Democracy in India

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Home to 1.3 billion residents and roughly one out of every four voters on the planet, India is regularly touted as the “world’s largest democracy.” From independence in 1947 to the present, India has enjoyed a virtually uninterrupted seven-plus decades of democratic practice. According to the two classic dimensions of democracy—contestation and participation—India appears to be extraordinarily vibrant. Political competition has hit new heights. Voter turnout has broken all previous records. And once disenfranchised groups have become pivotal political actors across the length and breadth of the country. However, in recent years, scholars, analysts, and commentators have issued repeated warnings that India risks becoming an “elections only” democracy as its public institutions, adherence to the rule of law, and commitment to liberal freedoms suffer serious erosion. This course will examine the health of India’s democracy, both during elections as well as between them. The purpose of the course is to provide students with a probing introduction to the Indian political system and some of the key debates in the scholarly literature—which are increasingly linked to the daily news cycle. Students who take this course will enhance their presentation skills, learn to break down complex arguments into bite-size pieces, and refine their writing abilities.