Local Politics

Drawing on twenty-six years of fieldwork the author analyzes the ways in which political processes and development efforts have affected the rural poor in South India. Robinson focuses on the changes in relations between agricultural laborers and their employers and creditors that have occurred since Independence in Narsapur Taluk of Medak District, Andhra Pradesh. She also examines the effects of Center and State policies, both intended and unintended, and the impact of the electoral process on social and economic development. These are shown to have played a critical role in some fundamental changes over the past decade, including the breakdown of vote banks, the role of institutional credit, the relationships between Untouchables and the dominant landholding castes, and the unbinding of previously bonded laborers.Robinson, Marguerite S. is the author of 'Local Politics', published 1989 under ISBN 9780195619928 and ISBN 0195619927.