Amit Ahuja and Devesh Kapur on the Complexity of Violence and Fragility of Order in India
Aug 31, 2023
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Amit Ahuja and Devesh Kapur discuss violence and order in India, including reasons behind declining violence, the contradiction of decentralization and centralization in governance and security, unrest and violence in India, failure in the Northeast region, implications of communication blackouts, challenges faced by police forces, road traffic fatalities, challenges of policing, and reflecting on fault lines and hope for future discussions.
Stronger state capacity, particularly through central police forces, has contributed to the decline in violence in India.
Social and economic trends, such as weaker labor movements and empowered lower castes, have also played a role in decreasing disorder and violence.
Communication blackouts during unrest can impede access to essential services and disrupt the economy, highlighting the challenges police forces face in adapting to technology-related issues.
Deep dives
Reasons for the Declining Violence and Role of State Capacity
The podcast episode discusses the decline in violence in India since the 1990s and attributes it to the building up of state capacity in terms of internal security. The authors argue that the stronger state capacity, especially in the form of union government forces, has contributed to this decline. Despite the trend towards decentralization and devolution in other aspects of governance, internal security forces have remained centralized. This occurrence is attributed to the increased trust of state governments in the neutral intervention of the central forces. However, challenges of coordination have been encountered in dealing with left-wing insurgencies.
Factors Contributing to the Decline in Disorder and Violence in India
The decline in disorder and violence in India is not solely due to the capacity of state and central police forces. It is also influenced by larger economic and social trends. Riots, for example, have declined significantly due to weaker labor movements and the shift of higher education to the private sector. Additionally, the decline in caste-based violence in rural India, where lower castes have become more empowered, has contributed to a decrease in homicides. The podcast also highlights the impact of central forces in reducing violence, such as the decline in hijackings after airport security was taken over by a central police force.
Implications of Communication Blackouts and Challenges for State Capacity
The use of communication blackouts during times of unrest is a response aimed at curbing the spread of misinformation and coordinating violence. However, these blackouts can have adverse effects on the economy and public services, as India has experienced a significant shift towards a digital economy. Shutting down the internet can impede access to essential services and disrupt the livelihoods of individuals. The podcast also highlights the challenges faced by police forces in adapting to technology-related issues, as many forces are undertrained and ill-equipped to handle the fast-paced nature of communication in the digital era.
Failure of the Indian state and consequences
The collapse of the Indian state in the Northeast, marked by the recent fires, reflects a spectacular failure of state authorities. The Indian Home Ministry's Intelligence Bureau, which has a wide presence in the Northeast, failed to provide crucial information about the unfolding situation. Chief Minister and Home Ministry also faced no consequences for their inability to prevent the violence and looting of police armories. The riots in the Northeast have left deep wounds and will have long-lasting implications for India, impacting its ability to build infrastructure and projects.
Evolution of violence and security challenges
The Northeast region of India has witnessed a history of conflicts and violence, and the response to insurgency and ethnic conflict has required a flexible approach. Accommodations and agreements with various groups have contributed to a decline in violence. However, the recent sophisticated weaponry in the hands of non-military factions indicates a break from the past. The availability of weapons and the involvement of security forces in smuggling activities raise concerns about the reconstitution of state authority. The role of private security providers and the potential for technology-driven surveillance are also factors to consider in addressing security challenges.
In this episode, Shruti speaks with Amit Ahuja, Associate Professor of Political Science at UC Santa Barbara, and Devesh Kapur, Starr Foundation Professor of South Asian Studies at SAIS at Johns Hopkins University, about their latest volume, Internal Security in India: Violence, Order, and the State. Learn more about their latest volume and their other work here.
