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INDIA TODAY: Economy, Politics and Society. By Stuart Corbridge, John Harriss and Craigjeffrey. Cambridge, UK; Malden, MA: Polity Press; Hoboken, NJ.John Wiley [distributor], 2013. xv, 384pp. (Figures, tables.) C$26.95, paper. ISBN 978-0-7456-6112-4.
India Today is a vigorously informative volume tiiat conscientiously examines some of the big debates of contemporary India in die context of wide- ranging empirical and theoretical perspectives. The co-authored text will be extremely relevant for academics, students, policy makers and development practitioners working in India and beyond, as well as those curious to understand more about die extent and nature of economic, political and social transformations taking place in post-liberal India.
Stuart Corbridge, John Harriss and Craigjeffrey have well-established research commitments in India and bring their intimate knowledge to bear on a series of timely questions which represent die tides of stand alone, yet intersecting chapters: When and why did India take off? How have die poor fared (and otiiers too)? Why hasn't economic growtii delivered more for Indian workers? Is die Indian state delivering on promises of "inclusive growtii" and socialjustice? How did a weak state promote audacious reforms? Has India's democracy been a success? Is government in India becoming more responsive? Does India have a civil society? Has die rise of Hindu nationalism halted? Why has Maoism become such a force in India? Does India have a civil society? Does caste still matter in India? How much have tilings changed for Indian women? Can India benefit from its demographic dividend? The answers to diese subjects are examined through a broad and rigorous review of the literature to illuminate contrasting arguments across different sites and scales of analysis, witiiin India and beyond. This capacity to navigate a...