Indian Democracy: Meanings and PracticesRajendra Vora, Suhas Palshikar This volume examines how Indian democracy has survived the challenges posed by widespread illiteracy, poverty, secessionism and communalism—problems that have felled the fledgling democratic institutions of so many post-colonial societies. The contributors locate the reason for the resilience of Indian democracy in its history—that it was the product of a gradual evolution and not of a sudden imposition from above. The essays in the volume, however, show that despite having stood the test of time, Indian democracy is not a democracy in any substantive sense. The economic policies of successive governments since 1985 have been basically anti-people; rampant casteism, communalism, and the use of money and muscle power have infiltrated the body politic. Mass mobilization has been powered by hate, making it a feature more typical of a nascent neo-fascist state than of a democracy. The `substantialization of democracy’—proper representation and people’s participation in decision making—still remains a distant ideal. |
Contents
List of Tables | 9 |
An Overview | 45 |
The Crisis of Political Authority | 55 |
What is Happening Inside Indian Democracy? | 78 |
Theorizing Indian Democracy | 99 |
Whose Democracy Are We Talking About? Hegemony | 127 |
Are We Asking | 165 |
Learning from | 235 |
Decline of Caste Majoritarianism in Indian Politics | 271 |
An Appraisal | 299 |
Predicament of the Left | 325 |
Is This | 362 |
Social Movements in Crisis? | 379 |
Struggle Against Dams or Struggle for Water? | 410 |
About the Editors and Contributors | 432 |
New Dalit Politics | 257 |
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Common terms and phrases
1999 elections adivasis agenda agitations agricultural alliance Ambedkar areas aspirations autonomy backward castes Bahujan Bihar BJP's bourgeoisie capitalism capitalist cent centre challenge changes civil society claims coalition Communist Party communities Congress system constitution contestations crisis cultural dalit dalit politics Delhi democratic dominant egoism electoral elites emerged ethical farmers forces Gandhi Gandhian globalization groups Gujarat hegemony Hindu Hindutva ideological India Indian democracy Indian politics Indira Gandhi industrial institutions interests issues large number leaders leadership legitimacy legitimation liberal liberal democracy Lok Sabha Lok Sabha elections Maharashtra major majoritarianism masses ment middle class mobilization modern Muslims Nandy naxalite OBCs organizations people's political parties Political Weekly Pradesh programme regime regional religion religious representatives role rural Sangh Parivar seats sections sector secularism Singh social movements structure struggle support base trade union transformation upper castes urban Vanaik vote voters workers
