University of California Press Business and Politics in India (Center for South and Southeast Asia Studies, UC Berkeley)

Business and Politics in India delves into the intricate interplay between the business community and the Indian political system, offering a comprehensive analysis of interest group behavior and its impact on public policy. By exploring the evolution of business organizations, this book examines how India's unique socio-political landscape shapes the mobilization, access, and influence of interest groups. The study uncovers how family ties, caste dynamics, and cultural values intersect with modern bureaucratic structures to define the character of business associations. It also highlights the systemic challenges and opportunities for collective action within a political culture that is often suspicious of private enterprise, providing valuable insights into the broader mechanisms of interest articulation in developing countries. Organized into three parts, this essential resource first examines the systemic factors that shape interest group activities in India, such as political culture and centralized decision-making. The second part focuses on the internal struggles of Indian business to reconcile traditional family-based operations with the demands of modern organizational forms. Finally, the book analyzes the channels through which businesses exert influence on policymakers and assesses the broader implications of their activities for India's political and economic development. Scholars, policymakers, and business leaders will find this an indispensable guide to understanding the dynamic relationship between economic interests and governance in India. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1974.