Description
Book SynopsisThis book approaches grassroots governance and democracy from a sociological perspective, focusing on the interaction between the community and the State. It explores the interrelationship between state, governance and community and demonstrates the performativity aspects of both political actors and citizens in various elections in India. It also highlights the need to understand the dynamics of governance in a multi-ethnic society and democracy like India both at the micro and macro levels. Offering detailed explanations of formal and informal governance in people’s everyday lives, it reviews some of the key debates on governance with respect to the engagement of the community. This book is intended for academics, researchers, activists, planners and policymakers from a range of disciplines, such as sociology, public policy, social anthropology, development studies, politics and regional development, interested in governance and development in India.
Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction: The Magical State and the Notion of Governance
Chapter 2: Documenting the Body and Paper Citizenship
Chapter 3: The Magic and Miracle of Elections: Polls and Performance
Chapter 4: Seeing Like a Citizen: People’s Perception and Everyday Engagement with State and Governance
Chapter 5: The Grassroots Democracy, Grasshoppers and the Janus Faced Dalal
Chapter 6: Corporatization of the State in the Neoliberal Era
Chapter 7: Conclusion: The Beginning of New Governance
