Question

In the old social movements, the role of political parties was central. Political scientist Rajni Kothari attributes the surge of social movements in India in the 1970s to people’s growing dissatisfaction with parliamentary democracy. As a result of this, people joined social movements or non-political party formations.

What were the reasons for this growing dissatisfaction?

Answer 1

• Kothari argues that the institutions of the state have been captured by elites.
• Due to this, electoral representation by political parties is no longer an effective way for the poor to get their voices heard.
• People left out by the formal political system join social movements or non-party political formations in order to put pressure on the state from outside.