

There is a trade-off between going deep and going broad, but authors who are researchers need to push themselves to look for questions that stretch the boundaries of what is known.

In India’s boisterous democracy, the debate over the role of crime in politics is raging ahead—although understanding of the underlying drivers is still inchoate.

Carnegie Senior Fellow Milan Vaishnav discusses his groundbreaking new book, When Crime Pays: Money and Muscle in Indian Politics, which takes readers deep into the marketplace for criminal politicians. Vaishnav discusses his findings on the inner-workings of democracy’s underbelly, and how his work might illuminate the current U.S. political climate. (Runtime - 25:50)

While the reforms to political finance announced as part of the India’s 2017 Budget are a step in the right direction, they will do little to change the reality of non-transparent political funding.

Money and muscle coexist throughout India. This nexus thrives in a post-industrial society because of a failure in governance.

Despite public knowledge of the crimes he has committed, Anant Singh is a popular politician in India.

Failures in governance in India have given criminal politicians currency with the masses. Political finance reform and improvements in governance are needed to stop the influence of money and muscle.

In India, criminal politicians are fielded because their wealth appeals to political parties, and elected because voters see criminality as as sign of their credibility to “get things done.”

Prime Minister Modi has pitched demonetization as a fight against corruption in India. But to truly free politics from black money, the government must take concrete steps to reform political finance.

In India, distrust of government and social cleavages encourage voters to support those who bend the rules to defend their communities. Similar conditions in the United States contributed to Trump’s election.