Democracy Indian Style: Subhas Chandra Bose and the Creation of India's Political Culture

by Anton Pelinka

Overview

Democracy Indian Style explores the social and cultural factors underlying India's successful democracy by describing and analyzing the life of Subhas Chandra Bose and his impact on India before and after independence. As a nation India is very old. Its political culture has deep roots in India's pre-colonial history, but it is also a product of Western-style democracy, which has shaped and even created the nation.

The analysis is balanced between chapters that explain Bose's life and career and those that describe the Indian political system. Anton Pelinka explains India's stable democracy as a mixture of British and American patterns—Westminster parliamentary rule plus federalism—and a specific set of power-sharing arrangements among religions, linguistic groups, and castes.

Democracy Indian Style offers one answer to the enigma of how Indian democracy succeeds, by describing the working of India's constitution, the weaknesses of its party system, and the specifics of Indian elections. The focus on Bose provides a second explanation for India's political success. Democracy Indian Style is a timely exploration of the roots of Indian democracy, and will be of interest to political scientists, historians, and students of Indian politics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781412854887
Publisher:	Transaction Publishers
Publication date:	01/30/2015
Edition description:	New
Pages:	330
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Anton Pelinka was professor of political science at the University of Innsbruck (1975–2006). Since 2006 he is professor of nationalism studies and political science at the Central European University, Budapest. He has written extensively in the field of comparative European politics and democratic theory.

Anton Pelinka was professor of political science at the University of Innsbruck (1975–2006). Since 2006 he is professor of nationalism studies and political science at the Central European University, Budapest. He has written extensively in the field of comparative European politics and democratic theory.

Table of Contents

Tables
Acknowledgments
1. Why Bose?
2. Why India?
3. The Rise of a Nationalist
4. The Roots of Modern India
5. Interlude in Vienna
6. Indian Democracy: Constitution, Parliament, Federalism
7. Gandhi's Friend and Foe
8. No Parties—Or Too Many Parties?
9. Interlude in Berlin
10. India—One, Two, or Many Nations?
11. At the Right Place—At the Wrong Time
12. A World Power Waiting in the Wings
13. Bose—The Myth Lives On
Sources and Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

-Pelinka traces the history of Indian democracy by studying the life and ideas of prominent nationalist leader Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945). He combines this with a detailed assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of India's constitution, and of the key contributing factors to the country's democratic success.-

--Survival: Global Politics and Strategy

-Combines a study of the rise and fall of Bose with a study of the roots of Indian democracy. The treatment of Bose focuses on his ideology, foreign policy, relations with Nazi Germany and Japan, and the myths surrounding his death. . . . the book will interest biographers and students of Indian history and politics.-

--Choice

-Expertly translated into English, [Democracy Indian Style] knowledgeably explores the workings of the modern East Indian political system by focusing upon the life of one man, Subhas Chandra Bose, and his profound impact upon India's governmental system.-

--The Bookwatch

-In Democracy Indian Style, Anton Pelinka has written two books in one. The first is a political biography of Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945), a determined but failed leader of the Indian nationalist movement. The second is an introduction to contemporary Indian political culture. . . . Pelinka provides interesting, effective introductions to the career of Bose and to India's political culture. . . . Pelinka's work is a good read and will serve well political scientists, historians, students, and general readers seeking to understand modern India.-

--John L. Gordon, Jr., History: Review of New Books

"Pelinka traces the history of Indian democracy by studying the life and ideas of prominent nationalist leader Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945). He combines this with a detailed assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of India's constitution, and of the key contributing factors to the country's democratic success."

--Survival: Global Politics and Strategy

"Combines a study of the rise and fall of Bose with a study of the roots of Indian democracy. The treatment of Bose focuses on his ideology, foreign policy, relations with Nazi Germany and Japan, and the myths surrounding his death. . . . the book will interest biographers and students of Indian history and politics."

--Choice

"Expertly translated into English, [Democracy Indian Style] knowledgeably explores the workings of the modern East Indian political system by focusing upon the life of one man, Subhas Chandra Bose, and his profound impact upon India's governmental system."

--The Bookwatch

"In Democracy Indian Style, Anton Pelinka has written two books in one. The first is a political biography of Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945), a determined but failed leader of the Indian nationalist movement. The second is an introduction to contemporary Indian political culture. . . . Pelinka provides interesting, effective introductions to the career of Bose and to India's political culture. . . . Pelinka's work is a good read and will serve well political scientists, historians, students, and general readers seeking to understand modern India."

--John L. Gordon, Jr., History: Review of New Books

"Pelinka traces the history of Indian democracy by studying the life and ideas of prominent nationalist leader Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945). He combines this with a detailed assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of India's constitution, and of the key contributing factors to the country's democratic success."

--Survival: Global Politics and Strategy

"Combines a study of the rise and fall of Bose with a study of the roots of Indian democracy. The treatment of Bose focuses on his ideology, foreign policy, relations with Nazi Germany and Japan, and the myths surrounding his death. . . . the book will interest biographers and students of Indian history and politics."

--Choice

"Expertly translated into English, [Democracy Indian Style] knowledgeably explores the workings of the modern East Indian political system by focusing upon the life of one man, Subhas Chandra Bose, and his profound impact upon India's governmental system."

--The Bookwatch

"In Democracy Indian Style, Anton Pelinka has written two books in one. The first is a political biography of Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945), a determined but failed leader of the Indian nationalist movement. The second is an introduction to contemporary Indian political culture. . . . Pelinka provides interesting, effective introductions to the career of Bose and to India's political culture. . . . Pelinka's work is a good read and will serve well political scientists, historians, students, and general readers seeking to understand modern India."

--John L. Gordon, Jr., History: Review of New Books

"Combines a study of the rise and fall of Bose with a study of the roots of Indian democracy. The treatment of Bose focuses on his ideology, foreign policy, relations with Nazi Germany and Japan, and the myths surrounding his death. . . . the book will interest biographers and students of Indian history and politics."

--Choice

"Expertly translated into English, [Democracy Indian Style] knowledgeably explores the workings of the modern East Indian political system by focusing upon the life of one man, Subhas Chandra Bose, and his profound impact upon India's governmental system."

--The Bookwatch

"In Democracy Indian Style, Anton Pelinka has written two books in one. The first is a political biography of Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945), a determined but failed leader of the Indian nationalist movement. The second is an introduction to contemporary Indian political culture. . . . Pelinka provides interesting, effective introductions to the career of Bose and to India's political culture. . . . Pelinka's work is a good read and will serve well political scientists, historians, students, and general readers seeking to understand modern India."

--John L. Gordon, Jr., History: Review of New Books

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