Democracy and Social Welfare in the Global South

There is a symbiotic relationship between democracy and social welfare in the Global South. Social protection of the deprived is the precursor to economic change and legitimization of a democratic state. Democracy both shapes and is reinforced by the welfare provisions. Welfare policies help to consolidate democratic rule by addressing social needs and reducing political inequality. Democratic institutions guide and design social programs. Democratic governance fosters social stability and inclusiveness. Electoral process ensures that policies are shaped by citizen preferences. Citizens in a welfare democracy are not just recipients of state benefits, but participants in accepting and developing them. Their inputs provide a moral and political foundation for welfare policies. Periodic elections are important means of democratic control to influence the direction of welfare policy. The ability to vote a government out is what keeps welfare responsive to the people it serves. Citizens can express their needs and entitlements through the ballot and through public debate. The dynamics of welfare politics in the Global South -- shaped by colonial histories, political contestation and the idea of social justice – are reflected in the contemporary linkages between democratic process and welfare policy. A context-sensitive analysis would contribute to our understanding of the non-Western welfare discourses.
Papers are welcome around the above broad theme. The papers could be theoretical and/or empirical analysis. The scope of research may be comparative or focused on a single country/region or based on a specific welfare policy. In case of studies linking welfare policy to the electoral politics, the scope could be one election or several elections. Empirical studies on democratic politics and welfare provisions at the grassroots level are especially encouraged.