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Multinational Democratic Federations: Comparing India with Multi-level Systems from the Global North

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  • Katharine Adeney
  • Wilfried Swenden

Abstract

In this article, we compare the Indian experience with that of some of the multinational and multi-level polities from the Global North, namely Belgium, Canada, Spain and the United Kingdom. We first summarize the essence of multinationalism. Drawing from our comparative examples of the Global North we then show how dominant narratives of state nationalism condition the extent to which the state can accommodate plurinational difference through self-rule, shared rule and ethno-symbolic recognition within these states, and then compare and contrast this with the Indian experience. Despite the stickiness of elite narratives on the meaning of the state during state formation and democratization, we highlight the ability of electoral competition to push multi-level politics into a more accommodative or majoritarian direction. We illustrate this with reference to India including the 2024 General Election Outcome.

Suggested Citation

  • Katharine Adeney & Wilfried Swenden, 2024. "Multinational Democratic Federations: Comparing India with Multi-level Systems from the Global North," Studies in Indian Politics, , vol. 12(2), pages 164-182, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:indpol:v:12:y:2024:i:2:p:164-182
    DOI: 10.1177/23210230241291357
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Katharine Adeney & Andrew Wyatt, 2004. "Democracy in South Asia: Getting beyond the Structure-Agency Dichotomy," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 52, pages 1-18, March.
    2. Louise Tillin, 2007. "United in Diversity? Asymmetry in Indian Federalism," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 37(1), pages 45-67, Winter.
    3. Katharine Adeney & Andrew Wyatt, 2004. "Democracy in South Asia: Getting beyond the Structure–Agency Dichotomy," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 52(1), pages 1-18, March.
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