Academic Foundation An Indian Social Democracy: Integrating Markets, Democracy and Social Justice: A Twin Volume Collection

India's recent economic growth, in a society where most remain poor and benefits are unequally distributed, poses dilemmas for policy makers and analysts. Do rapid growth and widespread inequality necessarily go hand in hand? Can inequality be lessened without impeding the growth essential to sustain social spending? What is a sustainable pattern of growth? <br><br>India, historically committed to a path of social democratic progress, is taking important steps to mitigate social risk and inequality: Examples include the National Rural Employ-ment Guarantee Act, the Right to Education Act, legislation on food security, as well as introduction of innovative delivery mechanisms. Building on these initiatives, India's challenge now is to create an integrated political vision based on a three-fold commitment: to the values of social justice, to the instruments of markets, and to the processes of democracy.<br><br>Can India rise to this challenge? What hurdles—cultural no less than political and economic—stand in the way of realising its social democratic ideals? Are current priorities appropriate? Such questions and how they might be addressed animate this remarkable twin volume collection. About the Author Sunil Khilnani is the Avantha Professor and the director of the India Institute at King's College in London. He is the author of "The Idea of India "and the coauthor of "Civil Society: History and Possibilities." Manmohan Malhoutra is a trustee of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. He is a former assistant secretary general of the Commonwealth Secretariat, a former member of the Board of International IDEA, and a former secretary general of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. He also worked with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in her Secretariat.