Synopses & Reviews
Political parties are recognized as a highly important instrument for the functioning of democratic politics. They are essential for state formation and the intermediation between the state and society. This book is a pioneering attempt to discuss and analyze the complex variations of the party landscape in South Asia. It pays special attention to the evaluation of the role of political parties in the creation of multicultural, pluralist, and democratic societies.
Review
...I am convinced that this volume will be an important contribution to research and nevertheless will serve as a good textbook for teaching.Klaus von Beyme, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitat Heidelberg
Synopsis
Analyzes the political parties in South Asia and the variance of the party landscape in the region in terms of geographic diversity, party building, social base, and ideological inclinations.
About the Author
SUBRATA K. MITRA is Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science at the South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University, and a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Dehli. He currently holds the posts of Executive Director of the South Asia Institute, Heidelberg, and President of the Research Committee of the International Sociological Association.MIKE ENSKAT is Policy Consultant with the GTZ, Eschborn, Germany, and former Lecturer in Political Science at the South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University.CLEMENS SPIESS is Lecturer in Political Science at the South Asia Institute, Heidelberg University.
Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures
Preface and Acknowledgments
Introduction by Subrata K. Mitra and Mike Enskat
The Indian National Congress: Problems of Survival and Reinvention by Harish Khare
The Bharatiya Janata Party: Hindu Nationalism and the Compulsions of Pluralism by Partha S. Ghosh
The Communist Party of India (Marxist): From the Rebellion to Governance by Harihar Bhattacharyya
The Telugu Desam Party: The Dialectics of Regional Identity and National Politics by Prakash Sarangi
The Muslim League: Decline of a National Party by Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema
The Pakistan People's Party: The Twin Legacies of Socialism and Dynastic Rule by Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah
The MQM of Pakistan: Between Political Party and Ethnic Movement by Mohammed Waseem
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party: From Military Rule to the Champion of Democracy by Golam Hossaaine
The Awami League: From Charismatic Leadership to Political Party by Gyasuddin Molla
The United National Party of Sri Lanka: Reproducing Hegemony by Amita Shastri
The Tamil United National Front: Ethnic Hegemony, Unitary State Democracy, and the Dilemma of a Minority Party by C. Yuvi Thangarajah
The Nepali Congress: Party Agency and Nation-Building Process by Pancha N. Maharjan
The Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist): Ideology at the Crossroads by Ganga Bahadur Thapa and Karl-Heinz Kraemer
Epilogue: Rethinking Party Theory in the Light of South Asian Experience by Clemens Spiess
A Note on the Contributors
Bibliography