Read more
Examining democracy from an institutional perspective, this book studies such institutions as the Parliament, the courts of justice, and the systems of political parties, and brings out the contradictions between the ideals of democracy-such as equality and liberty-and the actual operation of government and politics. It introduces the reader to the distinction between law and custom, and between matters of right and matters of trust.
List of contents
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- 1: The Institutions of Democracy
- 2: Government and Opposition
- 3: Civil Society and the State
- 4: Constitutional Morality
- 5: Can Rights Undermine Trust? How Institutions Work and Why They Fail
- 6: Caste and the Citizen
- 7: Pluralism and Liberalism
- 8: Law and Custom
- 9: Sociology and Ideology
- Index
About the author
André Béteille, FBA, is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Delhi and National Research Professor.
Summary
Democracy rests on a delicate balance between two principles that may be called the rule of numbers and the rule of law. To ensure that the rule of law is not overwhelmed by the weight of numbers, democracy requires institutions. Examining democracy from an institutional perspective, this book studies such institutions as the Parliament, the courts of justice, and the systems of political parties, and brings out the contradictions between the ideals of democracy-such as equality and liberty-and the actual operation of government and politics. It introduces the reader to the distinction between law and custom, and between matters of right and matters of trust.
