SOAS Research Online

A Free Database of the Latest Research by SOAS Academics and PhD Students

[skip to content]

Bajpai, Rochana (2021) 'Religious pluralism and the state in India: Towards a typology.' In: Barkey, Karen, Kaviraj, Sudipta and Naresh, Vatsal, (eds.), Negotiating Democracy and Religious Pluralism: India, Pakistan, and Turkey. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 139-156.

[img]
Preview
Text - Accepted Version
Download (342kB) | Preview

Abstract

This chapter delineates and disaggregates a relatively neglected category, that of political pluralism. I argue, first, that historically, India has offered an important example of plurality in policy, with a multiplicity of state approaches and dispositions toward the accommodation of religious diversity. Unpacking political plurality, I distinguish in a provisional and schematic fashion between hierarchical pluralism, integrationist exclusion, integrationist inclusion, and weak multicultural, strong multicultural, and assimilationist approaches toward religious diversity. Second, if pluralism is understood as a normative category that denotes approaches that respect religious diversity, state approaches in India have differed widely in the extent to which these are pluralist. Political pluralism encompasses a range of dispositions toward socio-religious plurality, ranging from hostility to the celebration of religious difference. Pluralism both institutional and normative is threatened by the hegemony of Hindu nationalism in Indian politics today.

Item Type: Book Chapters
Keywords: multiculturalism, majoritarianism, identity, religion, Muslims, constitution, political parties, members of parliament
SOAS Departments & Centres: Departments and Subunits > Department of Politics & International Studies
ISBN: 9780197530016
Copyright Statement: This is the version of the article accepted for publication in Barkey, Karen, Kaviraj, Sudipta and Naresh, Vatsal, (eds.), Negotiating Democracy and Religious Pluralism: India, Pakistan, and Turkey. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 139-156. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197530016.003.0007 Re-use is subject to the publisher’s terms and conditions
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197530016.003.0007
Date Deposited: 15 May 2022 11:36
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/37259
Funders: Leverhulme Trust

Altmetric Data

Statistics

Download activity - last 12 monthsShow export options
Downloads since deposit
6 month trend
12Downloads
6 month trend
109Hits
Accesses by country - last 12 monthsShow export options
Accesses by referrer - last 12 monthsShow export options

Repository staff only

Edit Item Edit Item