Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Why are some places in the world characterized by better social service provision and welfare outcomes than others? In a world in which millions of people, particularly in developing countries, continue to lead lives plagued by illiteracy and ill-health, understanding the conditions that promote social welfare is of critical importance to political scientists and policy makers alike. Drawing on a multi-method study, from the late nineteenth century to the present, of the stark variations in educational and health outcomes within a large, federal, multiethnic developing country - India - this book develops an argument for the power of collective identity as an impetus for state prioritization of social welfare. Such an argument not only marks an important break from the dominant negative perceptions of identity politics but also presents a novel theoretical framework to understand welfare provision"-- Provided by publisher.

Machine generated contents note: Part I. Introduction and Theory: 1. Subnationalism and social development: an introduction; 2. The subnationalist incentive for social development; Part II. Building the Subnationalism Argument: 3. The origins and strength of subnationalism; 4. 'We-ness' and welfare: the cases of Kerala and Tamil Nadu; 5. Fragmentation and failure: the cases of UP and Rajasthan; Part III. Testing the Subnationalism Argument: 6. The subnationalist incentive for social development across Indian states; 7. Conclusion.