Coalition Politics and Hindu Nationalism (Routledgecurzon Advances in South Asian Studies)

This new collection examines the emergence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India and the ways in which its Hindu nationalist agenda has been affected by the constraints of being a dominant member of a coalition government. Religious influence in contemporary politics offers a fertile ground for political-sociological analysis, especially in societies where religion is a very important source of collective identity. In South Asian societies religion can, and often has, provided legitimacy to both governments and those who oppose them. This book examines the emergence of the BJP and the ways in which its Hindu nationalist agenda has been affected by the constraints of being a dominant member of a coalition government. The collected authors take stock of the party's first full term in power, presiding over the diverse forces of the governing NDA coalition, and the 2004 elections. They assess the BJP's performance in relation to its stated goals, and more specifically how it has fared in a range of policy fields - centre-state relations, foreign policy, defence policies, the 'second generation' of economic reforms, initiatives to curb corruption and the fate of minorities. Explicitly linking the volume to literature on coalition politics, this book will be of great importance to students and researchers in the fields of South Asian studies and politics. Introduction : Coalition Politics, Religious Nationalism And Public Policy : A Theoretical Examination / Katharine Adeney And Lawrence Sáez -- The Bjp Coalition : Partisanship And Power-sharing In Government / Alistair Mcmillan -- The Shapes Of Hindu Nationalism / John Zavos -- In Part, A Myth : The Bjp's Organisational Strength / James Manor -- The Nda And The Politics Of 'minorities' In India / Subrata K. Mitra -- Hindu Nationalists And Federal Structures In An Era Of Regionalism / Katharine Adeney -- Social Justice And Empowerment Of The Weaker Sections And Gender Rights / Nitya Rao -- Managing The Anti-corruption Rhetoric : The National Democratic Alliance, Transparency And Corruption / Gurharpal Singh -- Indian Education Policy Under The Nda Government / Marie Lall -- The Nda And The Politics Of Economic Reform / Rob Jenkins -- The Nda And Indian Foreign Policy / James Chiriyankandath And Andrew Wyatt -- The Nda And National Security / Apurba Kundu -- The Bjp And The 2004 General Election : Dimensions, Causes And Implications Of An Unexpected Defeat / Christophe Jaffrelot -- Hindutva's March Halted? : Choices For The Bjp After The 2004 Defeat / Meghnad Desai. Edited By Katharine Adeney And Lawrence Sáez. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [264]-288) And Index. Half Title: Coalition Politics and Hindu Nationalism......Page 2 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Illustrations......Page 10 Contributors......Page 11 Acknowledgements......Page 14 Acronyms and concepts......Page 16 Part I Theoretical concerns......Page 18 Introduction......Page 20 1 The BJP coalition......Page 30 2 The shapes of Hindu nationalism......Page 53 3 In part, a myth......Page 72 Part II Domestic governance......Page 92 4 The NDA and the politics of ‘minorities’ in India......Page 94 5 Hindu nationalists and federal structures in an era of regionalism......Page 114 6 Social justice and empowerment of the weaker sections and gender rights......Page 133 7 Managing the anti-corruption rhetoric......Page 153 8 Indian education policy under the NDA government......Page 170 Part III External factors......Page 188 9 The NDA and the politics of economic reform......Page 190 10 The NDA and Indian foreign policy......Page 210 11 The NDA and national security......Page 229 12 The BJP and the 2004 general election......Page 254 13 Hindutva’s march halted? Choices for the BJP after the 2004 defeat......Page 271 Bibliography......Page 281 Index......Page 306 This is an examination of the emergence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ways in which its Hindu nationalist agenda was affected by the constraints of being a dominant memeber of a coalition government This book examines the emergence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ways in which its Hindu nationalist agenda was affected by the constraints of being a dominant member of a coalition government.