viernes, 5 de abril de 2019

Congress manifesto lays out a plan for resisting populism | The Indian Express

Congress manifesto lays out a plan for resisting populism | The Indian Express



Congress manifesto lays out a plan for resisting populism

In a context where the populist temptation would have been to act as if India is besieged by enemies round every corner, the manifesto gives a sense of a liberal democracy calmly going about its business confidently, without stigmatising its own citizens.

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The Congress released their election manifesto on Tuesday. (Twitter/@RahulGandhi)


Election manifestos are usually dull documents. By their very logic, they promise everyone something. They are the last slivers of a dull utopianism which construct a world where not many tough choices have to be made: There is a scheme or a policy for everyone. But they often elicit a yawn because by themselves they do not address the core political question: What is the credibility of the party making the promises? In an electorate that is used to having its hopes disappointed, there is always a sense that the real action is outside the manifesto. A manifesto can unwittingly turn into a reminder of past betrayals. But once in a while, the political context makes a manifesto an interesting document. The Congress manifesto is being criticised for its “welfarism.” And certainly, its schemes should be subject to detailed scrutiny, as must the schemes of all other political parties. Are they financially sustainable?

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