When Crime Pays  (English, Hardcover, Vaishnav Milan)

"Studying the intertwining of money, muscle and politics in India was, for a long time, guesswork. Candidates in elections weren't required to disclose their finances or criminal histories until 2003. Mr Vaishnav makes prodigious use of the data trove that is now available, however, and the numbers get crunched in eye-popping ways.'' - Wall Street Journal ''Political scientist Milan Vaishnav has been studying links between crime and democracy in India for many years now...When Crime Pays offers some intriguing insights into what is a disturbing feature of India's electoral democracy.'' - BBC ''Milan Vaishnav offers illuminating answers to questions on the nexus between crime and politics.'' - Hindu The first thorough study of the co-existence of crime and democratic processes in Indian politics In India, the world's largest democracy, the symbiotic relationship between crime and politics raises complex questions. For instance, how can free and fair democratic elections exist alongside rampant criminality? Why do political parties actively recruit candidates with reputations for wrongdoing? Why do voters elect (and even re-elect) them - to the point that a third of state and national legislators assume office with pending criminal charges?In this eye-opening book, political scientist Milan Vaishnav takes readers deep into the marketplace for criminal politicians by drawing on fieldwork on the campaign trail, large surveys, and an original database on politicians' backgrounds.