Kashmir in Comparative Perspective: Democracy and Violent Separatism in IndiaThis book investigates the factors that led to the breakdown of democracy and the rise of violent separatism in Jammu and Kashmir in the 1980s, and how the risk of a large-scale war has grown in South Asia in the 1990s. Solutions to this conflict need to be based on knowledge about what caused it as well as perspectives on why this conflict is so particularly dangerous. Widmalm offers answers in this book, with systematic comparisons over time to establish the causes of the conflict. He refutes the contention that ethnic factors are the main cause, while acknowledging that ethnic dividing lines are salient features of the conflict today. Interviews with representatives of the Indian government, the ISI in Pakistan and separatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir are also incorporated. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Explaining Violent Separatism | 8 |
Jammu and Kashmir in Transition | 30 |
The Rise and Fall of Democracy | 56 |
Avoiding Violent Separatism in India | 96 |
From separatism to regional autonomy | 104 |
Conclusion | 120 |
The Most Dangerous Place in the World | 126 |
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Abdul Akbar alliance argued argument Arun Nehru Assembly B.K. Nehru Bakshi Barnett Bhattacharyya Bose caused cease-fire central government chapter Chief Minister conflict in Jammu Congress party CPI(M crisis cultural Delhi demand for Dravida democratic discontent discussion Dravida Nadu Dravidian economic election elite ethnic conflict example exit and voice factors Farooq Abdullah forces Ghulam groups Harkat-ul-Ansar Hindu Hizbul Mujahedin Horowitz Hurriyat identity important independence India and Pakistan Indian Express Indian Union Indira Gandhi institutions Interview Jagmohan Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir Jarring JKLF July Kargil Kargil war Kashmir conflict Kashmiriyat Khan Kohli Lamb land reforms leaders mainly Menon ment missile movement Mujahedin Musharraf Muslim National Conference November nuclear arms October organisations outcome percent political position Puri region role Ruud seats seems separatist Sezhiyan Sharif Sheikh Abdullah situation South Asia Srinagar Tamil Nadu tion University Press Varshney violence violent separatism votes West Bengal