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SoSe 21: (GEND) Indian Politics

Kirsten Jörgensen-Ullmann

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Indian politics, including the analysis of interests, identities and institutions that shape political processes and their outcomes – ‘who gets what’ – is a fascinating field in the study of comparative politics. It is multifaceted, contradictory and diverse. India has one of the fastest growing economies. However, despite relatively high growth rates and progress in poverty eradication, social and gender inequality, demand for urban and rural infrastructures and high levels of environmental pollution prevail. India moves up and down in the Human Development Index and has so far not been able to leapfrog to a significantly better ranking. Since independence in 1947 and even more significantly after India’s economic liberalization in 1990, different governing parties and coalitions have similarly pursued rapid economic development policies. In this project seminar, we will delve into Indian politics literature and study how scholars conceptualize and understand the interests, identities and institutions in Indian domestic politics, and in India’s role as a global player. Interests related to India’s growing urban middle class, rural and urban poverty, and deficits in economic, political, and gender equality, influence Indian politics. Identities - religious, ethnic and linguistic diversity - have always mattered in shaping India’s democracy, causing conflict, providing balance and drawing the boundaries of India’s subnational states. Recently, Hindu nationalist populism has gained strength, challenging the secularist principle incorporated in India’s constitution. Institutions, such as the one-party dominance system, the centralized federal system, the rise of authoritarianism and populism provide channels of influence, which have empowered some actors while constraining other actors and groups. We will discuss how insights from Indian politics literature can be used in the design of student research projects about India and how they can be transferred to the study of other countries. Parallel to the discussion of Indian politics literature, we will refresh our knowledge about research design in political science and learn how to develop a strong research question. Drawing on literature about qualitative methods in political science research, we will discuss possible applications for different types of case studies and their methodological implications. Students will present their project ideas, the research design and the final projects and receive peer review at every stage of the work in progress. A student research project will be designed for individual or group work. close