[Reader-list] Seminar on 'Explorations in Indian Democracy': Call for Papers

Tue Nov 22 02:20:19 CST 2016

*Lokniti,** (CSDS)*

*Call for papers*

*Seminar on: Explorations in Indian Democracy*

*April 4-5, 2017 *

*Organized By*

*Lokniti,** Centre for the Study of Developing Societies(CSDS), Delhi *

*ABOUT THE SEMINAR *

Lokniti - Programme for Comparative Democracy(www.lokniti.org ) is a network
of academics interested in empirical study of Indian politics and also a
research programme for comparative democracy based at CSDS, Delhi.
Formalized in 1997, Lokniti completes two decades of its existence in 2017.
To celebrate the completion of two decades of existence of this novel
collaborative research programme and network, Lokniti plans to hold a
Two-Day Seminar on the theme, *Explorations in Indian Democracy* to be held
at CSDS, Delhi, on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 4th&5th, 2017.

The seminar intends to discuss, in an empirical frame, specific themes on
which we invite papers from researchers and young-to-mid-career scholars
using data already available or collected by the scholars. An adequate
number of papers will be selected on each of the following themes on the
basis of proposal to be submitted by 30thDecember 2016. The decision
regarding the selection would be announced by 20thJanuary, 2017 and the
selected participants would be required to submit working drafts by 1st
March, 2017.

The proposals are expected to be of not more than *1000 *words but should
clearly state objective, the central question and the method of
investigation. Draft papers are expected to be in the range of *5000 to
7000* words inclusive of data, appendixes and references.

*The proposals are invited on the following four themes:-*

*1. Public Policy and Politics: Does policy matter in Electoral choices?*

The rise of ‘programmatic regimes’ in several Indian states has shifted the
analytical lens on to the interface between electoral politics and public
policy. Unlike Western democracies, wherein political parties provide
alternate policy platforms, in India, irrespective of ideology there seems
to be a consensus in the provision of public goods. This poses an
interesting question- Does electoral politics shape public policy or public
policy shape electoral outcomes by creation of political capacities?  What
influence do political institutions (party systems, party competition,
organizational base) have on public policy?

*2. Clientelism: Is India a clientelist democracy?*

Clientelist linkages in the form of money, access to employment and goods
and services define political representation not just in Southern
democracies but also in numerous advanced democracies. While clientelism of
various degrees exists in India in the form of both empowerment goods and
symbolic goods, is clientelism a defining aspect of Indian democracy? How
does clientelism translate into votes for political parties? Or are we
veering toward a post-clientele democracy?

*3. Social Engagement and Political Action*

Social engagement in India is commonly characterized by informal,
associational patterns based on affective ties of caste, religion and
ethnicity rather than voluntary, civic engagement. While voluntary, civic
associational networks are known to enhance democratic functioning, do
informal associational networks also strengthen democratic institutions and
processes? How do political institutions interact with such informal
networks?  Which kind of informal networks are able to mobilize politically
or supplement existing political organization?

*4. Parties and Democracy*

As Indian democracy has evolved, political parties too have changed along
the way. Moving beyond the lens of societal change and sociology of
politics, we need to take note of new type of parties and their strategies.
It is also necessary to examine how political parties have adapted to
political, social and economic change, including for instance, the
development of new forms of communication, the increased role of the media
and new economic actors. More recently, both old and new parties have also
outsourced political strategy and management to professional and voluntary
agencies. What impact does this have on party organisation, membership and
even whom they claim to represent? Also, given the close connection between
political parties and democracy, a crisis of the former in many ways could
endanger democracy itself. The lack of internal democracy within parties
has for instance has contributed party fragmentation.  Does this also
reflect in ways in which voters perceive parties and relate to parties?

Since Lokniti emphasizes an empirical understanding of political phenomena,
we shall be happy to provide data available with us to scholars of selected
proposals. Similarly, proposal involving cross-state comparisons would be
welcome. We intend to select not more than twenty proposals and spread them
roughly equally across the four themes. Lokniti would encourage authors to
rework and submit their papers to the journal run by Lokniti, *Studies in
Indian Politics* (http://inp.sagepub.com/).  Selected participants would be
provided local hospitality including two nights of accommodation on sharing
basis (April 3 & April 4) and if required also on April 5, along with the
reimbursement of travel costs to a maximum of 2 AC train fares.

*Important Dates:*

Seminar Dates: 4th & 5th April 2017

Last Date for Submission of Proposal – 30th December 2016

Announcement of Selected Candidates:  20th January 2017

Submission of Working Drafts – 1st March 2017

*The Proposal must be sent to **lokniti at csds.in* <lokniti at csds.in>* latest
by 30th December 2016. *

*Convenors: **Suhas Palshikar, Sanjay Kumar, Sandeep Shastri*
*Organizing Committee*: *Suhas Palshikar , Sanjay Kumar, Sandeep Shastri,
Rajeshwari Deshpande, Jagroop Singh Sekhon, Sajad Ibrahim*
*Organizing Secretaries*: *Vibha Attri, Souradeep Banerjee*

-- 
Praveen Rai
Academic Secretary
Centre for the Study of Developing Societies
29, Rajpur Road
Delhi - 110054
Phone: 91-11-23942199
http://www.csds.in/praveen.rai