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Language: English
Author: Mary Frances Berry
Started this book in the backdrop of the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly elections 2016 and the news about large scale cash for votes allegations. 105 crore Indian Rupees (1.05 billion Indian Rupees) kept for distribution to voters was said to have been seized by authorities, one of the highest in Indian election history. Election in 2 constituencies were postponed amid allegation of industrial scale voter buying. It was predictable that when the final results came the vanquished teamed up to accuse the winner of successfully buying voters, while in reality it was a free for all based on Darwin's theory.
Like many of us I was also under the impression that these malpractices were rampant only in India, some even unique to our polity. Five Dollars and a Pork Chop Sandwich made me understand that there is little difference between the two largest democracies in the world when it comes to electoral malpractices. In fact the older (modern) democracy has a more illustrious and colorful history.
A brilliantly researched and a very well compiled book about the corruption of electoral democracy in the USA. One could find parallels between the US and India be it dynastic politics, impersonation / absentee voting, vote buying or brazen intimidation.
What impressed me more is the conclusions section that lists out practices from Alaska and Australia that are aimed at reducing the electoral malpractices. The Australian practice of making election "The celebration of democracy" where the voters converge in the booths to socialize, down a few beers, have a cake or a sausage sounds particularly impressive and had me thinking as to why we in India can't replicate it (we can probably leave the beer out, but still have the celebration). We can have the many marketers, the FMCG ones give little bouquets of gratitude to the voters, all centrally coordinated by the Election Commission. I am sure we can think of better ideas to reduce the malpractices and also increase voter turnout.
So much to learn and so much to take out makes this book one interesting package. It is most recommended to anyone who is interested in knowing more about the mechanics and working of darker side of electoral politics.
Language: English
Author: Mary Frances Berry
Started this book in the backdrop of the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly elections 2016 and the news about large scale cash for votes allegations. 105 crore Indian Rupees (1.05 billion Indian Rupees) kept for distribution to voters was said to have been seized by authorities, one of the highest in Indian election history. Election in 2 constituencies were postponed amid allegation of industrial scale voter buying. It was predictable that when the final results came the vanquished teamed up to accuse the winner of successfully buying voters, while in reality it was a free for all based on Darwin's theory.
Like many of us I was also under the impression that these malpractices were rampant only in India, some even unique to our polity. Five Dollars and a Pork Chop Sandwich made me understand that there is little difference between the two largest democracies in the world when it comes to electoral malpractices. In fact the older (modern) democracy has a more illustrious and colorful history.
A brilliantly researched and a very well compiled book about the corruption of electoral democracy in the USA. One could find parallels between the US and India be it dynastic politics, impersonation / absentee voting, vote buying or brazen intimidation.
What impressed me more is the conclusions section that lists out practices from Alaska and Australia that are aimed at reducing the electoral malpractices. The Australian practice of making election "The celebration of democracy" where the voters converge in the booths to socialize, down a few beers, have a cake or a sausage sounds particularly impressive and had me thinking as to why we in India can't replicate it (we can probably leave the beer out, but still have the celebration). We can have the many marketers, the FMCG ones give little bouquets of gratitude to the voters, all centrally coordinated by the Election Commission. I am sure we can think of better ideas to reduce the malpractices and also increase voter turnout.
So much to learn and so much to take out makes this book one interesting package. It is most recommended to anyone who is interested in knowing more about the mechanics and working of darker side of electoral politics.
