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Chapter Seventeen Politics in India Comparative Politics Today, 9/e Almond, Powell, Dalton & Strøm Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman © 2008.

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Presentation on theme: "Chapter Seventeen Politics in India Comparative Politics Today, 9/e Almond, Powell, Dalton & Strøm Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman © 2008."— Presentation transcript:

1 Chapter Seventeen Politics in India Comparative Politics Today, 9/e Almond, Powell, Dalton & Strøm Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman © 2008

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3 Country Bio: India  Population:  1,103,37 billion (2005)  Territory:  1,269,338 sq. miles  Year of Independence:  1947  Year of Current Constitution:  1950  Number of Constitutional Amendments:  93 (as of April 2006)  Head of State:  President A.P.J. Abdul Kalem  Head of Government:  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh  Population:  1,103,37 billion (2005)  Territory:  1,269,338 sq. miles  Year of Independence:  1947  Year of Current Constitution:  1950  Number of Constitutional Amendments:  93 (as of April 2006)  Head of State:  President A.P.J. Abdul Kalem  Head of Government:  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh  Language:  English, Hindi (primary tongue of 30% of the people), Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kasmiri, Sindhi, Sanskrit  Note: There are 24 languages, each of which is spoken by a million or more people  Religion:  Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, Buddhist 0.8%, Jain 0.4%, other 0.6% (Census 2001)  Scheduled Castes  16.2% of population  Scheduled Tribes  8.2% of population

4 Background  Poverty and underdevelopment  New sense of optimism  Integration into a global market economy  But will it bring sustained growth  Good case for cross-cultural comparisons of the transition to democracy  Has democratic political system  Secular constitution  Liberalized but still mixed economy  Mass poverty  Complex ethnic composition  Poverty and underdevelopment  New sense of optimism  Integration into a global market economy  But will it bring sustained growth  Good case for cross-cultural comparisons of the transition to democracy  Has democratic political system  Secular constitution  Liberalized but still mixed economy  Mass poverty  Complex ethnic composition

5 Current Policy Challenges  New international environment has posed a sharp challenge to India’s traditional policy of non-alignment  Panchasheela  Indo-Pakistani rivalry – source of great anxiety  Potential for nuclear war  1998 nuclear tests  Series of negotiations and confidence-building measures  Kashmir  Key strategic partner with U.S. – South Asia policy  Poverty  Mass literacy  Few elite institutions: IIT, IIM  No infrastructure for mass literacy  Education is the responsibility of India’s regional governments  Infrastructure problems in road transport and shipping facilities  New international environment has posed a sharp challenge to India’s traditional policy of non-alignment  Panchasheela  Indo-Pakistani rivalry – source of great anxiety  Potential for nuclear war  1998 nuclear tests  Series of negotiations and confidence-building measures  Kashmir  Key strategic partner with U.S. – South Asia policy  Poverty  Mass literacy  Few elite institutions: IIT, IIM  No infrastructure for mass literacy  Education is the responsibility of India’s regional governments  Infrastructure problems in road transport and shipping facilities

6 The Twin Legacies of Colonial Rule and the Anti-Colonial Movement  Historical controversies  Highly organized feudal state in India versus “segmentary” early state  Colonial rule  Mahatma Gandhi  Satyagraha – nonviolent resistance  Cross-community coalitions – Hindi-Muslim unity  Indian National Congress  India Act of 1935  Impact of British rule on India  Congress Party  India became independent in 1947  Jawaharlal Nehru- India’s first prime minister  Historical controversies  Highly organized feudal state in India versus “segmentary” early state  Colonial rule  Mahatma Gandhi  Satyagraha – nonviolent resistance  Cross-community coalitions – Hindi-Muslim unity  Indian National Congress  India Act of 1935  Impact of British rule on India  Congress Party  India became independent in 1947  Jawaharlal Nehru- India’s first prime minister

