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Towards a multicultural democracy: some thoughts on the recent Indian elections
Author(s) -
Parekh Bhikhu
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
global networks
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.685
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1471-0374
pISSN - 1470-2266
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0374.2004.00101.x
Subject(s) - democracy , multiculturalism , diaspora , hinduism , ideology , politics , hindu nationalism , nationalism , political science , political economy , feeling , gender studies , development economics , sociology , law , religious studies , social psychology , psychology , economics , philosophy
The surprising defeat of the BJP in May's elections is evidence of longterm trends in India's politics. Welcomed by the diaspora with mixed feelings, the results inspire confidence in India's progress towards a mature multicultural democracy. The elections demonstrate that India is a far more diverse and pluralistic country than previous elections might have suggested and that Indian democracy successfully mirrors the country's ideological spectrum. In place of Hindu nationalism and the religious card, one finds a unique political leadership drawn from the country's minorities and shaped by India's synthetic culture.