Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. The state and redistributive reforms; 2. Democracy and development in India: an interpretation; 3. West Bengal: parliamentary communism and reform from above; 4. Karnataka: populism, patronage and piecemeal reform; 5. Uttar Pradesh: political fragmentation, middle-peasant dominance and the neglect of reforms; 6. Conclusion: the state and reform in democratic-capitalist development; Appendices; Bibliography; Index.

Reviews

'Atul Kohli's book makes an important contribution ! He chooses his ground precisely and well ! The argument throughout ! is easily accessible and clearly stated. Judgements are sensitive and balanced ! There is ! so much of perceptive comment scattered throughout the book on so many relevant questions.' Government and Opposition 'Kohli interweaves empirical materials ! with a tightly constructed, sophisticated theoretical framework. His argument is provocative, far reaching and yet carefully substantiated.' Comparative Politics 'The enduring value of Kohli's work is going to be that, in addressing the question of India's poverty from the point of view of political variables, he makes a definitive contribution to the study of India's political economy.' Statesman (India) '! an important attempt to analyse under what conditions is it possible to undertake and implement significant redistributive reforms in favor of the poor in capitalist Third World countries.' Journal of Development Studies 'A complex and rigorous analysis of the determinants of state policy towards the problems of poverty and its reform ! The skill and rigor with which [the author] has handled his empirical materials also is exemplary.' Indian Express (India) 'Kohli's book is a very interesting and a very important study of development and reform policy.' Nyt Fra Historian (Denmark)