The Paradoxes of Indian Politics

Abstract

This article by one of India's foremost writers on contemporary politics surveys twelve paradoxes. These are the key themes which have shaped domestic political change in India in recent decades and particularly since the mid-eighties. It outlines how social and economic changes have intersected with political possibilities and especially stresses the way in which India's continued social inequalities have been played out in a democratic setting. It is very useful for anybody wanting to understand the present day politics of India or who is interested in the consequences of colonial economies for postcolonial states.