Majoritarian Reasoning

Majoritarian Reasoning: Identities, Exclusion and Critique examines the complex relationship between majoritarianism and nationalism in nation-building across the Indian subcontinent. The authors analyse historical patterns of identity formation and investigate connections between majority dominance and national identity, exploring how these dynamics continue to shape contemporary South Asian politics and society. Taking a comprehensive long-term view, the book traces the emergence and evolution of majoritarian politics throughout South Asia through diverse case studies, analysis of key thinkers, and previously unexplored historical accounts. Its multidisciplinary approach combines different historical methodologies with rigorous analytical frameworks to address critical questions about the relationship between majority identity and nationalism. The volume examines how historical patterns influence modern political formations and community relations along religious and ethnic lines, investigating the origins of nationhood and the connections between majoritarian impulses and nationalist expressions in South Asia's complex political evolution. This book serves scholars across South Asian politics and society, postcolonial studies, democracy studies, religious studies, area studies, and Global South studies, bridging disciplinary boundaries to provide insights into identity politics in contemporary South Asian societies and comparative perspectives on global political trends.