State against democracy

This Volume brings together some of he more recent writings of Rajni Kothari during his 'intellectual as activist' phase - a phase
marked by a search for new theoretical insights and understandings into the human precedence . It also includes a few of his
earlier writings on State and democracy in which the issues that have since been raised more sharply were first posed.

These writings present some interesting paradoxes and intellectual dilemmas that those writing in these turbulent times must
face. At one level the author identifies with the dispossessed and alienated as is reflected in his sensitive portrayal of the plight of
humanity besieged, as it were, by something that is amorphous, sinister and inhuman. At another level, he appears like an outsider when he so chillingly lays bare the true size and nature of the monster. And yet at still another level he comes forward with prescriptions that are addressed to both activists and intellectuals, both within the 'system' and within the 'movements'

The monster is the modern centralised State in India and elsewhere, backed by the even more centralising tendencies of corporate
capitalism and the militarist doctrine of 'security' that is taking possession of ruling classes everywhere. Such a structure of
governance is kept alive by individuals with an insatiable appetite for power that is exercised without reference to any norms of
accountability or civilised behaviour. India is not unique in being afflicted with this pervasive malady; it is unique in the sheer
scale and variety of human oppression.
The second paradox is the ability of the author to remain hopeful, even optimistic. in the face of overwhelming evidence which he
himself presents on rising scales and intensity of State repression, social violence, institutional decay and erosion of democratic
norms.

Ultimately, this is a book for those who have not lost the capacity to dream - and struggle-for a just society, and for at least
the hope and. possibly, a real chance for peace and humanity. The dream is grounded in a set of deeply held convictions about the
potentialities of human beings to be compassionate and caring for each other' and to be capable of waging struggle for basic
values.