Crafting State-Nations: India and Other Multination Democracies

"Crafting State-Nations: India and Other Multinational Democracies" by Alfred Stepan, Juan J. Linz, and Yogendra Yadav explores how diverse countries can manage deep cultural and ethnic diversity within a single state. The authors introduce the concept of the "state-nation," contrasting it with the traditional nation-state model. A state-nation recognizes and accommodates multiple, overlapping identities through democratic practices and institutional arrangements that promote unity while respecting diversity. Using India as a primary case study, along with other examples, they illustrate successful strategies for fostering political integration and stability in multicultural societies.