Author: Eminent Contributors
Editor(s): Francine Franklin / Zoya Hasan / Rajeev Bhargava
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 443
ISBN/UPC (if available): 0195658329
Description
In this volume, leading scholars take stock of India’s experience of democratic functioning for over fifty years and analyse the profound transformations brought about by the democratic forms of governance.
The essays discuss electoral upsurges of historically marginalized groups, autonomous mobilization of lower castes and dalits, corruption in governments, tendencies towards regionalization, fragmentation of political parties, Hindu-Muslim tensions, and the increase in inter-state disparities on account of economic reforms.
The roles of the electronic media, the police, and the judiciary have also been examined. Contemporary debates on protecting minority rights, the Hindutva issue, and the proposal to introduce a presidential form of government are also addressed.
REVIEWS
The implications of these analyses are striking. They confirm that the legitimacy of democracy is wide-based and growing.
-Biblio
The book sheds valuable insights on the trials and tribulations of Indian democracy.
-Indian Review of Books
It the book is a thought provoking collection and touches many hues of Indian democracy.
-Deccan Chronicle
Contents
CONTRIBUTORS
Introduction: Contextual Democracy: intersections of society, culture an politics in India
Democratic Vision of a New Republic: India, 1950
The Strong State and the Fear of Disorder
Democracy and Social Inequality
Understanding the Second Democratic Upsurge: trends of bahujan participation in electoral politics in the 1990s
Representation and Redistribution: the new lower caste politics of north India
Negotiating Differences: federal coalitions and national cohesion
Economic Policy and the Development of Capitalism in India: the role of regional capitalists and political parties
Economic Policy and Its Political Management in the Current Conjuncture
Depicting the Nation: media politics in independent India
The India Police: expectations of a democratic polity
Judges and Indian Democracy: the lesser evil?
Hindu Nationalism and Democracy
The Transformation of Hindu Nationalism? Towards a reappraisal
India in Search of a New Regime?
Index