Constitutional Equality and the Politics of Representation in India

Bibliographic Data

ID3896051
AuthorsZoya Hasan (0000-0001-7043-9623, Jawaharlal Nehru University, corresponding author)
Year2006
Volume53
Issue4
Pages54-68
Publication date2006-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDiogenes (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0392-1921 • E-ISSN: 1467-7695
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0392192106070347
OpenAlexW2058071979
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited8

It is widely believed that an historic shift has taken place in the forms and modes of political representation available to people seeking representation of their interests and social claims. Two changes are noteworthy. From the classic patterns of the earlier 20th century, based on social relations forged in workplaces, organized in trade unions and mass organizations linked to programmatic political parties, it has moved to a 'new politics' of social movements, voluntary associations, NGOs, etc., rather than political parties, and local rather than national concerns. The second change is in the process of representation marked by a greater emphasis on descriptive representation and participation in decision-making. Today, equitable and fair-minded policies can be objected to on the grounds that the processes by which they were arrived at were undemocratic and excluded women and minorities, for instance. Even when there are no laws that require it, many political parties have decided their lists are not properly representative without certain numbers of people from different groups

Caste · Democracy · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Social science · Sociology · Computer Science · Gender Studies · Law · South Asian Studies and Conflicts