The main objective of this paper is to explore the interrelationship between the Naxalite conflict and the Indian state. To what extent is the state responsible for the root causes of this conflict and to what extent does the conflict affect the state itself? -> Recent articles and publications on Asia.
The Naxalite movements are a serious threat for the Indian State: They are now active in 223 districts in 20 states and the strength of their armed cadres is estimated between 10.000 and 20.000. Due to the Naxalite’s control over certain areas and their armed fight against the state security forces, they are challenging the inherent ideals of the state, namely sovereignty and monopoly on the use of force. In order to correspond with its ideal, the state focuses on the re-establishment of law and order by encountering the Naxalites violently.
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However, the movement’s roots are located within India’s numerous social and economic inequalities as well as in environmental degradation. Without fostering the root causes the state will not be able to solve the problem. This paper is divided into three parts and tries to give an extensive overview of the complex issue of the Naxalite conflict. Therefore the first part deals with the history of the movement by describing its origin and development until today. Part two deals with the strategy and actions of the Naxalites and sets its focus on the root causes. The final third part covers the state’s responses and the limitations of the state in the embattled regions.
The main objective of this paper is to explore the interrelationship between the Naxalite conflict and the Indian state. To what extent is the state responsible for the root causes of this conflict and to what extent does the conflict affect the state itself?
For this purpose, as some causes of the conflict are deeply rooted in the social and political history of India and the initial phase of the political movement goes over into the time of independence, the organizational, ideological and strategic development of the Naxalite movements and their spread is outlined in chapter two in order to understand the current context and characteristics.
The later section tries to answer the question concerning who the Naxalites actually are. Why do people join or support the Maoists and what are the institutions carrying this movement? What is the course of action of the Maoist party and which ideology is behind it?
Chapter four elaborates on the role of the state and analyses its institutional weaknesses and limitations in the affected areas. In addition its policies and concepts to suppress and eradicate the conflict are also discussed. Moreover, the way the issue of Naxalism is presented and debated in the Indian public discourse is roughly shown at the end of this paper.
The Research Paper was first published by the India office of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.
Table of Contents
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1 Introduction
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2 History of the Naxalite movement: From Naxalbari to Dantewada
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2.1 Prelude: The British Rule and the Telangana movement
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2.2 The Trigger: The Naxalbari uprising and the Birth of the Movement
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2.3 Escalation: Launching the People’s War
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2.4 Persisting Thread and Recent developments
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3 Naxalism: grounds, ideology and power
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3.1 Grounds people joining the Naxalites
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3.2 Ideology and Strategy
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3.3 Organisation and Domination
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4 Weakness of the State and its Response to the Naxalite Challenge
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4.1 Crises of governance and Challenge for the State
4.2 The Violent Response of the State -
4.3 Alternative Approaches and the Public Discourse
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5 Conclusion
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6 References
