Democratic Governance in India: Challenges of Poverty, Development, and Identity

With its rich and insightful coverage of many topical issues, this volume will be of considerable interest to those in the fields of politics, economics, policy studies, sociology, governance, and development studies. The increase in political assertions of identity and the economic reforms effected under the shadow of globalization, are arguably two of the most significant developments in Indian polities and society in recent years. These trends have had a definite impact on the way in which the role of the state and the problems of governance are viewed. Exploring these developments, this volume of original essays highlights an interesting phenomenon: A variety of social movements and new institutional experiments are now seeking to wrest the state’s responsibility of securing development and alleviating poverty. As a result, the erstwhile consensus which underpinned the pre-eminence of the state has been rendered fragile, and the presence of other actors-such as the market and civil society-has come to be recognized. The sphere of the market on the one hand, and the non-governmental sector on the other, are identified by the contributors as critical ingredients in the alternative conceptualizations of governance that have begun to inform the discourse on development. The first part of the volume addresses the current discourse on governance, development, and poverty reduction and the emergence of alternative models of governance in India such as the non-governmental sector and joint partnerships between community and state. Part II examines identity politics and their relationship with the state; the impact of globalization on the nation-state; the role of ‘identity’ versus ‘interests’ in the course of development; the upsurge of caste-based identity; and the limitations of the Dalit movement. Overall, the contributors maintain that while globalization and assertions of identity have undoubtedly weakened national governments, in many ways the state remains central both in the international sphere and in the lives of both individuals and social groups within it. With its rich and insightful coverage of many topics issues, this volume will be of considerable interest to those in the fields of politics, economics, policy studies, sociology, governance, and development studies.