TPL and Ryerson University present: Modi’s India: How Hindu Nationalism has Eroded the World’s Largest Democracy

Professor of Indian Politics and Sociology at the King's India Institute, Christophe Jaffrelot discusses the state of national populism in modern-day India.

India has long stood out as the most unlikely democracy in the world. Two centuries of British colonial rule had deepened absolute poverty, social inequalities and religious conflicts. Yet the secular 1950 Constitution granted universal adult suffrage, codified a wide range of civil liberties and political rights, and institutionalized many checks across a sprawling federal parliamentary democracy. Parties transferred power, and historically marginalized groups voted in ever greater numbers, with increasing frequency. Conflict and destitution remained serious challenges. Nonetheless, the persistence of the world’s largest democracy attracted widespread attention, offering a striking counterpoint to communist China.

The rise to power of the Bharatiya Janata Party since 2014, however, has deeply challenged its foundations. Militant Hindu nationalism has polarized the electorate along ethno-religious lines in an effort to redefine a secular model of citizenship. Populism has undermined the independence and autonomy of public institutions and civil society. And growing intimidation of and violence towards political opponents and minority communities has sown fear into the lives of many. What explains this sudden transformation? Why do so many citizens in India continue to support the leader of the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite the failures of his government to realize its promise of rapid economic modernization? And what are the ramifications of these changes for democracy in India and its standing in the world?

The distinguished political sociologist, Christophe Jaffrelot, explores these questions in conversation with Sanjay Ruparelia.

This event is co-sponsored by the Canadian International Council.

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This event is part of our On Civil Society series.

Generously supported in part by Chris M. Reid

On the Frontlines of Democracy is a new public lecture series to analyze its prospects in the twenty-first century. Around the world, democracies face serious challenges, old and new. Can we protect our constitutional democracies in an era of popular mistrust, severe partisanship and resurgent nationalism? Can they reduce inequalities of power, wealth and status, defend deep diversity and confront climate change in the new digital age? Can we develop innovative strategies to revitalize civic engagement and empower public institutions to renew the promise of collective self-rule? And what can Canada offer, learn and do to promote the prospects of democracy, in a spirit of mutual learning, in our post-western world?

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