British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences

Thursday 5 October 5 2006

ABSTRACT

Ethnographic approaches to democracy: lessons from West Bengal
Mukulika Banerjee, University College London

This paper will use data gathered over the past eight years from two small villages in West Bengal to reflect on the nature of democracy.  Combining ethnographic investigation with survey results, the outcome of the assembly elections held in April/May 2006 will be analysed in particular to understand how democracy works in a setting dominated by the politics of one political party.  Electorally, the dominance of the Left Front in West Bengal is reminiscent of Congress domination in the early years of Indian democracy.  By comparing village level data from studies done at the time (Bailey, Fox, Robinson) and West Bengal at present, the paper will show the similarities and discontinuities between then and now and the difference in the nature of dominance of the two different parties. The paper will also examine in some detail how class affects the perceptions of democracy among Muslim voters.

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