The Sociocultural Component of India’s Democratic Backsliding

This study examines democratic backsliding in India through the lens of political culture. It offers a framework for understanding democratic decline by analysing the interplay between the ruling elite and society. The focus is on aspects of Indian political culture that have enabled the erosion of democracy by an elected government. The analysis highlights illiberal, communal, and majoritarian tendencies expressed in three key historical developments: the framing of the Constitution, the Emergency period, and the rise of Hindu nationalism. These tendencies have allowed Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party to leverage cultural symbols, historical narratives, and communal ideologies to consolidate power and undermine democratic principles. The findings suggest that while India’s democratic decline is driven by populist leadership, it is also facilitated by entrenched sociocultural dynamics. While grounded in the Indian case, the study offers a broader framework for understanding how sociopolitical patterns in other contexts may similarly enable democratic backsliding.