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Since then, Indian politics has become more aggressive and hectic, but also less predictable and transparent. The parallel growth of media, civil society and political awareness among lesser social groups has brought about new dynamics, especially heightened expectations and increasing political participation. What has been the impact of globalization? This can at best be answered only tentatively, since both globalization and democracy are evolving stories. However, there are two distinct trends.
Firstly, the economic impact of globalization in India has been hugely uneven. Poverty has indeed declined, from 36 percent of population in 1990 to 26 percent in 2000, but the resulting economic growth has largely been limited to big cities. Even a cursory visit to Indian’s rural areas shows the extent to which they have remained stagnant and backward. While there is new energy and optimism in the cities, as also a flood of new money and surging real estate prices, rural India remains disconnected from globalization mainstream.
Secondly, there is now a growing thirst for education In India, driven by a rapidly expanding middle class which Is saving, borrowing and tolling for the right academic opportunity for its children as never before. Going abroad for studies has now become rather standard, with more than 50,000 Indian students Joining foreign universities each year. By the end of 2002 India already surpassed China as the leading country of origin for International students In the United States. In both trends, there Is a positive side as well as a precarious edge.
An enlarged urban middle class or a better educated population are both very desirable features In any democracy, but the opportunities and changes In India are too narrowly focused In an urban setting. India Is now on a dangerous double track, with the rural-urban linkage being extremely uneasy and artificial, which In large part explains the rise of caste-based political parties In India, since the only sure thing villagers can fall back upon In hard times Is their larger caste-based network.
That Is also why rural voter runt has Increased rapidly In the last twenty years – In contrast to urban turnout, which Is roughly the same or even declining. However, whether politics has become more muddled or tidy, whether socio-economic disparity has Increased or decreased, and even If many high principles have or have not been translated Into tangible action, the ‘Idea’ of democracy has Indeed prospered In India.
Indian Democracy: Modern Context & Impact of Globalization By arbitrarily Secondly, there is now a growing thirst for education in India, driven by a rapidly expanding middle class which is saving, borrowing and toiling for the right academic leading country of origin for international students in the United States. In both trends, there is a positive side as well as a precarious edge.
An enlarged urban middle class or a better educated population are both very desirable features in any democracy, but the opportunities and changes in India are too narrowly focused in an urban setting. India is now on a dangerous double track, with the rural-urban linkage being extremely uneasy and artificial, which in large part explains the rise of sate-based political parties in India, since the only sure thing villagers can fall back upon in hard times is their larger caste-based network.
That is also why rural voter turnout has increased rapidly in the last twenty years – in contrast to urban turnout, which is roughly the same or even declining. However, whether politics has become more muddled or tidy, whether socio-economic disparity has increased or decreased, and even if many high principles have or have not been translated into tangible action, the ‘idea’ of democracy has indeed prospered in India.