains intact, and the parties find alternative ways to engage the public, eventually re-emerging. 

On the other hand, where public support is limited, as seen with Hizb ut-Tahrir, bans are more successful in curbing the organisation's influence.

The rigour of enforcement plays a critical role in the effectiveness of political bans. Indonesia's complete suppression of the PKI, including mass purges and extensive anti-communist propaganda, created a strong deterrent against any communist revival. 
Conversely, anti-Muslim Brotherhood program had limited success in preventing the rise of similar groups in the Middle East, which continue to operate despite strict laws.

The transition from authoritarian rule to democratic systems, as seen in Spain after Franco's death, can also reduce the appeal of banned ideologies. Spain's successful democratic transition minimised the likelihood of a Falangist resurgence, demonstrating how systemic political change can reduce the ideological pull of former authoritarian parties.

Banned political parties, especially those with nationalist or religious ideologies, sometimes redirect their influence into underground movements. This phenomenon suggests that while a ban might suppress formal political influence, it can inadvertently encourage radicalisation in informal spheres, complicating the goal of ideological containment.

While bans may limit the organisational influence of a political party temporarily, they are rarely sufficient to eliminate resilient ideologies altogether. Rather, the societal and political contexts that shape public attitudes toward these ideologies play a central role in determining whether a ban achieves its intended effect.