Politics

Political Change: India

Module code: L2095
Level 6
30 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Seminar
Assessment modes: Essay, Coursework

Indian politics, society and economy have transformed since independence in 1947. Today, it’s a major emerging economy with a developed party system and regular elections.

India’s ability to function despite social divisions, poverty and illiteracy makes it an important research area. It helps scholars understand politics in a large, diverse country with a shifting party system.

You’ll explore key themes in Indian politics and society to understand political change since independence. You’ll analyse how the relationship between political actors and the wider society has evolved through:

• the rise of ethnic parties and identity politics
• the growing importance of state-level parties
• the influence of civil society movements.

You’ll also study how political parties respond to the demands of these groups and movements.

Key themes include:

• the shift from a single-party system to a fragmented, multi-party competitive system
• political importance of underprivileged groups, ethnic parties and identity politics
• the rise of regional parties and coalition politics
• the growing influence of civil society, mass movements and media
• the key challenges facing the nation today
• the main factors driving political change and how this has shaped political actors.

You’ll mainly use empirical approach, supported by theory and comparative analysis.

Module learning outcomes

• Be able to account for political change in India since independence
• Develop an argument based on academic sources in an organised and structured way
• Evaluate and use appropriate theories or approaches to the study of politics to account for change in India
• Organise and use evidence from a range of sources to illustrate political change in India