State action, autonomy, and electoral democracy in India

Jacob, Suraj (2024) State action, autonomy, and electoral democracy in India. In: Electoral Narratives of Democracy and Governance in India. Routledge India, London, pp. 17-44. ISBN 9781003499404

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Abstract

The chapter explores the extent to which state action is autonomous and the processess through whch democratic mobilisation and interest groups impinge on state autonomy. It begins by noting that in early postcolonial decades, clientelism compromised state intiatives for structural changes despite a progessive leadership. Further, as the demand polity widened, there was a mutually reinforcing relationship between welfare populism and etrhnic and other kinds of mobilisation. The chapter argues that despite these influences, there is considerable state autonomy. The long history of forest governance illustrates the pattern of state autonomy interpersed with moments of influece through community mobilisation. Further, even when democratic politics pushes change in governance agendas, it is typically not sufficient to bring lasting change to social or individual wellbeing. This is because governance has increasingy taken the route of 'thin' accountability through an orientation towards management rather than structral change.

Item Type:	Book Section
Authors:	Jacob, Suraj
Editors:	Editors Email ORCID Sisodia, Yatindra Singh UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Chattopadhyay, Pratip UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
Document Language:	Language English
Subjects:	Social sciences > Political Science Social sciences > Political Science > Public policy Social sciences > Law > Labor, social, education & cultural law > Miscellaneous social problems and services > Environmental protection
Divisions:	Azim Premji University - Bengaluru > School of Development
Full Text Status:	Restricted
URI:	http://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/id/eprint/7541
Publisher URL:	https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003499404-3

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