7 The “Givens” of Indian Society: From Hierarchy to Plurality  Religious diversity and political conflict  Hindu’s divided  Jammu and Kashmir have Muslim majority  Punjab has a Sikh majority  Several other small states have a Christian majority  Ayodhya  Hindu nationalism  Partition of British India and the creation of Pakistan  Sikhism  Castes and politics  Jatis – basic social units that still govern marriages, social networks, food taboos, and rituals in India  In the past it regulated the choice of occupation: hereditary and caste-specific  More than 2,000 jatis in India; divided into four varnas  The Brahmins – priests  Kshatriyas – rulers and warriors  Vaisyas – mercantile class  Sudras – service groups, agriculturists, and artisans  Dharma  Dalits  Religious diversity and political conflict  Hindu’s divided  Jammu and Kashmir have Muslim majority  Punjab has a Sikh majority  Several other small states have a Christian majority  Ayodhya  Hindu nationalism  Partition of British India and the creation of Pakistan  Sikhism  Castes and politics  Jatis – basic social units that still govern marriages, social networks, food taboos, and rituals in India  In the past it regulated the choice of occupation: hereditary and caste-specific  More than 2,000 jatis in India; divided into four varnas  The Brahmins – priests  Kshatriyas – rulers and warriors  Vaisyas – mercantile class  Sudras – service groups, agriculturists, and artisans  Dharma  Dalits

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9 The “Givens” of Indian Society: From Hierarchy to Plurality  Language  Key component of identity  Divided into two main groups: Indo-Aryan languages of the North and the Dravidian languages of the South  Largest single language is Hindi, which, along with English, is recognized as an official language of India.  Social Class  Did not develop a revolutionary peasant movement  Industrial working class is quite small and only a fraction is unionized  Middle peasant cultivators  Pressures of mechanization; more landless  Language  Key component of identity  Divided into two main groups: Indo-Aryan languages of the North and the Dravidian languages of the South  Largest single language is Hindi, which, along with English, is recognized as an official language of India.  Social Class  Did not develop a revolutionary peasant movement  Industrial working class is quite small and only a fraction is unionized  Middle peasant cultivators  Pressures of mechanization; more landless

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11 Political Institutions and the Policy Process  Like many former British colonies, India adopted a parliamentary democracy  Has survived many challenges including political change, societal change and wars  Decentralization of power; devolution; rule of five  The President  Designed with the British monarch in mind; in practice, the office combines ceremonial roles with some substantive powers  Power formally vested in the president, and he is expected to exercise these powers on the advice of the Council of Ministers, with the prime minister at its head.  The Prime Minister  Controls and coordinates the departments of government and determines policy through the submission of a program for parliamentary action  If he commands a majority in the Lok Sabha, his government is secure.  Like many former British colonies, India adopted a parliamentary democracy  Has survived many challenges including political change, societal change and wars  Decentralization of power; devolution; rule of five  The President  Designed with the British monarch in mind; in practice, the office combines ceremonial roles with some substantive powers  Power formally vested in the president, and he is expected to exercise these powers on the advice of the Council of Ministers, with the prime minister at its head.  The Prime Minister  Controls and coordinates the departments of government and determines policy through the submission of a program for parliamentary action  If he commands a majority in the Lok Sabha, his government is secure.

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13 Political Institutions and the Policy Process: The Parliament  Upper House – the Rajya Sabha (the Council of States) has some features of the U.S. Senate (India is a federation)  Lower House – Lok Sabha (House of the People)  545 members; 543 are directly elected and two are nominated by the president of India as representatives of the Anglo-Indian community  Simple majority; single member constituencies; 5 year term; can be dissolved  Guaranteed representation of former untouchables and trials in the Lok Sabha – “reserved seats”  Designed to be an instrument of democratic accountability  Upper House – the Rajya Sabha (the Council of States) has some features of the U.S. Senate (India is a federation)  Lower House – Lok Sabha (House of the People)  545 members; 543 are directly elected and two are nominated by the president of India as representatives of the Anglo-Indian community  Simple majority; single member constituencies; 5 year term; can be dissolved  Guaranteed representation of former untouchables and trials in the Lok Sabha – “reserved seats”  Designed to be an instrument of democratic accountability

