India Giving JVP State Patronage for credibility
By Adolf
Recent developments suggest that India may be leveraging state patronage not merely for strategic or economic purposes, but to advance ideological influence in Sri Lanka through selective support of the JVP. While the World Bank (2000) defines state capture primarily as the use of state functions for private gain, what we are witnessing represents a different and arguably more insidious phenomenon: the use of democratic processes to extend external ideological control. Traditionally, state capture involves private actors manipulating public institutions for enrichment. In this case, the concern is ideological capture: a democratically elected government—backed or influenced externally—is using policy, funding, and institutional engagement to promote a political philosophy aligned with a foreign state’s interests. The JVP, a socialist-oriented party, appears to be receiving selective support, enabling it to advance an ideological agenda that could reshape Sri Lanka’s political and social landscape. Unlike conventional capture, this does not target private profit but seeks to influence the trajectory of governance and public discourse.
Political Risks
The risk of ideological patronage is particularly acute in a pluralistic democracy like Sri Lanka. Its institutions are designed to mediate competing interests and protect civil liberties. When foreign support is funneled to reinforce a specific ideological faction, it can distort this balance, effectively privileging one vision of governance over others. The methods are subtle yet powerful: funding, policy advice, development projects tied to governance frameworks, and influence over educational, media, or civic institutions. Over time, these mechanisms can normalize a preferred ideology, crowding out debate, dissent, and independent policy-making.
Unchecked
Unchecked ideological capture has profound implications for governance. Democratically elected parties enjoy legitimacy, enabling them to implement reforms with minimal opposition. If external actors exploit this legitimacy through ideological patronage, liberal democratic forces may struggle to resist. The political spectrum could narrow, dissenting voices could be marginalized, and policy choices could increasingly reflect external priorities rather than national consensus. Within just a few election cycles, Sri Lanka could risk a scenario resembling one-party dominance, eroding pluralism and constraining the liberties citizens have historically enjoyed.
Conclusion
Addressing this challenge requires both urgency and vigilance. Political parties committed to liberal democracy, civil society organizations, and independent institutions must insist on transparency in foreign assistance, safeguard institutional autonomy, and ensure that policy debates remain rooted in national priorities. Electoral politics is a critical front: allowing ideological patronage to shape candidate selection, party platforms, or political dominance risks embedding external agendas into Sri Lanka’s governance. While conventional state capture targets private enrichment, ideological capture is a subtler but equally consequential threat. India’s support for the JVP, if aimed at consolidating ideology rather than fostering mutually beneficial partnership, could undermine Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, democratic freedoms, and institutional independence. Proactive engagement by liberal forces is essential to ensure democracy remains a forum for open debate, pluralism, and national decision-making, rather than a conduit for external influence. The historical context makes this even more concerning. In 1988–89, under leaders like Tilwin, the JVP carried out an anti-India campaign that resulted in the deaths of thousands of young Sri Lankans. That a respected diplomat like Dr. Jaishankar Foreign Secretary now gives time and legitimacy to an unelected JVP terror leaderlike Tilwin sends a very troubling signal—especially for a country that is now a leading economic and strategic power in Asia. It is, at best, a pathetic display of state craft and intelligence readiness .
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