Faculty Seminar | ‘Pragmatism and the Populist Challenge in India’s Democracy’

In this week’s faculty seminar, Dr. Srikrishna Ayyangar, Associate Professor of Social Science, presented his paper titled ‘Pragmatism and the Populist Challenge in India’s Democracy.’

Abstract

Populist politics are, well, popular, because its supporters and adherents argue that such politics are practical and effective. This paper argues that there is something more fundamental at stake, which is at the heart of our democratic system, liberal promise, left-right wing perspectives, and policy practices. The paper argues that when the rug under Ambedkar’s pragmatism is pulled, everything else comes down along with it. And conflating practicality with pragmatism is perhaps the first inadvertent step in that direction.