The Backstage of Democracy: India’s Election Campaigns and the People Who Manage Them (South Asia in the Social Sciences) (Original PDF from Publisher)

Description

Published by Cambridge University Press in 2025, The Backstage of Democracy peels back the curtain on one of the world’s largest democratic exercises: India’s election campaigns. While most analyses focus on parties, candidates, or voter behavior, this unique volume brings into focus the often-overlooked professionals who plan, execute, and manage campaigns—including media consultants, data analysts, booth workers, poll strategists, and digital mobilizers.

Targeted toward students and scholars of political science, South Asian studies, media and communications, and governance, as well as campaign professionals and policy analysts, this book offers both rich ethnographic detail and theoretical insight into the practical workings of electoral democracy in India.

 Key Features & Highlights

• A behind-the-scenes look at how India’s elections are planned, staffed, and managed
• Deep ethnographic research from political campaign headquarters and field offices
• Highlights the role of non-elected actors—consultants, strategists, tech specialists—in shaping voter narratives
• Part of the South Asia in the Social Sciences series, with a strong academic foundation
• Connects themes of political communication, technology, labor, and democratic legitimacy

 Topics & Chapter Overview

Includes core chapters on:

• Political consulting and digital campaigning
• Ground-level labor organization in election campaigns
• The informal economy of polling logistics
• The role of caste, gender, and class in campaign staffing
• The changing nature of political strategy in a digital democracy

 About the Author

The author is a seasoned political ethnographer with extensive field experience in South Asia. Their work bridges political sociology, anthropology, and media studies, with a focus on contemporary democratic processes and governance in India.

File Format & Compatibility

• Format: Original PDF from Publisher (not a scanned copy)
• Edition: 1st Edition (2025)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Language: English
• File Size: Approx. XX MB
• Compatible Devices: Fully viewable on laptops, desktops, tablets, smartphones, and academic e-readers supporting PDF format.

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Is this book only useful for Indian politics researchers?
No. While focused on India, the book offers universal insights into campaign strategy, democratic infrastructure, and the informal labor behind political processes—making it highly relevant to comparative politics, communication studies, and global democracy studies.

Q2: Can I use this version for academic citation and research?
Yes. This is the official publisher PDF, identical in structure to the print edition, complete with citations, footnotes, index, and bibliography—perfect for academic use.