answersLogoWhite

0

Is India democracy liberal or illiberal?

Updated: 8/19/2019
User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

Best Answer

I think that there is a fundamental problem with western perceptions of India and this misunderstanding affects western policies towards India (particularly in the US). India is not a liberal society in the sense that it is not a society that is based on the individual. India is a democratic state in the sense that it routinely holds reasonably fair and free elections. But the fact that it is a democratic does not mean that it is also a liberal society. While it is true that an important strand of India's constitution is liberal, from the beginning of the republic's history the Indian state has had to accommodate a wide range of claims based on group rights (and these assertions of group rights have been incorporated into the constitutional fabric of Indian political life). Westerners must learn to differentiate between India's democracy and the nature of its society (which is not liberal). Indian intellectuals are liberal in a sense but even they are embedded in illiberal social institutions from which there is very little chance of escape: the family which is the basic unit of analysis for Indian society. The west takes notice of this basic illiberalism when it manifests itself in areas relating to civil liberties (and these are disturbing and should be resisted) but these ugly manifestations of illiberalism should not detract from the fact that the Indian state from the very beginning has had to deal with group rights and the way in which is has handled these assertions of group rights has produced a state that is democratic but not liberal. Even for Nehru (who was liberal on social issues but not on economic ones) these compromises were viewed as essential to maintaining the integrity of the Indian state, such that it is.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Is India democracy liberal or illiberal?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What country is the largest democracy by land area?

Canada is the largest democracy by territory. Only Russia, which is an illiberal democracy is a larger country.


Does Asia have a democracy?

Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Israel, Cyprus, and India are all liberal democracies that are part of Asia. There are many other illiberal or quasi-liberal democracies in Asia, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, and Georgia.


Which Asian country is the most populous democracy in the world?

Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia, Israel, Cyprus, and India are all liberal democracies that are part of Asia. There are many other illiberal or quasi-liberal democracies in Asia, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, and Georgia. Nepal also recently (September 2015) ratified a new constitution that turned the country into a liberal democracy. It will take some time to see whether this new form of government holds.


Does Iraq have a direct or constitutional democracy?

The Republic of Iraq (which only really controls half of the land area of the country) is officially a constitutional democracy, but it is a relatively illiberal democracy. Iraqi Kurdistan is also a constitutional democracy and less illiberal. ISIL is an outright dictatorship and considers democracy to be Anti-Islamic.


Is Russia illiberal democracy or authoritative state?

This is open to discussion and interpretation but illiberal democracy is closer to the truth. The government still has the support of most of the population and people aren't oppressed on a day to day basis.


What is Liberal democracy?

liberal concept of democracy


When was Liberal Democracy - France - created?

Liberal Democracy - France - was created in 1998.


Which country is a democratic country?

India is a democratic country Most countries on Earth are democratic, however, many of them are illiberal democracies. This means that they have voting, but not the vast number of rights or choices that usually accompany democracy. Some examples of proper democracy are: The United States, Canada, France, Taiwan, Australia, Israel, and South Africa. Some examples of illiberal democracies are: Russia, Iran, Democratic Republic of Congo, Venezuela, and Indonesia.


When was Young Liberal Democracy created?

Young Liberal Democracy was created on 1991-02-01.


Where is the largest democracy?

It depends on how the word "largest" is read. If it refers to population, India is the most populous democracy with over 800 million individuals of voting age. In the recent election which made Narendra Modi the Prime Minister of India, over 300 million Indians turned out to vote. If it refers to land-area, Canada is the largest democracy by territory. Only Russia, which is an illiberal democracy is a larger country.


What is the meaning of illiberal?

Not liberal; not free or generous; close; niggardly; mean; sordid., Indicating a lack of breeding, culture, and the like; ignoble; rude; narrow-minded; disingenuous., Not well authorized or elegant; as, illiberal words in Latin.


Did German nationalism contribute to Anti-Semitism?

To put matters as simply as possible, there were two kinds of nationalism (not only in Germany). The one was liberal and inclusive. The other was illiberal and 'exclusive'. In particular, the latter was preoccupied with 'sniffing out' people who were regarded as 'not belonging'. In times of prosperity, liberal nationalism generally prevailed and in times of hardship, the illiberal variety was vastly more popular. Illiberal nationalism actively contributed to and supported Anti-Semitism, where as liberal nationalism allowed for Jews to be an active part of society, but with some distrust. Ask Richard Wagner