Coalition politics refers to a form of governance in which multiple political parties come together to form a government, usually because no single party is able to secure a clear majority in the legislature. It is a common feature of multiparty democracies, especially in socially diverse societies and in systems that encourage fragmented electoral outcomes….
Political parties and party systems constitute the backbone of democratic politics. They aggregate social interests, structure political competition, and provide the link between citizens and the state. In comparative politics, the study of party systems helps us understand how social cleavages, electoral rules, and historical experiences shape democratic outcomes. Both India and Israel are vibrant…
Party politics forms the operational core of parliamentary democracy. Legislatures are not merely law-making bodies; they are arenas where political parties compete, cooperate, negotiate, and exercise power. The functioning of parliaments is therefore inseparable from the nature of party systems, electoral rules, and coalition dynamics. In both India and Israel, party politics decisively shapes the…
Globalization has fundamentally reshaped the relationship between the state, economy, and society. Far from rendering the state obsolete, globalization has reconfigured state power, altering its priorities, functions, and modes of intervention. States today operate within dense global networks of trade, finance, technology, security, and governance. The experiences of India and Israel illustrate two distinct yet…
Parliamentary democracy is a system in which the executive derives its authority from, and remains accountable to, the legislature. Both India and Israel adopted parliamentary democracy at the moment of state formation, positioning elected legislatures, political parties, and cabinet responsibility at the center of governance. Yet, despite this shared institutional choice, parliamentary democracy operates very…
(India and Israel) The structure and functioning of state institutions cannot be understood without examining the historical processes of state formation. State formation refers to the long-term political, social, and ideological processes through which authority is consolidated, legitimacy is established, and institutions are created. In comparative perspective, India and Israel represent two sharply contrasting trajectories…
Democratic politics in multicultural societies involves far more than periodic elections and formal institutions. It requires continuous negotiation among diverse social groups over representation, identity, rights, and access to power. In societies marked by deep cultural, religious, ethnic, and linguistic diversity, democracy functions as a mode of managing difference, rather than eliminating it. Both India…
Multi-ethnic and multicultural societies are those in which enduring diversity—based on ethnicity, religion, language, culture, and historical experience—is a defining feature of social life and political organization. In comparative politics, examining such societies requires attention not only to demographic diversity, but also to how states recognize, regulate, accommodate, or privilege particular identities. Both India and…
The concept of a multicultural society has become central to contemporary political analysis, particularly in societies marked by deep social, religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity. In comparative politics, multiculturalism is not merely a descriptive category but a normative and political framework that raises crucial questions about identity, citizenship, equality, and democratic governance. Both India and…
(Indian Context) The relationship between democracy, development, and human rights lies at the heart of India’s constitutional and political experience. These three concepts are deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing, yet often marked by tension and contradiction. India presents a complex case where a long-standing democratic framework coexists with deep socio-economic inequalities, uneven development, and persistent…
