WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT INDIA?

1. WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT INDIA? Why do scholars study India so much? India’s states as labs in development (7 have pop > than France!) Pakistan as a comparison Why is India such an interesting case for studying the interaction of democratization and development? 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? A huge population—over 1.2 billion—that’s still growing; A “middle” class of about 100 million; the 10th largest GNP What happens when you abandon third world (vs. 1st world) socialism? Development (6-10%) 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? 1750s, forward: informal British colonialism through the British East India Tea Co., state building, & regional imperialism (the profit motive vs. security concerns in the case of the American colonies) The Government of India Act (1858) & the British “Raj”: Ruling India on the cheap Indian National Congress (1885) Mohandas Gandhi (1920s-1947): A secular, pan-Indian nationalism Bringing the masses into the INC His 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 assination (1947)

3. KEY MOMENTS IN POST-INDEPEN. INDIA Jawaharal Nehru (1947-4964) A remarkable democratic party & state builder Growth: ISI, federalism, land reform, and patronage Foreign policy: The non-aligned movement Indira Gandhi (1966-1984) The Green Revolution Populism, democracy, and development The emergency of 1975-77, corruption Coalitional politics (1989-2004) Hindu under the BJP Liberalization of the Indian economy (1991-present) Nuclear tests (1998) and war over Kashmir The INC since 2004

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 The rule of law, especially electoral law is largely fixed by custon PM-system with power centered in the lower house (Lok Sabha), with cabinet govt. ; it has has no no-confidence votes, but has snap 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) 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 revolt?