1. 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

2. 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)

3. 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 ( )
Why power to Nehru’s daughter… An authoritarian?
The Green Revolution
Populism, democracy, and development
The “emergency” (martial law, 10K opponents jailed) of , 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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