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The essays in this symposium are longing for completion. A heavy Indian shadow hangs over them. Asian democracy is the overall theme of the symposium, but India, Asia's biggest “democratic behemoth,” to use Edward Aspinall's phrase, is more or less missing. Why is a discussion of Indian democracy necessary for this symposium? What would it add to the arguments made here and the themes discussed? [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Compares political development in Northern and Southern India. Issue on whether socioeconomic equality is a precondition for democracy; Possible consequence of affirmative action; Most common criticisms on India's democracy.