Asymmetric Federalism in India (eBook) von Harihar Bhattacharyya

Introduction: a Revised Template of Federalism; Theory and Concepts; Methodology; Chapterisation.- Chapter 1 Concept of Asymmetric Federalism and the Politics of Recognition--- Introduction; Theoretical Framework of Asymmetric Federalism; Exclusion/Inclusion in Federalism.- Chapter 2 Founding Moment (1946-56): Introduction; Princely States: asymmetric Integration; SRCs asymmetric approach to state-making; CA and the Making of asymmetric provision for tribal self-governance.- chapter 3. Federal Asymmetry in India and Various Forms---Introduction; State level asymmetry.- Chapter 4 Politics of Fiscal Asymmetry in India: Introduction; Finance Commission and Fiscal Asymmetry; Special Category States.- Chapter 5 Ethnic Cleavages and Federal Asymmetry: introduction; Demographics: ethnicity and diversity; demand for more.- Chapter 6 The Making and Unmaking of the Special Category States in India: introduction; SCS as federal asymmetry; SCS: development and governance.- Chapter 7 Asymmetry within Asymmetry in India: Introduction; 5th Schedule;6th Schedule; ethnic cleavages and tribal autonomous councils.- Chapter 8 The Working of Sub-State federal asymmetry in Tripura: Introduction; A brief history; Formation of the ADC; Activates of the ADC; institutionalization, development and delivery; governmental performance of the ADC; implications for governance; governmental cost of self-government.- Chapter 9 Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Districts in Assam: introduction; a short trajectory of Bodoland movement; The case of Bodoland: whose homeland; Bodo ethnic peace accords for power-sharing and legitimacy; from BAC to BTC: half-hearted institutionalization.- Chapter 10 A Comparative Assessment of Asymmetric Federalism in India: introduction; a brief macro history; comparative practices; contentious territory claims; making of a political region; limited federalism.- Conclusion: Summary of Findings and Evaluation.

This book provides a critical account of federal asymmetry in India - its origins, context, forms and functioning - by taking into account the institutional effectiveness of asymmetric institutions in the regions for identity fulfillment, development and governance. It argues that while some asymmetry, de jure/ or de facto, is part of all federations for meeting some special circumstances, in India, which has followed a different path of federation building, asymmetric institutional solutions especially in the border areas have played a crucially important role in accommodating ethno-cultural diversity, ensuring law and order, a level of development and governance in a process that has turned the rebels into stakeholders. Indias federal asymmetric designs and their working has been a key to holding the peripheries within the Union of India. The book utilizes both archival research and empirical survey data, as well as elite interviews.

Harihar Bhattacharyya is Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Burdwan, India. He holds a PhD in Government from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He taught at the South Asia Institute a the University of Heidelberg, Germany, Hull University, UK, Institute of Federalism, Fribourg, and Delhi University, India.