The Algebra Of Warfare-Welfare C: A Long View of India's 2014 Election

This volume explores how the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) won the 2014 Parliamentary elections with such an unprecedented majority, and what that victory means for politics in general and Indian politics in particular. It opens up space for new theoretical and methodological reflections on electoral democracy, critically taking on such salient issues as development, terrorism, charisma, media, new mechanisms of mobilization, nationalism, rumour, religion, regionalism, polarisation, space, Muslim vote, and caste. This volume is distinct in its ability to focus squarely on the empirical acts of voting. It sociologically and historically examines the enduring as well as changing institutional, social, political, and cultural landscapes in which voting takes place. Unlike most other studies on elections in India, this book puts human subjectivity at the centre of election studies. The anthropological-sociological perspective the volume places before readers draws on political-social theory whereby the volume also examine the larger and changing contours of modernity, democracy and elections being its key faces. As such the volume situates the 2014 elections in relation to changing nature and forms of elections and democracy globally, in particular in conversation with those in the democratic nation-states in the West. Electoral democracy combines the ideas and practices of warfare and welfare, where both work in tandem as near synonyms. India's robust electoral democracy exemplifies this combination in diverse forms. Critically analyzing the 2014 Parliamentary elections beyond the seduction of immediacy and bare cold statistics, this book puts human subjectivity at the center of election studies and, through an anthropological-sociological approach, makes lives - human and non-human, lived and unlived or unlivable - central to any understanding of elections and democracy. Crafting a new, comprehensive approach, this volume looks at the 2014 elections in relation to the changing nature and forms of elections and democracy globally. Coming from multidisciplinary backgrounds, the contributors to this volume use ethnographic observations to open up a space for new theoretical and methodological reflections on the role of media in Indian elections, the shift to the right in 2014 and its consequences, the significance of traditional Hindu spaces such as the river Ganga in BJP's victory, the role of gurus like Baba Ramdev, and the electoral choices available to and exercised by the minorities, among others Electoral Democracy Combines The Ideas And Practices Of Warfare And Welfare, Where Both Work In Tandem As Near Synonyms. India’s Robust Electoral Democracy Exemplifies This Combination In Diverse Forms. Critically Analysing The 2014 Parliamentary Elections Beyond The Seduction Of Immediacy And Bare Cold Statistics, This Book Puts Human Subjectivity At The Centre Of Election Studies And, Through An Anthropological–sociological Approach, Makes Lives—human And Non-human, Lived And Unlived Or Unlivable—central To Any Understanding Of Elections And Democracy. Crafting A New, Comprehensive Approach, This Volume Looks At The 2014 Elections In Relation To The Changing Nature And Forms Of Elections And Democracy Globally. Coming From Multidisciplinary Backgrounds, The Contributors To This Volume Use Ethnographic Observations To Open Up A Space For New Theoretical And Methodological Reflections On The Role Of Media In Indian Elections, The Shift To The Right In 2014 And Its Consequences, The Significance Of Traditional Hindu Spaces Such As The River Ganga In Bjp’s Victory, The Role Of Gurus Like Baba Ramdev, And The Electoral Choices Available To And Exercised By The Minorities, Among Others. This volume explores how the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) won the 2014 Parliamentary elections with such an unprecedented majority, and what that victory means for politics in general and Indian politics in particular. It opens up space for new theoretical and methodological reflections on electoral democracy, critically taking on such salient issues as development, terrorism, charisma, media, new mechanisms of mobilisation, nationalism, rumour, religion, regionalism, polarisation, space, Muslim vote, and caste. This volume is distinct in its ability to focus squarely on the empirical acts of voting. It sociologically and historically examines the enduring as well as changing institutional, social, political, and cultural landscapes in which voting takes place Title Pages Irfan Ahmad and Pralay Kanungo Title Pages (p.i) The Algebra of Warfare-Welfare (p.ii) (p.iii) The Algebra of Warfare-Welfare (p.iv) Copyright Page Title Pages