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16 Political Institutions and the Policy Process: The Parliament  Zero hour  Ultimate control over the executive lies in the motion of no-confidence  Rajya Sabha consists of a maximum of 250 members, of which twelve are nominated by the president for their special knowledge or practical experience.  The legislative process generally follows the British practice.  Once both houses pass a bill, it requires the president’s assent to become a law.  Joint sessions are used to resolve conflicts.  Lack of party discipline  Zero hour  Ultimate control over the executive lies in the motion of no-confidence  Rajya Sabha consists of a maximum of 250 members, of which twelve are nominated by the president for their special knowledge or practical experience.  The legislative process generally follows the British practice.  Once both houses pass a bill, it requires the president’s assent to become a law.  Joint sessions are used to resolve conflicts.  Lack of party discipline

17 Political Institutions and the Policy Process: The Judiciary  Constitution committed to individual rights of equality and liberty  System that is both independent from external control and free to interpret the law  Supreme Court has original and exclusive jurisdiction in disputes between the Union government and one or more states, or disputes between two or more states  It has appellate jurisdiction in any case, civil or criminal that involves a question of law in the meaning and intent of the Constitution  Supreme Court determines the constitutionality of any enactment.  Constitution committed to individual rights of equality and liberty  System that is both independent from external control and free to interpret the law  Supreme Court has original and exclusive jurisdiction in disputes between the Union government and one or more states, or disputes between two or more states  It has appellate jurisdiction in any case, civil or criminal that involves a question of law in the meaning and intent of the Constitution  Supreme Court determines the constitutionality of any enactment.

18 Political Institutions and the Policy Process: The Bureaucracy  Bureaucratic apparatus that is both professionally organized and politically accountable  Enormously complex system that combines national or all-India services with regional and local services  IAS, IPS  Bureaucratic apparatus that is both professionally organized and politically accountable  Enormously complex system that combines national or all-India services with regional and local services  IAS, IPS

19 The Federal Structure  Fear of “balkanization”  Special features of the Indian Constitution  Produce highly centralized form of federalism  Division of powers between the central government and the states with a bias in favor of the center  The financial provisions affecting the distribution of revenues  Kashmir  Test of the integrative ability of the Indian political system  Union List  Special powers: emergency powers; use of executive powers, special legislative powers  State List  Pattern of cooperation between center and the states  Fear of “balkanization”  Special features of the Indian Constitution  Produce highly centralized form of federalism  Division of powers between the central government and the states with a bias in favor of the center  The financial provisions affecting the distribution of revenues  Kashmir  Test of the integrative ability of the Indian political system  Union List  Special powers: emergency powers; use of executive powers, special legislative powers  State List  Pattern of cooperation between center and the states

20 The Articulation of Interests  Trade Unions and Employer’s Associations  Under India’s labor law, any seven workers can set up a trade union  All India Trade Union Congress  All India Railwaymen’s Federation  Interest groups closely affiliated with parties  Indigenous Interests  Satyagraha  Chipko  Indian Peasant Union  Kisans  Trade Unions and Employer’s Associations  Under India’s labor law, any seven workers can set up a trade union  All India Trade Union Congress  All India Railwaymen’s Federation  Interest groups closely affiliated with parties  Indigenous Interests  Satyagraha  Chipko  Indian Peasant Union  Kisans

21 The Articulation of Interests  Local Politics  Social activists  Dharna  Gherao  Rajiv Gandhi  Local Politics  Social activists  Dharna  Gherao  Rajiv Gandhi

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23 The Articulation of Interests  Democracy and the challenge of governance  Indian case demonstrates how transactional politics within firm boundaries laid down and defended with overwhelming force by the state have helped in the functioning of representative political institutions.  Democracy and the challenge of governance  Indian case demonstrates how transactional politics within firm boundaries laid down and defended with overwhelming force by the state have helped in the functioning of representative political institutions.

