Democracies of Unfreedom - by Brij Mohan (Hardcover)

About the Book

The United States and India--the most powerful and the most populous constitutional democracies, respectively--have more in common than is apparent from a casual comparison of life in, say, Agra and Omaha. While the material circumstances of an average family in the one city may be dramatically different from the circumstances of its counterpart in the other, the political cultures that protect and sometimes encroach upon the freedoms of each family are in many ways remarkably similar. The arrogant ambitions of one of Agra's representatives in New Delhi can likely find a match in the designs of one of Omaha's legislators in Washington, D.C. So, too, could we expect to find sincere concern for their constituents in the hearts of other political figures on Capitol Hill and in the Subcontinent. In this probing critical comparison of political culture in the United States and India, Professor Brij Mohan argues that much can be learned about the parochial roots and global expansion of representative government by studying both the successes and the failures--both the promise and disappointment--of these two great experiments in constitutional democracy.

Book Synopsis

The United States and India--the most powerful and the most populous constitutional democracies, respectively--have more in common than is apparent from a casual comparison of life in, say, Agra and Omaha. While the material circumstances of an average family in the one city may be dramatically different from the circumstances of its counterpart in the other, the political cultures that protect and sometimes encroach upon the freedoms of each family are in many ways remarkably similar. The arrogant ambitions of one of Agra's representatives in New Delhi can likely find a match in the designs of one of Omaha's legislators in Washington, D.C. So, too, could we expect to find sincere concern for their constituents in the hearts of other political figures on Capitol Hill and in the Subcontinent. In this probing critical comparison of political culture in the United States and India, Professor Brij Mohan argues that much can be learned about the parochial roots and global expansion of representative government by studying both the successes and the failures--both the promise and disappointment--of these two great experiments in constitutional democracy.

Review Quotes

"Brij Mohan's latest book is an important one for the United States and for students of the human sciences. He relates facts and feelings that are obviously crucial for the current and future well-being of the United States, in particular, but that are seldom articulated."-Leon Ginsberg, Carolina Distinguished Professor College of Social Work, University of South Carolina

"Democracies of Unfreedom is a thoughtful exploration of painful subjects. Mohan finds it necessary to confront serious gaps in India and the USA between constitutional commitments to democracy and freedom and the realities of people's lives. The fact that many millions of people in India and the USA are forced to exist in ... dehumanizing conditions reveals that the self-definition as democracies is a tragic illusion. Mohan explores these issues and searches for ways to reduce and eventually eliminate the gap between the ideal and the reality."-David G. Gil, Professor of Social Policy Brandeis University

"Professor Brij Mohan offers an insightful and provocative critique of the hypocrisy, bigotry, and venality rampant in contemporary India and the United States. The discerning reader will note that his acute and unforgiving analysis of these two countries springs from his idealism, compassion, and commitment to social justice. Throughout the book, Mohan points out the missed opportunities and the grave challenges confronting the world's most powerful and its most populous democracy."-Shanti K. Khinduka Dean, George Warren Brown School of Social Work Washington University in St. Louis

About the Author

BRIJ MOHAN is Professor of Social Work at Louisiana State University. His other publications include Eclipse of Freedom (Praeger, 1993) and Global Development (Praeger, 1992). He is founding Editor-in-Chief of New Global Development: Journal of International and Comparative Social Welfare.