India’s democratic longevity is anomalous to modernisation theory’s claim of a correlative relationship between economic development and democracy. However, this anomaly does not disprove modernisation theory, but rather is symptomatic of its inapplicability in many democratising countries today. To address this tension, this essay will outline the theoretical foundations of modernisation theory and subsequently offer an institutionalist and voluntarist approach in revealing its inapplicability in India. To conclude, this essay will explore the implications of India’s democratic success on the present state of modernisation theory.
I) MODERNISATION THEORY
Modernisation theory is concisely summarised by Lipset’s famous adage “the more well- to-do a nation, the greater the chances that it will sustain democracy”. More explicitly, modernisation theory establishes a singular correlative relationship between socio-economic development – measured through the indices of wealth, education, urbanisation and industrialization – and democracy. Modernisation theorists thus stipulate that high performance in these indices is mandatory for the appropriate societal changes to occur and thereby uphold democracy. For the purpose of …show more content…
The mass party of the Indian National Congress was democratic in nature, holding intraparty elections for leadership positions who in turn where held accountable to party members. As such, when democracy was inaugurated by the Indian Constitution, India had the benefit of popular support for democracy with politicians experienced in democratic institutions. This background thus allowed Indian democracy to be inaugurated through Dahl’s “shortcut path” model, and the widespread support for the mass party prevented “fatal conflicts over
I) MODERNISATION THEORY
Modernisation theory is concisely summarised by Lipset’s famous adage “the more well- to-do a nation, the greater the chances that it will sustain democracy”. More explicitly, modernisation theory establishes a singular correlative relationship between socio-economic development – measured through the indices of wealth, education, urbanisation and industrialization – and democracy. Modernisation theorists thus stipulate that high performance in these indices is mandatory for the appropriate societal changes to occur and thereby uphold democracy. For the purpose of …show more content…
The mass party of the Indian National Congress was democratic in nature, holding intraparty elections for leadership positions who in turn where held accountable to party members. As such, when democracy was inaugurated by the Indian Constitution, India had the benefit of popular support for democracy with politicians experienced in democratic institutions. This background thus allowed Indian democracy to be inaugurated through Dahl’s “shortcut path” model, and the widespread support for the mass party prevented “fatal conflicts over