Presenter Information

Mira Carroll, University of Richmond

Location

University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia

Document Type

Paper (UR Campus Access Only)

Description

India, a nation of 1.2 billion, continues to have high levels of poverty and low literacy rates in comparison to other countries. However, a few states within India have shown high levels of social development in the past few decades. The most consistent among them is Kerala, unique for its historic social and political circumstances, whose subnational strength has enabled great regional levels of social and human development. This paper will first discuss the existing literature explaining its high levels of social development from the perspectives of good governance, constructivism, and institutionalism. Building on the current scholarship, this essay asks what features of Kerala contribute to its high levels of social development and how do they interact with each other in a local context? Through the presence of Marxism, matrilineal communities, and Malayalam, this essay will show how the confluence of these elements created an environment that is conducive to social development and the hypotheses are supported by firsthand perspectives of native Keralites.

Comments

Department: Global Studies

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Pribble

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Social Development in Kerala and an Interpretation of its Relative Resilience through the Confluence of Marxism, Matrilineality, and Malayalam

University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia

India, a nation of 1.2 billion, continues to have high levels of poverty and low literacy rates in comparison to other countries. However, a few states within India have shown high levels of social development in the past few decades. The most consistent among them is Kerala, unique for its historic social and political circumstances, whose subnational strength has enabled great regional levels of social and human development. This paper will first discuss the existing literature explaining its high levels of social development from the perspectives of good governance, constructivism, and institutionalism. Building on the current scholarship, this essay asks what features of Kerala contribute to its high levels of social development and how do they interact with each other in a local context? Through the presence of Marxism, matrilineal communities, and Malayalam, this essay will show how the confluence of these elements created an environment that is conducive to social development and the hypotheses are supported by firsthand perspectives of native Keralites.