Political Parties in Sri Lanka
Change and Continuity
Price: 1250.00 INR
ISBN:
9780199479634
Publication date:
27/12/2017
Hardback
404 pages
Price: 1250.00 INR
ISBN:
9780199479634
Publication date:
27/12/2017
Hardback
404 pages
Edited by Amita Shastri and Jayadeva Uyangoda
This volume analyses the changing role and impact of political parties in contemporary Sri Lanka. It examines their functioning in a context of severe ethnic conflict, transformations of the political structure, changes in the electoral system, rapid social change, and globalization. It also covers the crucial presidential and parliamentary elections of 2015 and reflects on the experience of individual political parties.
Rights: World Rights
Edited by Amita Shastri and Jayadeva Uyangoda
Description
Having survived a tumultuous period in its political history, the island state of Sri Lanka has one of the longest and most active traditions of political parties in South Asia. The survival of democratic politics here despite repeated youth insurgencies, a protracted ethnic conflict, and a long and bloody civil war makes it pertinent for us to explore the patterns of change and continuity that characterize party politics in Sri Lanka.
While the first and second phases of the history of its parties and party system—the last period of colonial rule, followed by the postcolonial years of 1947–70—unfolded in a context of relative social peace, the third phase, from 1970 to the present, has seen continuing social unrest, rebellion, political violence, and a deepening crisis in the experience of democracy.
This volume analyses the changing role and impact of political parties in contemporary Sri Lanka. It examines their functioning in a context of severe ethnic conflict, transformations of the political structure, changes in the electoral system, rapid social change, and globalization. It also covers the crucial presidential and parliamentary elections of 2015 and reflects on the experience of individual political parties as well as Sri Lanka’s party system as a whole.
About the Editors
Amita Shastri is professor of political science at San Francisco State University, California, USA.
Jayadeva Uyangoda is emeritus professor of political science at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Edited by Amita Shastri and Jayadeva Uyangoda
Table of contents
List of Tables and Figures
Preface
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
Amita Shastri and Jayadeva Uyangoda
1. Impact of Electoral Changes on Parties and the Party System in Sri Lanka
Amita Shastri
2. Changing Dynamics of the Party–Voter Nexus
Pradeep Peiris
3. United National Party: From Dominance to Opposition and Back
Amita Shastri
4. Sri Lanka Freedom Party: Continuity through Ideological and Policy Shifts
Jayadeva Uyangoda and Keerthi Ariyadasa
5. Left Parties in Permanent Decline: Ideological and Strategy Shifts, Survival Strategies, and Consequences
Jayadeva Uyangoda
6. Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and Radical Politics in Contemporary Sri Lanka
Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri
7. Tamil Nationalism, Political Parties, and War-torn Political Culture
Ahilan Kadirgamar
8. Sri Lanka Muslim Congress: Politics of a Minority Ethnic Party
Minna Thaheer
9. Party Politics in the Plantation Community: Growth and Changes
R. Ramesh
10. Women and Political Parties in Sri Lanka
Kamala Liyanage
Bibliography
Index
About the Editors and Contributors
Edited by Amita Shastri and Jayadeva Uyangoda
Edited by Amita Shastri and Jayadeva Uyangoda
Review
‘There has been a glaring lacuna in the scholarship analysing Sri Lanka’s political parties. This book fills that void … and will be an indispensable reference for all endeavors dealing with the country’s party politics.’
—Neil DeVotta, Professor, Department of Politics and International Affairs, Wake Forest University, USA
‘This volume … is a substantial and original work and will be an extremely valuable reference work for scholars, policymakers, and journalists seeking to understand contemporary Sri Lankan politics.’
—Rajesh Venugopal, Assistant Professor, Department of International Development, The London School of Economics and Political Science, UK
Description
Having survived a tumultuous period in its political history, the island state of Sri Lanka has one of the longest and most active traditions of political parties in South Asia. The survival of democratic politics here despite repeated youth insurgencies, a protracted ethnic conflict, and a long and bloody civil war makes it pertinent for us to explore the patterns of change and continuity that characterize party politics in Sri Lanka.
While the first and second phases of the history of its parties and party system—the last period of colonial rule, followed by the postcolonial years of 1947–70—unfolded in a context of relative social peace, the third phase, from 1970 to the present, has seen continuing social unrest, rebellion, political violence, and a deepening crisis in the experience of democracy.
This volume analyses the changing role and impact of political parties in contemporary Sri Lanka. It examines their functioning in a context of severe ethnic conflict, transformations of the political structure, changes in the electoral system, rapid social change, and globalization. It also covers the crucial presidential and parliamentary elections of 2015 and reflects on the experience of individual political parties as well as Sri Lanka’s party system as a whole.
About the Editors
Amita Shastri is professor of political science at San Francisco State University, California, USA.
Jayadeva Uyangoda is emeritus professor of political science at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Reviews
‘There has been a glaring lacuna in the scholarship analysing Sri Lanka’s political parties. This book fills that void … and will be an indispensable reference for all endeavors dealing with the country’s party politics.’
—Neil DeVotta, Professor, Department of Politics and International Affairs, Wake Forest University, USA
‘This volume … is a substantial and original work and will be an extremely valuable reference work for scholars, policymakers, and journalists seeking to understand contemporary Sri Lankan politics.’
—Rajesh Venugopal, Assistant Professor, Department of International Development, The London School of Economics and Political Science, UK
Table of contents
List of Tables and Figures
Preface
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
Amita Shastri and Jayadeva Uyangoda
1. Impact of Electoral Changes on Parties and the Party System in Sri Lanka
Amita Shastri
2. Changing Dynamics of the Party–Voter Nexus
Pradeep Peiris
3. United National Party: From Dominance to Opposition and Back
Amita Shastri
4. Sri Lanka Freedom Party: Continuity through Ideological and Policy Shifts
Jayadeva Uyangoda and Keerthi Ariyadasa
5. Left Parties in Permanent Decline: Ideological and Strategy Shifts, Survival Strategies, and Consequences
Jayadeva Uyangoda
6. Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and Radical Politics in Contemporary Sri Lanka
Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri
7. Tamil Nationalism, Political Parties, and War-torn Political Culture
Ahilan Kadirgamar
8. Sri Lanka Muslim Congress: Politics of a Minority Ethnic Party
Minna Thaheer
9. Party Politics in the Plantation Community: Growth and Changes
R. Ramesh
10. Women and Political Parties in Sri Lanka
Kamala Liyanage
Bibliography
Index
About the Editors and Contributors
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