Democracy, Welfare & Development: Indian & Scandinavian Experiences (completed)

About the Project

The aim of this project, which is driven by the Department of Political Science (ISV) supported by the Department of Sociology and Human Geography (ISS) at the University of Oslo (UiO) and the Centre for the Study of Law and Governance (CSLG) at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), is to open up the critical field of joint studies in India and Scandinavia on historical experiences and current challenges of democracy, welfare and development. This is done by facilitating cooperation and comparative research combined with education and public discourse within the fields that are being identified within an ongoing RCN Book Project on the politics of inclusive growth to be finalised in 2014-15.

The focus is on strategic points of intersections between the different contexts of India and Scandinavia that have been crucial in attempts at transformative democratic politics towards welfare and economic development: the formation of political collectivities, citizenship rights and rights in working life, linkages between state/government and civil society, pacts towards the combination of welfare and growth. Special attention is given to transformative welfare policies and rights, as well as to whether and how there are mutual interests between India and Scandinavia in these respects. This will be facilitated by two joint scholarly workshops-cum-post graduate intensive courses, one in India in early 2015 and one in Norway in mid-2016, supplemented by additional forms of joint lecturing and supervision, post-graduate students’ participation in research within the field of the project, related student and staff exchange, and a modest regular electronic newsletter on matters related to the common interests and activities.

Financing

The project is financed by the Norwegian research Council with contributions from UiO and JNU

Cooperation

The most active partners in the background RCN book project are Professors Olle Törnquist (coordinator), Neera Chandhoke (New Delhi), John Harriss (Simon Fraser, Vancouver), Fredrik Engelstad (UiO), Pranab Barndhan (University of California, Berkely), Kalle Moene (UiO), Torsten Svensson (Uppsala University), Niraja Gopal Jayal (Jawaharlal Nehru University, JNU, New Delhi), Lena Sommestad (Uppsala University, former member of the Swedish government (labour) and currently county governor), Hilda Sandvik, Hilde Sandvik (UiO) and Øyvind Østerud (UiO).

The steering group in the new cooperation project consists of professors Olle Törnquist (coordinator), Niraja Gopal Jayal (Indian coordinator), Fredrik Engelstad and Amit Prakash.

Senior researchers, Master and PhD students are invited to contribute to and benefit from the project. Some support for field studies and education-exchange are available.

 

Tags: India
Published July 11, 2014 11:05 AM - Last modified Aug. 4, 2021 10:54 AM