24 The Articulation of Interests  The Military  Professional and apolitical character of the army  Office corps of India has remained nonpartisan even during political turmoil.  Absence of leadership vacuum at the upper and middle levels of the system and the fragmented character of the command structure = relative immunity of the Indian political system from a military takeover  The Military  Professional and apolitical character of the army  Office corps of India has remained nonpartisan even during political turmoil.  Absence of leadership vacuum at the upper and middle levels of the system and the fragmented character of the command structure = relative immunity of the Indian political system from a military takeover

25 The Party System  The Congress System  The Congress Party  The Bharatiya Janata Party  The Communist Party  The social bases of the parties  Congress Party cuts across all social groups and cleavages of India; catch-all party  Hindu nationalist BJP is very much a party of the Hindu- Hindi-belt – has extended somewhat beyond the upper social order and Hindu upper caste  Communist parties (CPM and CPI) attracts more support from lower social classes and the more educated voters.  The Congress System  The Congress Party  The Bharatiya Janata Party  The Communist Party  The social bases of the parties  Congress Party cuts across all social groups and cleavages of India; catch-all party  Hindu nationalist BJP is very much a party of the Hindu- Hindi-belt – has extended somewhat beyond the upper social order and Hindu upper caste  Communist parties (CPM and CPI) attracts more support from lower social classes and the more educated voters.

26 The Political Socialization and Political Culture  The interaction of tradition and modernity  W.H. Morris-Jones: three idioms: the modern, the traditional, and the saintly  Political learning  Schooling is limited, and primary schooling is not a federal subject  Mass illiteracy  Liberalization and penetration by the electronic media  Elections  Participation has stabilized around 60%  The interaction of tradition and modernity  W.H. Morris-Jones: three idioms: the modern, the traditional, and the saintly  Political learning  Schooling is limited, and primary schooling is not a federal subject  Mass illiteracy  Liberalization and penetration by the electronic media  Elections  Participation has stabilized around 60%

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31 Political Recruitment  Percentage of politicians of rural origin has grown in the Lok Sabha over the years  Percentage of Brahmins has dropped significantly  Many regional governments have become important recruitment ground for new leaders and a school for training these potential leaders.  Percentage of politicians of rural origin has grown in the Lok Sabha over the years  Percentage of Brahmins has dropped significantly  Many regional governments have become important recruitment ground for new leaders and a school for training these potential leaders.

32 Policies to address the Economy, Welfare and Poverty  Politics of incremental growth and redistribution  Mass poverty has always been high on the nation’s political agenda  National Development Council  Eliminated famine and a reliance on imported food  Green Revolution  Food procurement  Planned development based on mixed economy  “commanding heights” – dominated by the public sector achieved some welfare and some negative side-effects  Quota-permit-raj  Corruption and inefficiency  Manmohan Singh - liberalization  Politics of incremental growth and redistribution  Mass poverty has always been high on the nation’s political agenda  National Development Council  Eliminated famine and a reliance on imported food  Green Revolution  Food procurement  Planned development based on mixed economy  “commanding heights” – dominated by the public sector achieved some welfare and some negative side-effects  Quota-permit-raj  Corruption and inefficiency  Manmohan Singh - liberalization

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34 Conclusion: Democracy and Development  What kind of democracy will emerge over the nest decades in India?  An elitist, affluent, and secure India  A majoritarian democracy, reforming but still poor, armed with nuclear teeth, threatening its neighbors  Democratic potential of politics from below  Its “million mutinies” ensconced in the context of a responsive state and elites well versed in the art and science of governance, can pave the transition to liberal democracy despite predictions to the contrary.  What kind of democracy will emerge over the nest decades in India?  An elitist, affluent, and secure India  A majoritarian democracy, reforming but still poor, armed with nuclear teeth, threatening its neighbors  Democratic potential of politics from below  Its “million mutinies” ensconced in the context of a responsive state and elites well versed in the art and science of governance, can pave the transition to liberal democracy despite predictions to the contrary.


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