1st Edition

Broadening and Deepening Democracy Political Innovation in Karnataka

By E Raghavan, James Manor Copyright 2009
    310 Pages
    by Routledge India

    310 Pages
    by Routledge India

    This book examines certain changes in the political make-up of Karnataka, between the early 1970s and the late 1980s, which, in turn, led to the birth of a unique democracy in the state.

    In a departure from most studies on political science and political history which pay little or no attention to the role of politicians and focus only on technocratic blueprints, administrative processes and incentive systems, this volume takes into account the role politicians play in shaping the character of their governments, public policy and state–society relations. It studies the political transformation of Karnataka by focusing heavily on three chief ministers of the state who played an important role in making politics in Karnataka more accommodative, enlightened and, hence, more democratic.

    This volume is a detailed insider’s account of the political processes in Karnataka, enriched with interviews and surveys which seek to locate this work in the social science literature, in Karnataka’s recent history and in comparative context alongside other Indian states.

    Introduction Part I: D. Devraj Urs, 1972–80. Chapter 1: The Emergence of Urs and the Challenge to the Landed Castes’ Dominance of State Politics Chapter 2: Consolidating a Broad Social Base: Land Reform, Caste Reservations and the Emergency Chapter 3: The End of the Urs Era Part II: R. Gundu Rao, 1980–83. Chapter 4: An Inept, Insensitive, Brutish Government Chapter 5: The Destruction of the Congress Dominance Part III: Ramakrishna Hegde, 1983–88 Chapter 6: Constructing the First Non-Congress Government Chapter 7: Struggling for Political Survival Chapter 8: Nine Weeks, Two Key Elections Chapter 9: A Government Like Any Other? Chapter 10: Rampant Factionalism — and the Deepening of Democracy Chapter 11: Endgame Conclusion

    Biography

    E. Raghavan is Editor (South) of the Economic Times. He has previously worked as a reporter for the Indian Express in Mysore, Bangalore and Delhi; as Chief Reporter for the Indian Express and the Times of India in Bangalore; and as Resident Editor, Times of India, Bangalore. For twelve years (1982–94) he wrote a weekly column on Karnataka’s politics, first at the Indian Express and then at the Times of India.

    James Manor is Emeka Anyaoku Professor at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. He has previously taught at Yale, Harvard and Leicester universities, and at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. Three of his earlier books focus entirely or in part on Karnataka.