WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT INDIA? Why do political scientists study India so much? A huge, democratic population—over 1.2 billion—that’s still growing; A “middle” class of about 100 million; the 10th largest GDP India’s states as labs for comparison: 7 have pop > than France!; there are 325 distinct languages; 6 religions have > 50 million(!) adherents; communists rule some places but not others Pakistan as a comparison How do you build democracy in a very poor country with a culture not used to it? Why else do we need to know about India? It is a nuclear power in a dangerous neighborhood Will it pose more of an econ threat to the US than China over the long run? Perhaps, but for now GDP at PPP = 4K (less than ½ CH) What happens when you abandon third world (vs. 1st world) socialism? Development (6-10% most years since the 1990s) with intense poverty (500 mill live on 1.25$ a day) Ethno-relig. strife and its intricate caste system

WHAT KEY HISTORICAL MOMENTS SHAPED PRE-INDEPEN. INDIA? For 2K years, Hinduism has been the dominant religion 1600s, forward: informal British colonialism through the East India Tea Co. & imperialism, & then state building (India = profit motive vs. security concerns in the case of the American colonies) The Sepoy Mutiny -> the Government of India Act (1858) & the British “Raj”: Ruling India on the cheap Indian National Congress (Founded in 1885)… A lot like our founders (well schooled in western phil. & liberalism Mahatma Gandhi (1920s-1947): Not violent revolution Sought a secular, pan-Indian nationalism Brought the masses into the INC Pursued a strategy of non-violent direct action The 2nd Government of India Act (1935): What was the value of limited self-rule? Indian independence, partition, and assassination (1947)

KEY MOMENTS IN POST-INDEPEN. INDIA Jawaharal Nehru (1947- death in office in 1964) A remarkable democratic party & state builder Growth: ISI, federalism, land reform, and patronage Foreign policy: The non-aligned movement Indira Gandhi (1966-1984) Why power to Nehru’s daughter… An authoritarian? The Green Revolution Populism, democracy, and development The “emergency” (martial law, 10K opponents jailed) of 1975-77, corruption Coalitional politics (1989 to the present) Liberalization of the Indian economy (1991-present) Nuclear tests (1998) and war over Kashmir The INC returned to power in 2004; BJP in 2014 under Narendra Modi’s leadership

Why democracy in a place like India? Why was the British colonial legacy so important? Why isn’t it everything? (Pakistan) What was the process of democratization? It was slow, non-violent, & carefully pacted How important were leadership choices?: M. Gandhi (transition), Nehru (consolidation), and Indira Gandhi Why was democracy emphasized over growth at least in the short term? Institutionalism: How has federalism been used to deal with ethnic strife? How did the country foster the rule of law and institutions? How has the rivalry with Pakistan helped to build a democratic India, while limiting the role of the military in politics? How do major parties help the country?: The INC, the BJP, and the United Front

WHAT DOES INDIAN DEMOCRACY LOOK LIKE? The Constitution: 400 (!) articles and easily changed by simple majorities in both houses. Think of it as British meets US model… The rule of law, especially electoral law is largely fixed by custom 545 member PM-system with power centered in the lower House of the People (Lok Sabha), with cabinet govt.; 5 yr terms; no no-confidence votes (which can collapse the govt. immediately), but has snap elections (where the PM can call for elections) Indirectly elected president (state leg + parliament) similar to Germany’s president… But can be more powerful bc s/he brokers “hung” elections India’s electoral system for the parliament: 500+ members, FPTP; yet India has a multiparty system because of federalism (why doesn’t the US have this)… What does India tell us about the problems of multiparty Parliamentary systems? Would India be better off with PR? Probably not because its ethnic diversity would lead to system fragmentation The smaller upper house is appointed by the state legislatures, but it wields little power except with amendments to the constitution… Would India be better if it had state-level senators like us? Indirectly elected president (5 yr terms, and German-like in the sense that it doesn’t usually get into politics ) Federalism (27 states with ethnic boundaries) & conflict

POLITICAL ECONOMY, INDIAN STYLE The initial approach: ISI, “the third way,” and the Hindu rate of growth Since IMF help in the early 1990s: An emphasis on free trade and urban over rural growth Attracting more investment than ever: Language, cultural, & democratic legacies Anything for the rural poor (70% of the population)? Other than micro-credit, little to get them to stay in the country The exceptionally tough road for the next 30 yrs… No oil, no water, global warming and 1.5 billion people (including 450 million <18yrs old) Will the poor ever revolt? Probably not. The Indian economy is growing with globalization