The role of state and (under) development process in India: A social capital critique and way forward

Abstract

The role of state and its involvement in the body and apparatus of its organic whole has transformed drastically over a period of differentiated time and space meaning thereby that it is largely determined by the political economy imperatives and development dynamics in a particular context. The interventionist state in this context creates its own narratives and guidelines that foster the neoliberal logic of development which ultimately result in prosperity in certain regions at the cost of many resulting in peripheral underdevelopment. This paper examines the intersectionality of role of state and its consequent effect on development dynamics in India. The results indicate that the role of state in guiding development activities has increased over a period of time in not only creating right conditions but also how to manage it curry favor with certain regions. The concept of (under)development can help a lot in understanding the different levels of development in the country.