Author: Arend Lijphart
Neera Chandhoke/Several Contributors
Translator(s)/ Edito: K. Shankar Bajpai/Alfred Stepan/Arend Lijphart
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Year: 2007
Language: English
Pages: 312
ISBN/UPC (if available): 978-0-19-568368-4
Description
Among the world’s eleven longstanding democracies, India and America are by far the largest. But there is very little material on how the successes and problems of one might be relevant to the other, or to other states. India has managed its diversities impressively, and yet not been part of the study of comparative democratic theory or practice.
This volume brings together four leading international scholars in the field, with four Indian counterparts, to stimulate fresh thinking on the issue. Conscious of the differences between India and the US, and the difficulties of attempting comparisons, they approach democratic practices in one country keeping in mind similarities and contrasts in the other.
Examining democratic institutions in India and the US, the contributors study the points of divergence—and possible convergence—with other democracies. They contest the idea that social homogeneity is essential to democracy. The politics of language in both countries has shown how differences, as opposed to homogeneity, can actually promote democracy.
The volume inquires into the absence, in Indian political parties, of the internal democracy that is intrinsic to the functioning of their US counterparts. It explores links between democracy in parties and their capacity to accommodate religious, racial, ethnic, caste, linguistic, and regional diversities. It also provides insights into the factors that control the strength of democracy and social harmony in societies with a multi-national dimension to their polities.
Contents
List of Tables and Figure
Preface: K. SHANKAR BAJPAI
List of Abbreviations
Introduction:
The Importance of India -United State Comparison
for Political Science
AREND LUPHART
Democratic Institutions and ethnic/religious Pluralism:
Can India and the United Stated Learn from each other-and
From the Smaller Democracies
AREND LUPHART
‘Nation State’ or ‘State Nation’?
India In Comparative Perspective
JUAN J. LINZ, ALFRED STEPAN, AND YOGENDRA YADAV
Negotiating Linguistic Diversity:
A Comparative Study of India and the United States
NEERA CHANDHOKE
Minorities and India’s Democracy
NATHAN GLAZER
Democracy within Parties and the Accommodation
Of Diversity:
Comparing India and the United States
E. SRIDHARAN
Federalism, Multi-National Societies, and Negotiating a Democratic
‘State Nation’:
ALFRED STEPAN
Decentralization: Exploration of Local Government in India and the
United Stated
PETER RONALD DESOUZA
Notes on Contributors
Index