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| {{wiktionary|vote bank|Votebank}} | {{wiktionary|vote bank|Votebank}} | ||
| A '''Votebank''' |
A '''Votebank''' is a loyal ] of ] from a single ], who consistently back a certain ] or political formation in ] ]. Such behaviour is often the result of an expectation of real or imagined benefits from the political formations, often at the cost of other communities. {{fact}} | ||
| '''Votebank politics''' is the practice of creating and maintaining votebanks through divisive policies. As this brand of politics encourages voters to vote on the basis of narrow communal considerations, often against their better judgement, it is considered inimical to democracy. | '''Votebank politics''' is the practice of creating and maintaining votebanks through divisive policies. As this brand of politics encourages voters to vote on the basis of narrow communal considerations, often against their better judgement, it is considered inimical to democracy.{{fact}} | ||
| == Origin == | |||
| ⚫ | The term '''vote-bank''' was first used by noted Indian ], ]<ref name=first>{{cite journal | quotes = no | author = Ralph Grillo; Rodney Needham | year = 2000 | month = February | title = Obituary: M. N. Srinivas | journal = Anthropology Today | volume = 16 | issue = 1 | pages = 22 | id = {{ISSN|0268540X}} | url = http://www.jstor.org/cgi-bin/jstor/printpage/0268540x/di020268/02p00883/0-150.pdf?backcontext=page&dowhat=Acrobat&config=jstor&userID=816985f8@nwu.edu/01cc99333c00501ef62af&0-150.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2006-09-27}}</ref> (who also coined the terms ] and '''dominant caste'''), in his ] paper entitled ''The Social System of a Mysore Village''<ref name=MNS> {{cite book | last = Srinivas | first = M. N. | authorlink = M. N. Srinivas | coauthors = et al| editor = McKim Marriot | title = Village India: studies in the little community | origyear = 1955 | publisher = University of Chicago Press | location = Chicago | pages = 1-35 | chapter = The Social System of a Mysore Village}} </ref>. He used it in the context of political influence exerted by a patron over a client. Later, the expression was used by ], a professor of ] at the ], in his ] book ''Politics and Social Change''<ref name=FGB> {{cite book | last = Bailey | first = F. G. | title = Politics and Social Change | origyear = 1959 | publisher = University of California Press | location = Berkeley}} </ref>, to refer to the ] influence of the ] leader. This is the usage that has since become popular. | ||
| The term was coined in ], where the practice of votebank politics is rampant. Since then, it has gained currency in other Asian countries with a significant English-speaking population. | The term was coined in ], where the practice of votebank politics is rampant. Since then, it has gained currency in other Asian countries with a significant English-speaking population. | ||
| ==Origins== | |||
| ⚫ | The term '''vote-bank''' was first used by noted Indian ], ]<ref name=first>{{cite journal | quotes = no | author = Ralph Grillo; Rodney Needham | year = 2000 | month = February | title = Obituary: M. N. Srinivas | journal = Anthropology Today | volume = 16 | issue = 1 | pages = 22 | id = {{ISSN|0268540X}} | url = http://www.jstor.org/cgi-bin/jstor/printpage/0268540x/di020268/02p00883/0-150.pdf?backcontext=page&dowhat=Acrobat&config=jstor&userID=816985f8@nwu.edu/01cc99333c00501ef62af&0-150.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2006-09-27}}</ref> (who also coined the terms ] and '''dominant caste'''), in his ] paper entitled ''The Social System of a Mysore Village''<ref name=MNS> {{cite book | last = Srinivas | first = M. N. | authorlink = M. N. Srinivas | coauthors = et al| editor = McKim Marriot | title = Village India: studies in the little community | origyear = 1955 | publisher = University of Chicago Press | location = Chicago | pages = 1-35 | chapter = The Social System of a Mysore Village}} </ref>. He used it in the context of political influence exerted by a patron over a client. Later, the expression was used by ], a professor of ] at the ], in his ] book ''Politics and Social Change''<ref name=FGB> {{cite book | last = Bailey | first = F. G. | title = Politics and Social Change | origyear = 1959 | publisher = University of California Press | location = Berkeley}} </ref>, to refer to the ] influence of the ] leader. This is the usage that has since become popular. | ||
| Thought the term originally referred to voting along caste lines, it was soon expanded to describe votebanks based on other community characteristics, such as ] and ]. | |||
| ==Votebank politics== | |||
| Even though the term was coined in 50's its usage became popular in late 70s and 80s initially used to describe ] who tended to vote together, extended for other groups in ] who exhibited similar voting patterns.], ], ], ], ] are some of the examples of votebanks in Indian politics. The phenomenon has been observed outside India as well, in countries such as ] and ] where ]s and ] are considered votebanks. | |||
