Broadening and Deepening Democracy: Political Innovation in Karnataka

This book examines certain changes in the political make-up of Karnataka, between the early 1970s and the late 1980s, which, in turn, led to the birth of a unique democracy in the state.

In a departure from most studies on political science and political history which pay little or no attention to the role of politicians and focus only on technocratic blueprints, administrative processes and incentive systems, this volume takes into account the role politicians play in shaping the character of their governments, public policy and state society relations. It studies the political transformation of Karnataka by focusing heavily on three chief ministers of the state who played an important role in making politics in Karnataka more accommodative, enlightened and, hence, more democratic.

This volume is a detailed insider 's account of the political processes in Karnataka, enriched with interviews and surveys which seek to locate this work in the social science literature, in Karnataka 's recent history and in comparative context alongside other Indian states.

E. Raghavan is Editor (South) of the Economic Times. He has previously worked as a reporter for the Indian Express in Mysore, Bangalore and Delhi; as Chief Reporter for the Indian Express and the Times of India in Bangalore; and as Resident Editor, Times of India, Bangalore. For twelve years (1982–94) he wrote a weekly column on Karnataka’s politics, first at the Indian Express and then at the Times of India.

James Manor is Emeka Anyaoku Professor at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. He has previously taught at Yale, Harvard and Leicester universities, and at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. Three of his earlier books focus entirely or in part on Karnataka.