Imagining a New State (Re)visiting the Gandhian Model of Panchayati Raj in the Contemporary Discourse of Postcolonialism and Neoliberalism

Abstract

The famous Miliband-Poulantzas debate between the Marxist theorists Ralph Miliband and Nicos Poulantzas gave a new way to understand the conditions of states in a capitalist and neocolonial world. Later theorists, like Hamza Alavi, critiqued state theorists and emphasized that state formation and nation-building in postcolonial societies differ from the Western understanding of the state. In today’s world, there is an extensive body of literature by theorists and critical ethnographers defining and theorizing the postcolonial state. However, much before these “state theorists,” M. K. Gandhi problematized the conditions of postcolonial states. His emphasis on the localization of government is distinct from the economic model of capitalization and globalization in the current socioeconomic
configurations of the world. He imagined a state where Panchayat (villages) would be the basic units of administration, and every individual would be an essential part of the system. He emphasized empowering Grams (villages), which would lead India to be a truly progressive and democratic state. This localization of governance stands in direct opposition to the prevailing homogenous model of governance. Through a detailed analysis, this paper aims to shed light on the contrasting nature of localized governance and its divergence from centralized approaches. Additionally, it seeks to contextualize the various facets of Panchayati Raj within the framework of a capitalist and globalized society in the modern world. In doing so, the argument unfolds to underscore the significance of revisiting and reevaluating Gandhian principles for their potential insights into governance in the present context.