Steven I. Wilkinson explores how India has succeeded in keeping the military out of politics, when so many other countries have failed. He uncovers the command and control strategies, the careful ethnic balancing, and the political, foreign policy, and strategic decisions that have made the army safe for Indian democracy.
The book explores the dynamics of Hindu-Muslim riots in India, revealing how state governments influence their occurrence based on electoral interests. It argues that riots can be strategically manipulated to sway elections, with some governments actively preventing violence while others may incite it for political gain. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset and case studies of various Indian states, the author examines the intricate relationship between political calculations and communal violence, shedding light on the underlying motivations behind these conflicts.