Politics in India

Course Type	Course Code	No. Of Credits
Discipline Core	NSUS1PO603	4

Course Coordinator and Team: SES Faculty

Email of course coordinator: pcbabed@aud.ac.in

Pre-requisites: No

Course Description:

This course provides students with a solid grounding in Indian politics, focusing on the extra-constitutional institutions, factors, and forces that influence political discourse and decision-making in the country. As politics operates within an ecology shaped by constitutional, socio-economic, linguistic, and ethnic sub-systems, the course is designed to help students understand their roles in shaping the political landscape of India. Students will be exposed to the ideology, structure, social base, and functioning of political parties, which play a pivotal role in the country's democratic polity.

Course Objectives:

To help students understand the political processes at work in Indian politics.
To familiarize students with the key issues and concerns within Indian politics.
To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the influence of socio-economic, linguistic, and ethnic factors on political decision-making.
To explore the role of political parties in India, focusing on their ideology, structure, social base, and functions.
To critically engage with the challenges of governance, electoral systems, and democratic processes in India.

Course Outcomes:

Understand the key drivers of Indian politics. Students will be able to explain how caste, religion, and language have influenced identity politics in India.
Explain the ideology, social base, and functions of key political parties such as the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Conceptualize and analyse development issues in India, particularly in the agricultural and industrial sectors.
Identify the challenges facing India's electoral democracy and understand key issues related to election expenditure and public funding.

Brief description of the modules:

Module I: Determinants of Indian Politics

This module will explore several key themes that shape the political landscape of the country. It will begin by examining the ecology of Indian politics, focusing on the constitutional framework and the social, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity that influences political dynamics. Economic factors will also be analysed to understand their impact on political behaviour and decision-making. The module will delve into the role of regions and regionalism, exploring how regional identities and issues contribute to the national political discourse. Finally, it will investigate the influence of political parties, media, and civil society in shaping political change and public opinion in India.

Module II: Parties and the Party System

This module on parties and the party system will cover the key characteristics of the Indian party system, highlighting its unique features. It will examine the major national parties, specifically the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), focusing on their roles and evolution. Additionally, the module will explore regional political parties, analysing their development, influence, and changing dynamics within the broader political landscape of India.

Module III: Electoral Politics and Indian democracy.

This module on electoral politics and Indian democracy will focus on the role of the Election Commission and the process of elections in India. It will explore how elections are conducted, ensuring free and fair representation. Additionally, the module will address the challenges and ongoing efforts for democracy and electoral reforms in India, examining how the electoral system adapts to meet the evolving political landscape.

Module IV: Identity Politics

This module will explore key issues related to identity and politics in India, including caste identity and caste mobilization, with a focus on how these dynamics shape political behaviour. It will also examine the politics of affirmative action and reservation policies, addressing their impact on social equity and political participation. Additionally, the module will cover linguistic politics, looking at how language influences political discourse, and the growing demands for statehood in various regions of India.

Module V: Critical perspectives and Contemporary Concerns

This module will address critical perspectives and contemporary concerns in Indian politics, focusing on key issues such as the peasant question and the challenges faced by agricultural communities. It will also examine the issue of black money, exploring its impact on the economy and governance. The module will delve into the effects of demonetization and the rise of the digital economy, considering both economic and social implications. Additionally, it will address Dalit and gender perspectives, highlighting the ongoing struggles for equality and justice within these marginalized groups.

Assessment Structure:

Assessment	Weightage
In-class quizzes and short response notes (combined: 30%)	30%
Assignments and/or presentations	30%
End-term assessment/Final examination	40%

Readings:

Austin, G. (1999). Working A Democratic Constitution: A History of the Indian Experience. Oxford University Press.
Bhatia, U. (Ed.). (2018). The Indian Constituent Assembly: Deliberations on Democracy. Routledge.
Elliott, C. (2012). Political Society, Civil Society, and the State in India: An Ethnographic Narrative of the 2009 Assembly Election in Andhra Pradesh. Asian Survey, 52(2), pp. 348-372.
Roy, A. N., & Mathew, G. (Eds.). (2015). Development, Decentralisation and Democracy. Orient BlackSwan.
Adeney, K., & Saez, L. (2005). Coalition Politics and Hindu Nationalism. Routledge.
Andersen, W. K. (2014). The Bharatiya Janata Party: A Victory for Narendra Modi. In
Wallace, P. (Ed.), India’s 2014 Elections: A Modi-led BJP Sweep. Sage.
Chandra, K. (2004). Why Ethnic Parties Succeed? Patronages and Ethnic Head
Counts in India. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Deshpande, A. (2008). Quest for Equality: Affirmative Action in India. Indian Journal of Industrial Relations, 44(2), pp. 154-163.
Kailash, K. K. (2014). Regional Parties in the 16th Lok Sabha Elections: Who
Survived and Why? Economic and Political Weekly, 49(39), pp. 64-71.
Hasan, Z. (2012). Congress after Indira: Policy, Power, Political Change (1984-
2009). Oxford University Press.
Oommen, T. (1971). Green Revolution and Agrarian Conflict. Economic and Political Weekly, 6(26), pp. A99-A103.
Kothari, R. (1972). Political Economy of Garib Hatao. Economic and Political Weekly, 7(31/33), pp. 1541-1552.
Singh, Ujjwal Kumar, Anupama Rao (2018). Regulating the Electoral Domain: The Election Commission of India, Indian Journal of Public Administration, 64 (3), 518-530