The State, Industrialization, and Class Formations in India

Book Overview: "The State, Industrialization, and Class Formations in India" by Anupam Sen

Key Themes

1. Neo-Marxist Perspective: The book offers a neo-Marxist analysis of the state's role in India's industrialization and class formations. It critiques the traditional Marxist view of the state as an executive committee for a single ruling class, instead arguing that the state can exhibit autonomy under various conditions.

2. Colonialism and Underdevelopment: The book examines how colonialism and subsequent underdevelopment have shaped India's economic and social structures. It explores how these historical factors continue to influence India's development trajectory.

3. State's Role in Industrialization: The author delves into the role of the state in India's industrialization process, particularly focusing on the period from independence to the 1980s. It discusses how planned and heavy industrialization were pursued under a developmental state form, which was later transformed by liberalization and neoliberal policies.

4. Class Formations: The book analyzes the formation of classes in India, particularly how the state's policies and actions have contributed to the emergence and dynamics of different social classes. It provides a nuanced understanding of how these classes interact and influence each other within the broader economic and political context.

Plot Summary

The book, originally presented as Dr. Sen's Ph.D. thesis, provides a comprehensive historical and analytical account of the state's role in India's industrialization and class formations. It begins by examining the legacy of colonialism and its impact on India's economic and social structures. The author then delves into the post-independence period, discussing how the Indian state pursued planned industrialization and its effects on class formations.

The book also covers the significant transformations that occurred in the 1980s and 1990s, including the liberalization of the economy and the shift towards neoliberal policies. This period saw a restructuring of state institutions, policies, and the state project, leading to changes in the modes of economic intervention and the decline of the Indian National Congress as a dominant political party.

Critical Reception

The book has received positive reviews from international journals. World Development characterized the book as "thoughtful and stimulating," noting that Sen convincingly shows how his account aligns with much of what Marx wrote. The review highlights Sen's successful argument that Marx saw autonomy as a more likely role for the state than subservience to one class.

Publication Details

• Author: Dr. Anupam Sen
• Original Title: The State, Industrialization, and Class Formations in India
• Language: English
• Publisher: Routledge & Kegan Paul
• Publication Date: 1982
• Pages: 289
• ISBN: 0710008880
• Republished: 2017 as part of the Routledge Library Edition: British In India series.

The book has been included in the reading lists of courses in sociology, political science, development studies, and other related social sciences in many universities in the US, European Union, and India.