Democracy IDEAs

Money Talks: The High Stakes of Money in Indian Politics

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance

The influence of money in Indian politics has long been a subject of debate, with concerns over its impact on democracy, governance, and the political landscape.

In this episode, Khushbu Agrawal speaks to Milan Vaishnav, exploring this nexus in India, where money is the currency of power. From the soaring costs of elections to the criminalization of politics, this episode uncovers how financial power has the potential to shape policies, politicians, and political outcomes in the world’s largest democracy.

Guest: Milan Vaishnav, Senior Fellow and the Director of South Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for Peace, Washington DC

Background Reading:

https://www.idea.int/publications/catalogue/political-finance-digital-age-case-india

https://milanvaishnav.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/costs-of-democracy-proofs-introduction.pdf

https://milanvaishnav.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/costs-of-democracy-proofs-sridharan-chapter.pdf

https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2017/02/if-money-is-not-distributed-you-are-finished?lang=en

https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2019/01/political-finance-in-india-deja-vu-all-over-again?lang=en