Development, Democracy and the State: Critiquing the Kerala Model of Development (Routledge Contemporary South Asia Series)

The Indian state of Kerala is known for its high social model of development and social democratic governance. This book presents the most comprehensive analysis of the Kerala Model of Social Development to date. The model has often been identified as one worth emulating because it is seen to have taken the state to the zenith of human development and democratic governance. Using an interdisciplinary approach, the book sheds new light on the paradoxes of the Indian state and its model of economic development. The book provides a consolidated exploration and critique of the Kerala model, which usually has been portrayed as linear with the grand narrative of progress, development and democracy. Chapters discuss the past and present dimensions of the Kerala experience from a historical and political-economic perspective, thus providing a fresh understanding of the emerging concerns in the state and the construction of an ethically viable development agenda, eschewing the scourge of social inequity. A significant contribution to the literature on development, democracy and the state, it analyses the complex interconnectedness of the various political-economic and socio-cultural domains involved in these experiences. Interdisciplinary Studies Book Cover 1 Title 6 Copyright 7 Contents 8 Contributors 10 Acknowledgements 11 1 The Kerala Model: Situating the critique 12 Part 1 Historical perspectives: Caste, religion and development 34 2 Caste, public action and the Kerala Model 36 3 ‘Community’ as de-imagining nation: Relocating the Ezhava movement in Kerala 51 4 Negotiating the Hindu state and nationalism: Travails in the making of a community 65 Part 2 Contemporary political economy 80 5 Freedom, economic reform and the Kerala ‘Model’ 82 6 On the periphery: Muslims and the Kerala Model 98 7 Learning to learn: Dalit education in Kerala 113 8 Thinking through CT scanners: The value(s) of imaging technologies in Kerala 129 9 Asian Development Bank, conditionalities and the social democratic governance: Kerala Model under pressure? 146 10 The conjuncture of ‘late socialism’ in Kerala: a critique of the narrative of social democracy 168 Part 3 Gender, space and identities 186 11 Empowerment or politicization?: The limits of gender inclusiveness of Kerala’s political decentralization 188 12 The institutionalization of dowry in Kerala: feminine identity, conjugal patronage and development 203 13 ‘Caring’ cosmopolitans and global migration: plus ça change? 215 Part 4 New social movements: Political and cultural perspectives 230 14 Adivasi workers’ struggles and the Kerala Model: Interpreting the past, confronting the present 232 15 Social space, civil society and transformative politics of new social movements in Kerala 248 Index 265 The Kerala Model: situating the critique / K. Ravi Raman Caste, public action and the Kerala Model / K.T. Rammohan 'Community' as de-imagining nation: relocating the Ezhava movement in Kerala / J. Reghu Negotiating the Hindu state and nationalism: travails in the making of a community / M.M. Khan Freedom, economic reform and the Kerala 'Model' / M.A. Oommen On the periphery: Muslims and the Kerala Model / M. Kabir Learning to learn: Dalit education in Kerala / Roshni Padmanabhan Thinking through CT scanners: the value(s) of imaging technologies in Kerala / Caroline Wilson Asian Development Bank, conditionalities and the social democratic governance: Kerala Model under pressure? / K. Ravi Raman The conjuncture of 'late socialism' in Kerala: a critique of the narrative of social democracy / Nissim Mannathukkaren Empowerment or politicization? The limits of gender inclusiveness of Kerala's political decentralization / J. Devika, Binitha V. Thampi The institutionalization of dowry in Kerala: feminine identity, conjugal patronage and development / Praveena Kodoth 'Caring' cosmopolitans and global migration: plus ça change? / Shoba Arun Adivasi workers' struggles and the Kerala Model: interpreting the past, confronting the present / Luisa Steur Social space, civil society and transformative politics of new social movements in Kerala / T.T. Sreekumar, Govindan Parayil. Caste, public action, and the Kerala model / KT Rammohan -- "Community" as de-imagining nation : relocating Narayana Guru and Ezhava movement in Kerala / J. Reghu -- Negotiating the Hindu state and nationalism : Travails in the making of a community / M.M. Khan -- Freedom, economic reform, and the Kerala "model" / M.A. Oommen -- On the periphery : Muslims and the Kerala model / M. Kabir -- Learning to learn : Dalit education in Kerala / Roshni Padmanabhan -- Revisiting the Kerala model : challening good health at low cost? / Caroline Wilson -- Asian Development Bank, conditionalities, and social democratic governance : Kerala model under pressure? / K Ravi Raman -- The conjuncture of "late socialism" in Kerala : a critique of the narrative of social democracy / Nissim Mannathukkaren -- Empowerment or politicization? : the limits of gender inclusiveness of Kerala's political decentralization / J. Devika and Binitha V. Thampi -- The institutionalization of dowry : feminine identity, conjugal patronage, and development / Praveena Kodoth -- "Caring" cosmopolitans and global migration : feminisation of migration / Shoba Arun -- Adivasi workers' struggles and the Kerala model of development : interpreting the past, confronting the present / Luisa Steur -- Social space, civil society, and transformative politics of new social movements in Kerala / T.T. Sreekumar This book is the most comprehensive analysis of the Kerala Model of Social Development to date. Using an interdisciplinary approach, it sheds new light on the paradoxes of the Indian state and critiques its model of economic development.