In Pursuit of Lakshmi - The Political Economy of the Indian State

Author: Lloyd I RudolphSusanne Hoeber Rudolph/Publisher: Orient LongmanYear: 1998Language: EnglishPages: 529ISBN/UPC (if available): 8125015515 DescriptionUsing the goddess Lakshmi as a metaphor for the aspirations of the nation and its people, eminent scholars offer a comprehensive analysis of India's political economy.India occupies a paradoxical place among nation states; it is both developed and underdeveloped, rich and poor, strong and weak. These contrasts locate the country in the international order. The Rudolphs' theory of demand and command polities provide a general framework for explaining the special circumstances of the Indian experience.Contrary to what one might expect in a country with great disparities, no national party, right or left, pursues the polities of class. Instead, the Rudolphs argue, private capital and organized labor in India face a third factor - the state.In analyzing the relationship between India's politics and its economy, the Rudolphs maintain t