UNDERSTANDING THE RISE OF POPULISM IN INDIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR LIBERAL DEMOCRACY

Abstract

The article seeks to qualitatively explicate the surge of populism in India and its implications for the liberal democratic order. The interpretative understanding of populism emerged as a pivotal factor in the discourse on global affairs. As populism gained traction in other countries, it is pertinent to understand its theoretical application in non-Western settings. The study probes the discourse on identity construction, which privileges the notion of nationalism and religion to provide ontological security. Moreover, the role of digital media, as a causal factor, is also analyzed, which acted as a purveyor to reconnect with the people, bypassing the mainstream media. Historically, the Indian political landscape has experienced multifaceted strands of populism with their respective construction of social reality. In contemporary India, the growing current of populism is undermining the inclusive and accommodative decision-making through the construction of binary identities. The findings illustrate that the policies undertaken by populists undermine the democratic norms and secular credentials enshrined in the constitution. Subsequently, the conceptual interdependency between populism and democracy will be followed by policy recommendations to re-strengthen the functionality of institutions.