Journal of Political Studies, Vol. 13

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://ir.nbu.ac.in/handle/123456789/3757

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

We are happy to bring out this thirteenth volume of the Departmental journal, Journal of Political Studies. We apologise for the delay in bringing out this volume but hope to have wider readership nevertheless. The diversity of the themes is a distinctive aspect of this volume, so is the coming together of scholars and researchers. We are not satisfied with the copy editing however as the publication could not be delayed any further. Hope this issue will reflect the current state of interdisciplinary research.

Soumitra De
Editor

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 14
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    Government Policies for Development of Floriculture and its Impact in Sikkim: A Socio-Economic Study
    (University of North Bengal, 2017) Bhui, Ujjwal; Bhandari, Yashmin
    The Government of a State takes policies as initiatives to develop socio-economic condition of its people by supporting them in doing special types of economic activities. In the state, there may be some professions practiced by its people which are unique and the government takes initiatives to encourage and flourish those professions. Floriculture is such a unique profession practiced by several ethnic communities in Sikkim. They are cultivating different kinds of flowers in a large quantity for commercial purposes that may be not possible without the assistance by the Sikkim government. This paper tries to explore how far the policies of the Sikkim Government are responsible for the growing interest among people of Sikkim in cultivation of flowers; consequently in developing floriculture as a commercial venture.
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    Simultaneous Elections: A Sure Recipe for Democratic Disaster
    (University of North Bengal, 2017) Howladar, Sumit
    The journey of India’s democracy has been an exciting and remarkable one. It has traversed several unchartered and difficult paths. Elections have been one of the core components and drivers behind this project of democratic expansion and consolidation. With changing times both the scale and mode of conducting elections have also changed drastically. While in the earlier years simultaneous elections of both the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies took place, in the last fifty years this system became defunct. But recently the present incumbent government has pushed for renewing this system of conducting simultaneous elections. This paper argues that with the changed socio-political scenario revival of this system is not in the best interest of the nation’s democratic fabric. It highlights that the arguments put forward behind the desirability and feasibility of the said proposal largely based on faulty assumptions and lack sound argumentative base. Delving into the various layers of the issue, the paper underlines the core point that though on a technocratic level conducting simultaneous elections might seem highly appealing, but from a perspective of democratic fructification, this system is bound to prove regressive and counter-productive.
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    Evolution of BRICS in International Political Economy
    (University of North Bengal, 2017) C.C, Shameem; Jayaprasad, K.
    In an era of regional integration and interdependence, organisations like the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) can play a meaningful role in not only the international level but also regionally. The recent summit of the BRICS reiterates that more cooperation is needed at various levels.1 It calls for a more representative international financial architecture demanding an increase in the voice and representation of developing countries. The establishment has also improved international monetary as well as trade systems which can serve the interests of all countries and support developing economies. This paper analyses the tendency of BRICS towards economic integration, its evolving nature in global political economy both political as well as economical aspects.
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    Protection of Natural Resources and Proactive Role of Grassroots Institutions in Goa
    (University of North Bengal, 2017) Salgaonkar, Seema P.
    Natural resources play a significant role in our lives; hence their proper governance becomes a pertinent issue. There are various approaches towards its governance. Some advocate complete control by state agency over natural resources, while some other propose on bottoms-up approach with community involvement toward natural resource management. The present study proposes a Model for State-Community Partnership, suggesting devolution of more powers to Panchayats and Gram Sabhas as these are community oriented institutions. This model is tested with a Case Study of Goa. Goa is today facing the crisis of resource exploitation and misuse. Can grassroots institutions check these trends by being alert and proactive? The paper attempts an answer.
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    Media and its role in curbing corruption in Nigeria
    (University of North Bengal, 2017) Kaur, Sarabjit
