The Politics of India Fall 2009 Prof Prerna Singh

1. The Politics of India Fall 2009 Prof Prerna Singh Children, a man, a woman and a large pig on the sidewalk in front of a CPI(M) mural (Communist Party India Marxist). Calcutta, India, 1979 or 1980. William Gedney Photographs and Writings. Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library

2. BBC World News: (13 May 2004): Election officials used a novel mode of transport to bring in the votes from a village in deepest Assam.

3. Inclusiveness in US vs. Indian Democracy Gender When was the first woman head of the state in the US elected? When was the first woman head of the state in India elected?

4. India’s First Female Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, first elected in 1966, featured on a Soviet Stamp

5. Inclusiveness in US vs. Indian Democracy Religion • When was the first Jewish president of the US elected?

6. Diversity of India’s Political Leaders India’s President, PratibhaPatil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh The leader of the majority party in Parliament, Sonia Gandhi

7. Sonia & Rajiv Gandhi, Ice-cream Outing at India Gate, New Delhi, 1970s

8. Gandhi vs. The Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty • Mahatma Gandhi • Nehru • Indira Gandhi nee Nehru • Rajiv (& Sonia) Sanjay • Rahul ; Priyanka

9. Comparing Political Participation in US vs. India • Voter turnout in US in 1952 Presidential election • 59% • Voter turnout in US in 1976 Presidential election: • 53% • Voter turnout in US in 2008 Presidential election: • 58% • Voter turnout in India’s first election in 1952 • 59% • Voter turnout in India in 1977 National Elections: • 65% • Voter turnout in India in 2004 National Elections: • 61%

10. Tribal women casting their vote in Andhra Pradesh. Source: Oldenburg (2007)

11. The Paradox of Indian Democracy

12. The Paradox of Indian Democracy • Low Economic Development

13. The Paradox of Indian Democracy • Low Economic Development • Low Industrialization

14. The Paradox of Indian Democracy • Low Economic Development • Low Industrialization • Small Bourgeoisie

15. The Paradox of Indian Democracy • Low Economic Development • Low Industrialization • Small Bourgeoisie • High Economic Inequality

16. The Paradox of Indian Democracy • Low Economic Development • Low Industrialization • Small Bourgeoisie • High Economic Inequality • Low Literacy

17. The Paradox of Indian Democracy • Low Economic Development • Low Industrialization • Small Bourgeoisie • High Economic Inequality • Low Literacy • Low Rates of Well-being

18. The Paradox of Indian Democracy • Low Economic Development • Low Industrialization • Small Bourgeoisie • High Economic Inequality • Low Literacy • Low Rates of Well-being • Low Status Equality

19. The Paradox of Indian Democracy • Low Economic Development • Low Industrialization • Small Bourgeoisie • High Economic Inequality • Low Literacy • Low Rates of Well-being • Low Status Equality • High Ethnic Diversity

20. The Paradox of Indian Democracy • Low Economic Development • Low Industrialization • Small Bourgeoisie • High Economic Inequality • Low Literacy • Low Rates of Well-being • Low Status Equality • High Ethnic Diversity • Second-largest population of Muslims in the World

21. The Paradox of Indian Democracy • Low Economic Development • Low Industrialization • Small Bourgeoisie • High Economic Inequality • Low Literacy • Low Rates of Well-being • Low Status Equality • High Ethnic Diversity • Second-largest population of Muslims • Low Social Capital/ Civil Society

22. So what explains the success of India’s democracy? …Next 13 weeks. Man and dog sleeping under a 1980 election-time wall poster of the CPI(M). William Gedney Photographs and Writings. Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library