Politics for Many not New (Hardcover)

An alternative form of governance in the East is possible without completely divorcing the current Western political system due to its unmatched influence and the necessity of remaining integrated within the global economy. Adjusting the Western system can incorporate good practices from the Mauryan era and ancient political traditions. Focusing on societal values can offer an alternative approach to governance that remains relevant in today's world. Instead of creating a detailed model of governance or economic system, blending ideas from the Mauryan Empire to current practices in certain areas can promote equitable welfare for all citizens. A strong welfare state, which existed in the Indian subcontinent in ancient times, can be reestablished without a formal political doctrine. Drawing from the times of Kautilya in the Mauryan Empire, this involves reviving political practices based on those ideals, developing a new economy influenced by Kautilya and Adam Smith, incorporating theological oversight to balance temporal governance, and combining formal government structures with guilds, ecological growth, and the universalisation of values across the subcontinent. Although modern political theory often does not accept the idea of ideal governance as proposed by Aristotle, Plato, and Kautilya, it still maintains that governance should be founded on the premise that no one can govern effectively without virtuous capacities. This suggests that practising ideal governance can serve as a practical approach to governing and delivering inclusive progress to society, just as today’s liberalism promises.