Divided We Govern

Coalition Politics in Modern India

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, Government
Cover of the book Divided We Govern by Sanjay Ruparelia, Oxford University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Sanjay Ruparelia ISBN: 9780190613365
Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication: January 10, 2015
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author: Sanjay Ruparelia
ISBN: 9780190613365
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication: January 10, 2015
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

Divided We Govern investigates the rise and fall of the broader parliamentary left in modern Indian democracy, and the dynamics of national coalition governments. Since the 1970s, socialist, communist and regional parties in India have sought to forge a progressive 'third force'. Most scholars typically dismiss its principal manifestations -- the Janata Party, National Front and United Front -- as inherently opportunistic coalitions of power-seeking politicians. Sanjay Ruparelia provides a fine-grained analytic narrative to challenge this prevailing wisdom. Employing a variety of methods and resources, including the rare confidential testimonies of key political actors, Ruparelia demonstrates how the politics of each governing coalition, despite their self-evident flaws and short-lived tenures, revealed the outlines of a distinctive national vision. His fresh analysis of the politics of coalition in India also yields wider theoretical insights. Most studies fail to question or explain how these multiparty governments actually functioned. Hence they overstate the stability of and polarity between multiple political motivations, Ruparelia contends, discounting internal party debates over whether to share power, with whom and to what extent, and how. In such circumstances, the strategies, tactics and choices of actors become especially significant. The pursuit of power in a highly regionalized federal parliamentary democracy such as India creates incentives to forge national coalition governments, yet paradoxically decreases their chances of surviving. Ultimately, the failure of socialists and communists to judge their real historical possibilities at key junctures led to the decline of the broader Indian left.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Divided We Govern investigates the rise and fall of the broader parliamentary left in modern Indian democracy, and the dynamics of national coalition governments. Since the 1970s, socialist, communist and regional parties in India have sought to forge a progressive 'third force'. Most scholars typically dismiss its principal manifestations -- the Janata Party, National Front and United Front -- as inherently opportunistic coalitions of power-seeking politicians. Sanjay Ruparelia provides a fine-grained analytic narrative to challenge this prevailing wisdom. Employing a variety of methods and resources, including the rare confidential testimonies of key political actors, Ruparelia demonstrates how the politics of each governing coalition, despite their self-evident flaws and short-lived tenures, revealed the outlines of a distinctive national vision. His fresh analysis of the politics of coalition in India also yields wider theoretical insights. Most studies fail to question or explain how these multiparty governments actually functioned. Hence they overstate the stability of and polarity between multiple political motivations, Ruparelia contends, discounting internal party debates over whether to share power, with whom and to what extent, and how. In such circumstances, the strategies, tactics and choices of actors become especially significant. The pursuit of power in a highly regionalized federal parliamentary democracy such as India creates incentives to forge national coalition governments, yet paradoxically decreases their chances of surviving. Ultimately, the failure of socialists and communists to judge their real historical possibilities at key junctures led to the decline of the broader Indian left.

More books from Oxford University Press

Cover of the book Second Language Research Methods - Oxford Applied Linguistics: by Sanjay Ruparelia
Cover of the book Democracy in the Woods by Sanjay Ruparelia
Cover of the book Divided We Stand by Sanjay Ruparelia
Cover of the book Years of Peril and Ambition by Sanjay Ruparelia
Cover of the book Agricultural and Food Controversies by Sanjay Ruparelia
Cover of the book Algorithmic Puzzles by Sanjay Ruparelia
Cover of the book Young Muslim America by Sanjay Ruparelia
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Indian Philosophy by Sanjay Ruparelia
Cover of the book Psychology for Musicians : Understanding and Acquiring the Skills by Sanjay Ruparelia
Cover of the book Molecular Energetics by Sanjay Ruparelia
Cover of the book Food and Addiction by Sanjay Ruparelia
Cover of the book Real Options in Theory and Practice by Sanjay Ruparelia
Cover of the book PTL by Sanjay Ruparelia
Cover of the book Bringing online video into the classroom - Into the Classroom by Sanjay Ruparelia
Cover of the book Virtually Sacred by Sanjay Ruparelia
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy