The Retreat of Democracy and Other Itinerant Essays on Globalization, Economics, and India (Anthem South Asian Studies)

The Retreat of Democracy presents an expanded and reworked selection of Basu's best journalistic and academic writings on political and economic themes since the late 1990s. As well as essays on globalization and democracy, the book provides analyses of ideas in economics, as well as anthroplogical observations on social norms, the role of culture, and travel in India and abroad. It also includes an intellectual biography of Amartya Sen, with a discussion of his scientific contributions. Front Matter Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Contents Main Body Introduction Part I. Democracy and Globalization 1. Ele Bele: The Subversion of Democracy 2. The Retreat of Global Democracy 3. Child Labour and International Labour Standards 4. International Labour Standards: A View from the Tropics 5. Labour vs. Labour: The Politics of Business Outsourcing 6. The Politics of Economics 7. Groucho Marx and Global Currency Flows 8. From Cowries to the Euro: Towards a One-Currency World 9. The WTO and North-South Bargains 10. Globalization and the Politics of International Finance: The Stiglitz Verdict References Part II. India and the World 11. Jakotra Village, Santalpur Taluka: Debating Globalization 12. India at Fifty and the Road Ahead 13. The Indian Economy: Take-Off and Strategic Policy Issues 14. Has Poverty Declined in India? 15. Infant Mortality and the Anti-Female Bias 16. Labour Laws and the Role of Contracts 17. The Reform of Small Things 18. Is India's e-Economy for Real? 19. India's Trade Policy and the WTO 20. The Coming Textile Turmoil Part III. Social Norms and Political Economy 21. Social Norms, Law, and Economics Bibliography 22. Methodological Individualism in the Social Sciences References 23. Left Politics and Modern Economics 24. Hung Parliament: A Voting Scheme for Prveenting It 25. Money, Music and Harmony 26. Rules of Engagement 27. The Enigma of Advertising 28. The Truth About Lying 29. Rationality: New Research in Psychology and Economics 30. Higher and Lower Education Part IV. Persons 31. Amartya Sen 32. John Nash: Paranoid, Schizophrenic, Nobel Laureate 33. Nobel for Market Failures: Akerlof, Spence and Stiglitz 34. Nietzsche Century Part V. On the Road, Around the World 35. Notarizing in Delhi 36. Traveller's Bihar 37. Tango of Two Currencies: Buenos Aires 38. A Vietnam Diary 39. South Africa: Zebra Country 40. North Meets South: In and Around Bangalore 41. Muito Obrigado, Portugal 42. Queueing in Kolkata and Delhi 43. Viewing Bengal from Bankura 44. Loitering in Lahore 45. Thinking about Currencies in Kathmandu End Matter Index 'The Retreat of Democracy'presents an expanded and reworked selection of Basu's best journalistic and academic writings on political and economic themes since the late 1990s. In addition to Basu's critical essays on globalization and democracy, the book also moves onto wider terrain – to ideas in economics, anthropological observations on social norms, the role of culture, and travel in India and abroad. While the essays range from studies on major economists such as Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz, to humorous encounters with Indian bureaucracy, two recurring themes run thoughout: first, that the ultimate objective of policy-making must be the progress of the disadvantaged, and ignoring market laws and individual incentives courts failure; second, that for the successful crafting of economic policy it is important to recognize markets as embedded in specific cultures and social norms. This volume is a clear, intelligible and highly engaging showcase of Basu's global and humanistic views on politics, economics and democracy. Pt. 1. Democracy And Globalization -- Pt. 2. India And The World -- Pt. 3. Social Norms And Political Economy -- Pt. 4. Persons -- Pt. 5. On The Road, Around The World. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.