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India’s democracy that coexists with—and is energized by—the country’s exceptional ethnonational diversity has long been a puzzle to students of comparative politics. This reader, the fourth in the Critical Issues in Indian Politics series, is an anthology of key theoretical essays and analytical writings on ethnonational movements and conflicts that frame major debates.
One of the first of its kind, this volume brings together important writings in the study of ethnonationalism in India in its various forms—separatism, secessionism, sub-nationalism, and regionalism. With contributions from eminent scholars in the field, the volume focuses on issues including the virtues and drawbacks of India’s ‘demos-enabling’ federalism, ‘consociationalism’ in Indian politics, and whether India is an ‘ethnic democracy’. Reflecting competing theoretical and political perspectives, the volume also assesses India’s record of managing ethnonational diversity, analyses the three waves of reorganization of states, and traces the intellectual history of debates on federalism, and on majoritarian versus consensual democracy, that began well before Independence.
Ethnonational demands in postcolonial India are often accommodated, but there are times when they escalate into intractable conflicts. The essays illuminate resolved and unresolved conflicts in Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, the Naga areas, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu.
ISBN - 9780198060437
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