India : Democracy and Violence

This book contests and demystifies the celebrationist understanding of democracy and argues that violence is embedded in democracy as much as democracy is embedded in violence. Their interconnected existence has only made democracy violent and violence one of the many ways of trying to make a democracy work. So, more of democracy does not necessarily mean less of violence and vice versa. Viewed in this light, this book examines the connection as organic and one of mutually spiralling nature. Democratic institutions and violence are thus implicated in an endless dialogue and confrontation. The alternative to democracy can only be a better democracy.