Author: sachin nandha, trustee and director Can PM Modi’s government deliver what India needs? India faces significant long-term economic challenges that require substantial policy reforms to unlock its true potential. Despite being branded as “Modinomics,” the economic policies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure have not deviated significantly from interventionist and socialist practices. This branding …
Author: sachin nandha, trustee and director In the vibrant tapestry of India’s democracy, elections are the most vivid threads, woven with the hopes, aspirations, and voices of over a billion people. Yet, beneath the colorful surface lies a complex and often troubling reality. As we journey through the electoral landscape of India, we uncover the …
The Cost of Democracy: A Critical Look at India’s Electoral Landscape Read More »
Author: Pravar Petkar, Head of Strengthening Democracy Desk The 2024 General Election in the UK has brought an end to 14 years of Conservative government, ushering in a Labour regime with a landslide election victory. Of the 650 seats in the UK Parliament, the Labour Party has won 412, with the Conservatives on 121, and …
The Democratic Implications of the 2024 Labour Landslide Read More »
Author: Chloe Schuber, Operations Assistant : Strengthening Democracy Desk With the UK general elections now over, it is maybe timely to reflect on the plethora of religious groups that have put forth manifestos, or general guidance trying to achieve a) awareness of their concerns, and b) lobbying MPs who were desperate to win votes often …
Reflecting on Faith-Based Manifestos and Democratic Integrity Read More »
We decided to ask the community. On 8th June 2024, a new group called Hindus for Democracy suddenly came out of nowhere and joined the din of faith-based groups presenting political manifestos. Our diaspora desk took the initiative to investigate why this group, a loose composition of various Hindu organisations, felt the need to produce a …
What is the need for yet another faith-based manifesto? Read More »
Author: Chloe Schuber, Operations Assistant : Strengthening Democracy Desk 26th of May. Rishi Sunak proposes reintroducing mandatory national service for 18-year-olds where the ruling Conservative Party is reelected. This announcement was recent, politically, as well as electorally strategic, given contrasting statements from the party days before. This strategic move by Sunak has stirred controversy and …
Rishi Sunak’s National Service: Insights and Discussion Read More »
Author: Pravar Petkar, Head of Strengthening Democracy Desk The world’s largest democratic exercise has now concluded. The BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate and incumbent PM Narendra Modi is set for a third term in office. Yet the dynamics now are very different to those in 2014 and 2019: gone is the BJP’s overall majority; Modi instead …
‘Power’, said Marcus Aurelius, ‘is something that can only be exercised within oneself, upon ones own mind – not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength’. [Meditations, Book VI, Ch. 8] It is a question that we seldom ask these days – what really is power; where is it found; and how can …
The Nature of Power: A Complex and Intricate Dance Read More »
Author: Shruti Kapil, Associate Security & Mutual dependence Summary: the 2024 General Elections in India have been labeled the ‘AI elections’. There is growing evidence of both opportunities for political parties and threats to the information ecosystem, with a careful balance required between government regulations, innovation and fostering individual responsibility through education. The 2024 general …
Navigating the Minefield: Misinformation and disinformation in Indian elections Read More »
With India’s elections ongoing, questions have been raised about the independence of the Election Commission of India, the body responsible for administering them. Concerns about the Commission’s independence are not new, though there are small signs of progress. This year, the heat of summer in India is accompanied by the heat of its Lok Sabha …
