India in transition: Demonstrations, challenges in the party system, and Indo-Russian relations

Policy Study

09/10/2014

The FEPS focus on India becomes even sharper in the early weeks of 2013 with this collection of articles by FEPS Advisor on Asia Dr Klaus Voll and political analyst Kamakshi Nanda.

The first article examines the efforts of the newly formed Aam Aadmi Party to cleanse corruption from Indian politics and to make democracy more people-centred. In doing so, they provide a useful insight through analyses of the establishment of the party and through interviews with prominent members.

Among more established parties, political transition in India is also in evidence. India’s oldest and current ruling party, the Congress, held an introspection camp in Jaipur in January 2013. Our writers explore its outcome and the role of the new ‘crown prince’ in the Indian political scene. Rahul Gandhi has recently been elected as new Vice-President of the Congress, thus attaining a key role in the battle for power in the 2014 elections. All the while, the main opposition party in India, the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, has a new President – Rajnath Singh. The third article examines the events that led to Singh’s elevation, the reactions to it, and the notable points of Singh’s political career.

The last month of 2012 saw Indians from all walks of life, young or old, men or women, middle or lower classes, urban or rural, demonstrate on the streets of the country. The trigger was the rape of a medical student by six men in a moving bus in the capital of the country. The fourth article charts the debates surrounding women’s position in society and reactions in India to an issue which has garnered huge worldwide media attention.

The fifth article outlining Vladimir Putin’s recent visit underlined Russia’s role as a major supplier of high-technology weapons to India and the ramifications this has for future In less than 24 hours in Delhi, Vladimir Putin walked away with contracts worth billions of dollars. No mean feat given the slump in Indo-Russian ties on account of postponed start of the Kudankulam nuclear plant and delays in the delivery of weapons of strategic importance to India. This final article provides an overview of the visit and nature of current bilateral relations.

 R. Singh a new Pdt. Putin’s visit underligned Russia’s role as a major supplier of high-technology weapons to India.

Articles

  1. Aam Aadmi Party: A new political party in India:
  2. Rahul Gandhi: in a central position to lead the Congress in the 2014 general elections (& Jaipur declaration)
  3. Rajnath Singh: The new BJP President
  4. Massive Protests Against Rapes in India
  5. Vladimir Putin’s one day in Delhi
Find all related publications
Publications
08/12/2023

Youth support for democracy in Spain

Democracy in the face of disadvantage
06/12/2023

Stronger resilience through cooperation in the Sahel

'12 years of crises in the Sahel' series
29/11/2023

Social Europe: From vision to vigour

FEPS Primer series - Björn Hacker
22/11/2023

The macro-economic impact of the cost crisis

Lessons for Europe
Find all related Progressive Post
Progressive Post
05/12/2023

Do not normalise the extreme

05/12/2023

A landslide victory of a fragmented Dutch right wing

05/12/2023

Facing the Far-Right surge in the Netherlands

Find all related news
News
07/12/2023

Call for Tender – Research on Migration

Research on the implementation of the New Pact on Migration after its adoption, or on the consequences of non-adoption 
29/11/2023

Economic Democracy

FEPS has launched an initiative on Economic Democracy
22/11/2023

Ann Linde is FEPS’ new Foreign Affairs Special Advisor

09/10/2023

Tax the rich

A European Citizens' Initiative
Find all related in the media
In the media

Durchhalten ist nicht unmöglich

by Frankfurter Hefte 06/12/2023
'Persevering is not impossible' Article by Ania Skrzypek, FEPS Director for Research and Training, on the future of social democracy in Europe

Γιατί χρειαζόμαστε την Ευρωπαϊκή Πολιτική Κοινότητα

by News 24/7 05/12/2023
'Why do we need the European Political Community?' Hedwig Giusto, Senior Research Fellow and Editor-in-Chief of the Progressive Post, writes in News 24/7 about the importance of the European Political Community and the difficulties the project might encounter in the future.

Total honesty and far-right lies

by IPS Journal 04/12/2023
Dive into the insightful analysis published in IPS Journal by Tom Theuns, Assist. Prof at Leiden University, and László Andor, FEPS Secretary General, examining the Dutch election results and the conclusions that need to be drawn for a successful EU Integration

Ukrainas och Europas framtid diskuterades i Helsingfors

by Demokraatti 01/12/2023
'Future of Ukraine and Europe discussed in Helsinki' Demokraatti article about FEPS and Kalevi Sorsa Foundation event 'From Russia’s aggression to progressive recovery of Ukraine' held in Helsinki.