Bihar and Mithila - The Historical Roots of Backwardness (Hardcover)

The world has become obsessed with the Western notions of progress, development, and globalization, the latter a form of human and economic homogenization. These processes, through the aegis of the United Nations, are comparatively monitored. Those nations deemed to be 'lagging behind' are then provided with foreign aid and developmental assistance. For nearly seventy years, India has sought its place in this global endeavour; yet, even today, abject poverty and backwardness can be observed in districts in almost every state; with the highest concentration of such districts found in the state of Bihar and a cultural enclave, known as Mithila. Development in India has been elusive because it is difficult to define; and because the Western concepts of development and progress have no absolute equivalents within many non-Western settings. As a consequence, development programmes often fail because they are unable to ask the right questions, but equally important is the political economy derived from foreign aid. For politicians, there is no long-term benefit to be derived from successful development. In general, foreign aid only serves to corrupt governments and politicians and, in the end, does very little for those who need help. The struggling states of Bihar and Mithila serve as extreme examples of India's problems. Development here has been thwarted by a hereditary landed aristocracy supported by religion, casteism, custom, social stratification, tradition, and patterns of behaviour that can be traced back millennia. In turn, all these have been masterfully manipulated by co-opted politicians, who have turned politics into a veritable art form as this volume comprehensively demonstrates.

General

Imprint:	Routledge
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	August 2016
First published:	2017
Authors:	J. Albert Rorabacher
Dimensions:	216 x 138mm (L x W)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	496
ISBN-13:	978-1-138-23477-2
Categories:	Books > Earth & environment > Geography > Regional geography Books > Reference & Interdisciplinary > Interdisciplinary studies > Area / regional studies > General Books > Humanities > History > World history > General Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political ideologies > Imperialism Books > History > World history > General
LSN:	1-138-23477-X
Barcode:	9781138234772

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