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India
Indian Administrative Structure
Basics• Over 1 Billion people• Opening to the world economically
since 1991• Importance of the US-Indian-Chinese
relationship in the future
Paradox One
• Largest democracy in the World• But…
– Economic inequality– Social inequality (due to lingering
Hindu caste system)
Paradox Two• Religion: 80% Hindu• But… a national ideology of separation
of church and state…• But the Bharatiya Janata and “Hindu
nationalism” or Hindutva
Current Prime Minister
• Manmohan Singh• The first Sikh PM• From Congress Party
Leader of Congress Party(currently in power)
• Sonja Gandhi• Roman Catholic• Born in Italy
Past Three Presidents of India
First “Untouchable” Pres. First Muslim Pres. First Woman Pres.
Paradox Three• East Asian Model: Authoritarian and
capitalist
• India: Democratic with a socialist economy (until 1991 when economic reforms began)
Paradox Four: The Economy• High Tech and massive povertyBangaloreIndia’s Silicon Valley Slums of any city
Paradox Five: Diversity• 80% Hindu, but…• 22 Official languages now• Over 140 million Muslims (the
nation in the world with the third largest Muslim population)
Paradox Six: National vs. Regional Parties
• Two major national parties:– Congress Party– BJP– Also, minor party: Communist Party
Marxist
• 2009: 35 regional parties in Parliament• Lok Sabha Party-wise
Political Culture1. Geography2. Agrarian economy3. Population4. Religion
1. Hindu: 81%2. Muslim: 13%3. Christian 2.3%4. Sikh: 1.9%
Hindu Caste System1. Priests – Brahmins2. Warriors – Kahtriyas3. Landowners/merchants – Vaishyas4. Small Farmers – SudrasOutcastes, sub-castes, backward tribes,
and “Untouchables” or Dalits or Harijans
Bhimrao Ambedkar
Mauryan Dynasty, 321-185 BC
Gupta Dynasty, 320-413 AD
Mughal Dynasty, 1529-1707
British Colonialism
Amritsar Massacre, April 1919
Eduard Thony painting
Indian National Congress
Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohandas Gandhi
Gandhi’s Impact on the INC• Extremists vs.
moderates• Ending factional
struggle• Mass movement• Non-violence
– Gandhi’s writings• Independence
Now
Muslim League
Mohammed Ali Jinnah
Independence and partition
Government Structure• Indian Constitution• President• Parliament
– Rajya Sabha– Lok Sabha
• Prime Minister
Parliamentary Process for PMPM and Houseserve full term
Partywinsmajority House PM dies or
General elects resignselection PMof LowerHouse
No party wins No Confidence fails majority motionpassesParties negotiate PM dissolvesto form coalition House(50% of seats, plus one)
1996 Election• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 160 • Congress Party 136• National Front 110
• National Front forms government
Nehru Dynasty
Jawaharlal Nehru Indira Gandhi Rajiv Gandhi1947-1964 1966-1977 1984-1989
1980-1984
Congress Party
Manmohan Singh Sonja Gandhi Rahul GandhiPM President General Secretary
of the Party (one of nine)
Congress’ Ideology• Secularism• Socialist economics 1947-1991• Economic Reform 1991-present• Manifesto for 2009 elections
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)• Hindutva (Hindu
Nationalism)• RSS (Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh)
1984 2
1989 88
1991 120
1996 160
1998 176
1999 182
Others• Leftist parties
– Communist Party of India (Marxist) • Regional parties
– AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhigam) regional party of Tamil Nadu state
– Janata Dal (Secular) (Karnataka, Kerala)– Telugu Desam Party (Andrha Pradesh)– Samajwadi Party (Uttar Pradesh)
• Caste-based Parties– Bahujan Samaj Party