Votebank (also spelled vote-bank or vote bank), in the political discourse of India, is a term referring to a loyal bloc of voters from a single community, who consistently back a certain candidate or political formation in democraticelections. Such behavior is often the result of an expectation of benefits, whether real or imagined, from the political formations, often at the cost of other communities. Votebank politics is the practice of creating and maintaining votebanks through divisive policies. As it encourages voting on the basis of self-interest of certain groups, often against their better judgement, it is considered harmful to the principles of representative democracy.[by whom?] Here, community may be of a caste, religion, language, or subnation.
The term was first used by noted Indian sociologist, M. N. Srinivas[1] in his 1955 paper entitled The Social System of a Mysore Village.[2] He used it in the context of political influence exerted by a patron over a client. Later, the expression was used by F. G. Bailey, a professor of anthropology at the University of California, San Diego, in his 1959 book Politics and Social Change,[3] to refer to the electoral influence of the caste leader. This is the usage that has since become popular.
Examples
Some of the first identified votebanks were along caste lines. Others based on other community characteristics, such as religion and language, have also occurred. Votebanks are generally considered undesirable in electoral politics. For example, Thapar (2013) argues that votebanks based on either caste or religion stand in the way of secularisation. Katju (2011) identifies accusations of votebanking as a rhetorical tool used by Hindu nationalists in complaints about special rights or privileges granted to non-Hindus in India. Other examples include:
In 1989, the Badaga people of South India petitioned the Indian government to be recognized as an official tribe, demonstrating en masse on 15 May of that year to imply the strength of the Badaga votebank.[4]
Bailey, F. G. (1959), Politics and Social Change, Berkeley: University of California Press
Basu, Partha (2007), ""Brand Buddha" in India's West Bengal: The Left Reinvents Itself", Asian Survey, 47 (2): 288–306, doi:10.1525/as.2007.47.2.288
Grillo, Ralph; Needham, Rodney (2000), "Obituary: M. N. Srinivas", Anthropology Today, 16 (1): 22, doi:10.1111/1467-8322.00007, ISSN 0268-540X, JSTOR 2678199
Heidemann, Frank (2014), "Objectification and Social Aesthetics: Memoranda and the Celebration of "Badaga Day"", Asian Ethnology, 73 (1/2): 91–109, doi:10.18874/ae.73.1-2.06
Katju, Manjari (2011), "The Understanding of Freedom in Hindutva", Social Scientist, 39 (3/4): 3–22
Srinivas, M. N. (1955), "The Social System of a Mysore Village", in Marriott, McKim (ed.), Village India: studies in the little community, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, pp. 1–35
Thapar, Romila (2013), "The Secular Mode for India", Social Scientist, 41 (11/12): 3–10
Further reading
Wikiquote has quotations related to Votebank.
Look up vote bank or Votebank in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Shourie, Arun (2012). Falling over backwards: An essay on reservations and judicial populism. New Delhi: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN978-9350293553
Syed Ali Mujtaba, , Himal South Asian, 2004
May 05, 2023
votebank, also, spelled, vote, bank, vote, bank, political, discourse, india, term, referring, loyal, bloc, voters, from, single, community, consistently, back, certain, candidate, political, formation, democratic, elections, such, behavior, often, result, exp. Votebank also spelled vote bank or vote bank in the political discourse of India is a term referring to a loyal bloc of voters from a single community who consistently back a certain candidate or political formation in democratic elections Such behavior is often the result of an expectation of benefits whether real or imagined from the political formations often at the cost of other communities Votebank politics is the practice of creating and maintaining votebanks through divisive policies As it encourages voting on the basis of self interest of certain groups often against their better judgement it is considered harmful to the principles of representative democracy by whom Here community may be of a caste religion language or subnation Contents 1 Etymology 2 Examples 3 Remedy 4 See also 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 Further readingEtymology EditThe term was first used by noted Indian sociologist M N Srinivas 1 in his 1955 paper entitled The Social System of a Mysore Village 2 He used it in the context of political influence exerted by a patron over a client Later the expression was used by F G Bailey a professor of anthropology at the University of California San Diego in his 1959 book Politics and Social Change 3 to refer to the electoral influence of the caste leader This is the usage that has since become popular Examples EditSome of the first identified votebanks were along caste lines Others based on other community characteristics such as religion and language have also occurred Votebanks are generally considered undesirable in electoral politics For example Thapar 2013 argues that votebanks based on either caste or religion stand in the way of secularisation Katju 2011 identifies accusations of votebanking as a rhetorical tool used by Hindu nationalists in complaints about special rights or privileges granted to non Hindus in India Other examples include In 1989 the Badaga people of South India petitioned the Indian government to be recognized as an official tribe demonstrating en masse on 15 May of that year to imply the strength of the Badaga votebank 4 Remedy EditSome argue that the Votebank politics can be disabled by limiting the provisions of Tenth Schedule of Indian Constitution to a few critical issues See also EditEthnocultural politics in the United States Client politics Clientelism Constituency Indian politics Identity politics Electoral system Political campaigning Social disintegration Blocks of Five Red states and blue statesReferences Edit Grillo 2000 sfnp error no target CITEREFGrillo2000 help Srinivas 1955 Bailey 1959 Heidemann 2014 p 96 Bibliography EditBailey F G 1959 Politics and Social Change Berkeley University of California Press Basu Partha 2007 Brand Buddha in India s West Bengal The Left Reinvents Itself Asian Survey 47 2 288 306 doi 10 1525 as 2007 47 2 288 Grillo Ralph Needham Rodney 2000 Obituary M N Srinivas Anthropology Today 16 1 22 doi 10 1111 1467 8322 00007 ISSN 0268 540X JSTOR 2678199 Heidemann Frank 2014 Objectification and Social Aesthetics Memoranda and the Celebration of Badaga Day Asian Ethnology 73 1 2 91 109 doi 10 18874 ae 73 1 2 06 Katju Manjari 2011 The Understanding of Freedom in Hindutva Social Scientist 39 3 4 3 22 Srinivas M N 1955 The Social System of a Mysore Village in Marriott McKim ed Village India studies in the little community Chicago University of Chicago Press pp 1 35 Thapar Romila 2013 The Secular Mode for India Social Scientist 41 11 12 3 10Further reading Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to Votebank Look up vote bank or Votebank in Wiktionary the free dictionary Shourie Arun 2012 Falling over backwards An essay on reservations and judicial populism New Delhi HarperCollins Publishers ISBN 978 9350293553 Syed Ali Mujtaba Monolith India and the vote bank Himal South Asian 2004 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Votebank amp oldid 1136138748, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