    Corruption is considered as the most important factor impeding the socio-economic transformation of developing countries. It is threatening the existence of countries like Nigeria. Every sphere of life is affected by corruption. To counter the menace of corruption, various agencies have played a significant role, one such being the Media-Print or Broadcasting. The fight against corruption is not an easy one but with greater autonomy, media can certainly play a significant role. This will not only lead to trickling down of benefits of development to the masses and enable them to improve their economic position but will also benefit the country by way of improving its economic status at the world level.
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    Collective Mobilisation for Shelter: Politics of Informal Housing in Chandigarh Slums
    (University of North Bengal, 2017) Negi, Shashi K.
    The Major aim of the paper is to examine the patterns of collective mobilisation taking place in urban slums through a case study of grassroots mobilization around evictions and unavailability of security of tenure in selected slums of Chandigarh city. The biggest problem being faced by informal settlers in urban cities in the present times is the lack of adequate shelter and security of land tenure. Demolition drives and rehabilitation process started at large scale for the so called ‘city beautiful’ during the year 2013-2014 have compelled the slum dwellers to have more collective efforts. The paper uses an analytical narrative approach to account for patterns in collective behaviour, drawing on both quantitative and qualitative data gathered through interviews with 200 slum dwellers residing in Chandigarh city. Inferences drawn from the study reflect that dissent over demolition act and rehabilitation process for shelter gave significant rise to the collective mobilisation in the slums. Slum colonies are enjoying more exposure to outer world and support of local leaders or various grassroots organisations provide more potential for collective mobilisation.
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    Workers’ Resistances in the Indian Railways and the General Strike of May 1974
    (University of North Bengal, 2017) Choudhury, Sanghamitra
    Indian Railways has always been a significant factor in regulating the economic and political life of the Indians. Indian Railways might not have any revolutionary effect on people’s life but since independence it has become an enormously big industrial sector and popularly is branded as heart and life blood of the nation. Therefore, a strike of long twenty days in May 1974 halted the economic, social and political pace of the country. This study is an attempt to examine the reasons behind the grievances and resentments of the railwaymen in India. It observes the preparation of the trade unions for launching an indefinite strike and the situation existed during the days of the struggle. It also intends to enquire the attitude of the State in dealing with the railway workers’ movement in 1974.
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    People, PRIs and Rural Development: A study in the context of the hills of Darjeeling in West Bengal and Sikkim
    (University of North Bengal, 2017) Dural, Ramesh
    Rural Development in India has been a major concern and has drawn attention since independence. It is a multi-dimensional concept encompassing every aspect of rural life, which primarily involves alleviation of poverty and unemployment through the creation of basic social and economic infrastructure, thereby, bringing a quality rural life. The necessity for rural development arises with the intent to develop the rural area as a whole in terms of culture, society, economy, technology, health, etc. and developing the living standard of rural mass. It involves the development of human resources, infrastructural development; provide minimum basic amenities; develop rural institutions like that of Panchayats, Cooperatives, Post, Banking; develop rural industries, develop agriculture, animal husbandry; promote employment opportunities, eradicate poverty; promote peoples’ participation, empowerment. Since development in general and rural development in particular, involves peoples’ programme; peoples’ participation, through the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) is imperative to rural development. The present paper, therefore, is an attempt to interrogate peoples’ involvement and participation in rural development, in the context of the hills of Darjeeling in West Bengal, and Sikkim, which exhibit similar geographical and other characteristic features.
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    Contesting Development: Understanding the Interface between Development Discourse and Subalterns Politics in Bihar
    (University of North Bengal, 2017) Kumar, Pankaj
    Janata Dal (later on the Rashtriya Janata Dal) government under the leadership of Lalu Prasad Yadav in Bihar during its regime, attacked the hegemonic discourse of development by raising the slogan, ‘humein vikas nahin samman chahiye’ (we need dignity, not development). One should not treat this as merely slogan as the paper will show how anti-development politics has its own materiality, which can be found in concrete practices of the government. So the real issue is not whether anti-development politics is rhetorical or not but how to make sense of it. How can one imagine such a situation especially in the liberalization era, where there is tacit consensus over desirability of growth oriented development across all political spectrum and almost every state government is competing for getting maximum benefit form liberalized economy. This paper tries to contextualize these instances of complete rupture from development through the framework of post development discourses, where the issue of dignity and self-respect overshadows the desirability of development