Ideology and politics of Bharatiya Janata Party a study of continuity and change

Abstract

Every political party professes certain ideological principles and values that structure its actions in significant ways by setting limits on what it considers acceptable and desirable. At the same time, a party s ideology also evolves and adapts over time to the compulsions of political competition and governance, structural shifts in socio political and economic environment, generational shifts, leadership changes, and even global factors. Nevertheless, certain core ideological positions endure over time although the way these are articulated may change. This study explores this dynamic relationship between a political party and its core ideological framework by focusing on the politics and ideology of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Drawing broadly on Michael Freeden s morphological approach to the study of political ideology, this research shows certain concepts as central to the ideology of the BJP and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). It studies how these were related to each other and how these had evolved with time. The effect of electoral compulsions on the BJP s ideology are analysed by mapping continuities, discontinuities and shifts in emphasis given to these core concepts in party manifestos, including those of its predecessor, the Bharatiya Jan Sangh (BJS). As party in power, the impact of these core concepts on its policies is examined by focusing specifically on the foreign policy of the BJP--led central governments. Since religion is imbricated with the BJP s ideology, its comparison in terms of core features and historical trajectory has also been made with the ideology of European Christian Democracy. newline