How Solidarity Works for Welfare：Subnationalism and Social Development in India

Whyaresomeplacesintheworldcharacterizedbybettersocialserviceprovisionandwelfareoutcomesthanothers?Inaworldinwhichmillionsofpeople,particularlyindevelopingcountries,continuetoleadlivesplaguedbyilliteracyandill-health,understandingtheconditionsthatpromotesocialwelfareisofcriticalimportancetopoliticalscientistsandpolicymakersalike.Drawingonamulti-methodstudy,fromthelate-nineteenthcenturytothepresent,ofthestarkvariationsineducationalandhealthoutcomeswithinalarge,federal,multiethnicdevelopingcountry-India-thisbookdevelopsanargumentforthepowerofcollectiveidentityasanimpetusforstateprioritizationofsocialwelfare.Suchanargumentnotonlymarksanimportantbreakfromthedominantnegativeperceptionsofidentitypoliticsbutalsopresentsanoveltheoreticalframeworktounderstandwelfareprovision.