Is India regressing towards a more authoritarian structure to help achieve education and health goals?
I do not think India is regressing toward authoritarian structures at all. The tragedy of inadequate public health and education systems is a tragedy of India’s entire period of independence and of democracy; it is not new. Economic growth must bring larger tax revenues for the government, and democratic processes must force those revenues to be invested in effective and egalitarian health and education. Unlike China, India is multi-religious. Does that make for chaos in general and an overall lack of focus on development? I don’t see any reason why a country with several religions should fail to develop. Many countries have succeeded in this way. India’s democracy is divided and chaotic. But as we have seen in recent years, that need not prevent the economy from developing rapidly. The idea of “three represents” says that China’s Communist Party represents the highest in techniques and technology, and the highest in the people’s culture. Do India’s parties represent anything other tha
