Democratizing Development

Development emerged as the most promising idea of progress in the post-second world war period in the 1940s. In the Indian parlance, democracy was added to the model of development by combining economic development with social justice. This has shaped both policy and popular aspiration in post-Independent India. In this context, this book explores two dominant streams of development – economic growth projects and poverty eradication projects – and assesses the democratic potential of development or its absence through the issues of equity, rights and social justice.

In discussing democratization of development, the book brings into sharp focus the dynamics of power, ownership and control of resources, institutions of the state and the market, and local as well as global influences. Examining development through the lens of the most marginalized, the book shows why democratization of development is of such significance to them. It shows the role of both the state and civil society in infusing development with democracy. The book presents primary ethnographic research and empirically drawn cases, and supplements these with theoretical and analytical arguments. It draws from multiple streams of social science: social history, sociology, social anthropology and political sociology, and contributes to contemporary debates in social science such as development, democracy, rights, social justice, civil society, social mobilization, social inclusion, redistribution, and participatory governance.

This book will be of interest to scholars, students and policy makers. It will appeal to development studies, international studies, sociology, social anthropology, and policy studies.

Author Biography

Ranjita Mohanty is an Indian sociologist and social anthropologist. She researches development, social movements, social policies, and governance. Her research lies at the intersection of theory, practice and policy. She has worked in the research spaces of universities, think tanks and development organizations. She has taught in India and South Africa. She has held academic positions, and has been a recipient of fellowships, including a Fulbright Senior Research Fellowship. She has published extensively, including books. She resides in New Delhi.