Poverty Amid Plenty in the New India

by Atul Kohli

India has one of the fastest growing economies on earth. Over the past three decades, socialism has been replaced by pro-business policies as the way forward. And yet, in this 'new' India, grinding poverty is still a feature of everyday life. Some 450 million people subsist on less than $1.25 per day and nearly half of India's children are malnourished. In his latest book, Atul Kohli, a seasoned scholar of Indian politics and economics, blames this discrepancy on the narrow nature of the ruling alliance in India that, in its new-found relationship with business, has prioritized economic growth above all other social and political considerations. This thoughtful and challenging book affords an alternative vision of India's rise in the world that its democratic rulers will be forced to come to grips with in the years ahead.

Genres: Political Science, India

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 23, 2012

Reviews

[faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another read for politics class, written by my prof! As with his lectures, there's very clear central thesis not bogged down by overt political theories (but with just enough concept framing). Very interesting read into the history of India's political economy and I would say gives a good overall frame of the situation but focuses on a more specific argument.