| ] try to retain and expand votebanks with promises of favourable policies. It is assumed that the ] commands ] votebanks, while ] commands Muslim and Yadav votebanks. Similarly, ] as well has its own votebank, called Minority votbank ,which comprises Muslims, ] and tribes. The ] in ] and the ] in ] espouse the cause of the ] and Muslims interests at the provincial level. | |||
| ] is an important component of votebanks in India. Various political parties have cultivated linguistic votebanks. The ] (TDP) in ], the ] (DMK) and the ] (AIADMK) in ], as well as the ] in ], all flaunt their linguistic votebanks. | |||
| Every political party develop their own votebank by focusing on tthe needs of a group. The ] parties, such as the ] have a committed cadre who are widely believed to have kept themselves away from votebank politics. | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
| <div class="references-small"> | |||
| <references/> | <references/> | ||
| </div> | |||
| ⚫ | ==External |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | == External Links == | ||
| ⚫ | 1.<br> | ||
| 2.<br> | |||
| 3.<br> | |||
| 4.<br> | |||
| 5. | |||
| == See also == | == See also == | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 11:01, 6 October 2006
A Votebank is a loyal bloc of voters from a single community, who consistently back a certain candidate or political formation in democratic elections. Such behaviour is often the result of an expectation of real or imagined benefits from the political formations, often at the cost of other communities.
Votebank politics is the practice of creating and maintaining votebanks through divisive policies. As this brand of politics encourages voters to vote on the basis of narrow communal considerations, often against their better judgement, it is considered inimical to democracy.
Origin
The term vote-bank was first used by noted Indian sociologist, M. N. Srinivas (who also coined the terms Sanskritisation and dominant caste), in his 1955 paper entitled The Social System of a Mysore Village. He used it in the context of political influence exerted by a patron over a client. Later, the expression was used by F. G. Bailey, a professor of anthropology at the University of California, San Diego, in his 1959 book Politics and Social Change, to refer to the electoral influence of the caste leader. This is the usage that has since become popular.
The term was coined in India, where the practice of votebank politics is rampant. Since then, it has gained currency in other Asian countries with a significant English-speaking population.
Votebank politics
Even though the term was coined in 50's its usage became popular in late 70s and 80s initially used to describe Muslims in India who tended to vote together, extended for other groups in 1980s who exhibited similar voting patterns.Muslim, Yadav, Dalit, OBC, Brahmin are some of the examples of votebanks in Indian politics. The phenomenon has been observed outside India as well, in countries such as Kuwait and Malaysia where Muslims and women are considered votebanks.
Political parties try to retain and expand votebanks with promises of favourable policies. It is assumed that the BJP commands Hindu votebanks, while Lalu Prasad Yadav commands Muslim and Yadav votebanks. Similarly, Indian National Congress as well has its own votebank, called Minority votbank ,which comprises Muslims, Christians and tribes. The Akali Dal in Punjab and the Muslim League in Kerala espouse the cause of the Sikhs and Muslims interests at the provincial level.
Language is an important component of votebanks in India. Various political parties have cultivated linguistic votebanks. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu, as well as the Assam Gon Parishad in Assam, all flaunt their linguistic votebanks.
Every political party develop their own votebank by focusing on tthe needs of a group. The left-wing parties, such as the Communist Party of India have a committed cadre who are widely believed to have kept themselves away from votebank politics.
References
- Ralph Grillo; Rodney Needham (2000). "Obituary: M. N. Srinivas" (PDF). Anthropology Today. 16 (1): 22. ISSN 0268540X Parameter error in {{issn}}: Invalid ISSN.. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|quotes=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Srinivas, M. N. "The Social System of a Mysore Village". In McKim Marriot (ed.). Village India: studies in the little community. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 1–35.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Bailey, F. G. Politics and Social Change. Berkeley: University of California Press.
External Links
1.Vote Bank Politics by Syed Ali Mujtaba
2.Congress looks for a Vote Bank
3.Tussle for Hindu Vote Bank in Tamil Nadu
4.Vote Bank Politics in Malaysia
5.Vote Bank Politics in Kuwait