Opposition in a Dominant-Party System

A Study of the Jan Sangh, the Praja Socialist Party, and the Socialist Party in Uttar Pradesh, India

Angela S. Burger

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN:
  9780520324503
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9780520324527
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Political Parties
• Index: Politics & International Relations

Opposition in a Dominant-Party System: A Study of the Jan Sangh, Praja Socialist Party, and Socialist Party in Uttar Pradesh, India offers an in-depth examination of the dynamics and challenges faced by opposition parties operating within a dominant-party system. Focusing on Uttar Pradesh, a critical political and cultural hub in India, the study analyzes how these parties have worked to build and sustain their presence in the shadow of the Indian National Congress's dominance. By exploring the intricate interplay between political structures, societal mobilization, and intraparty dynamics, the book sheds light on the mechanisms that enable or hinder the growth of opposition in a parliamentary democracy. The text delves into the historical, cultural, and economic backdrop of Uttar Pradesh, emphasizing its pivotal role in India's political landscape. It discusses the factors influencing the development of opposition parties, including social mobilization, cultural group dynamics, and the evolving expectations of constituents. With hypotheses grounded in rigorous fieldwork and supported by detailed analyses of party structures and election data, the book provides valuable insights into the adaptability and resilience of opposition parties in a complex political ecosystem. This work is essential for understanding the broader implications of political pluralism in India's democratic framework. 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 1969.

Many titles in the Voices Revived program are also newly available as ebooks, offered at a discounted price to support wider access to scholarly work.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• CONTENTS
• Part One AN OVERVIEW
• Chapter I FRAMEWORK OF ANALYSIS
• Chapter II UTTAR PRADESH: GENERAL BACKGROUND
• Political History
• Opposition Parties
• Part Two THE MIDDLE-LEVEL LEADERS
• Chapter III SOCIOECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS
• Economic Background
• Patterns of Participation
• Summary
• Chapter IV POLITICAL CAREER BACKGROUNDS
• Political Mobilization Patterns
• Party Affiliation Patterns
• Part Three BUILDING AN OPPOSITION PARTY
• Chapter V THE RAJA RETURNS: PRATAPGARH SOUTH (JAN SANGH)
• Chapter VI RISE OF THE MIDDLE CASTES: BHITAULI (SOCIALIST PARTY)
• Chapter VII A SHOPKEEPER NETWORK: RUDAULI (JAN SANGH)
• Chapter VIII TIME MARCHES ON: SAURIKH (PRAJA SOCIALIST PARTY)
• Chapter IX THE SPIRAL OF MOBILIZATION: MORADABAD RURAL (PRAJA SOCIALIST PARTY)
• Chapter X THE SAINTLY BROKER: KARCHANA CONSTITUENCY (PRAJA SOCIALIST PARTY)
• Chapter XI THOUGHTS ON THE PARTY-BUILDING PROCESS
• Review of Tensions
• Candidate-Selection Processes
• Electoral Agreements
• Party Organization
• Part Four MAINTENANCE OF OPPOSITION PARTIES
• Chapter XII MAINTAINING A WINNING LOCAL PARTY
• Communication Patterns
• Material Benefits
• Social Configuration
• Review of Six Constituencies
• Summary
• Chapter XIII INTERNAL PARTY MAINTENANCE
• Bases of Conflict
• Role of Ideology
• Factional Patterns
• Morale
• Chapter XIV CONCLUSION
• Vulnerability of the Dominant Party
• Testing of Hypotheses
• Functions Performed by Opposition Parties
• REFERENCE MATERIAL
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• INDEX