Social background of political leadership in India

This book is the outcome of an exten sive field study conducted by the author among the political leaders of Kerala. It deals with some of the very critical factors associated with the moulding and maintenance of leadership in the politics of society today. The book has very ably demo nstrated that in Kerala, factors like family background, community, rural urban education, urban base, age, etc. are very important determinants of leadership and political party affiliation. The role of ascriptive factors in the political career of an individual has been very lucidly brought out by the book. Though democracy requires a legal-rational orientation in political behaviour, no society has ever been able to achieve this completely. In the case of Kerala, the book has very well established this point through empi rical research. As a whole, the book Social Background of Political Leade rship in India exposes very clearly the various factors underlying the leadership dynamic in modern Kerala politics. This book is a major break through in modern Political Socio logy and as such will be widely read and used by the elites, academi cians, politicians and centres of higher learning and research in politics and Sociology.