Features of India’s democratic transit: prerequisites, trajectory, prospects

Abstract

The status of Russian-Indian relations has been officially defined as a «especially privileged strategic partnership» since 2010. Our countries cooperate in many areas, and mutual trade is growing rapidly. India is the largest country in the world in terms of population, the third largest in terms of GDP, demonstrates one of the highest economic growth rates, is a nuclear and space power. Therefore, in order to maintain mutual understanding between our peoples, as well as interstate interaction, researches on the domestic political trends of the partner state are of particular relevance. We have taken the democratic transit of India as the object of our research, and its prerequisites, trajectory and probable prospects as the subject. The article presents the results of a study of the main characteristics of the political process of India’s democratic transit from the second half of the 19th century to the present. The study was carried out using a secondary analysis of scientific publications, as well as reports from socio-political research centers. To analyze the latest trends in democratic transit, we have performed a content analysis of the Indian media. Conclusions are drawn about the predetermination of the formation of India’s democratic transit, its national-specific character, expressed in duration, relative consistency, based on the demands of a multi-component society and the peculiarities of its cultural code. Indians’ interest in democracy is growing, and the national Government faces difficult challenges in the context of growing domestic political expectations and external geopolitical challenges.