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Pathways to develop state capacity in a weak state: the sub-national state of Bihar in India

2023; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 61; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/14662043.2023.2275454

1743-9094

Himanshu Jha,

Social and Economic Development in India

ABSTRACTThis article aims to unravel how a weak state develops state capacity – an aspect hitherto ignored in mainstream literature. This is a study of a sub-national case of Bihar in India. Historically, Bihar is considered a weak state, lacking state capacity. Yet, improvements have occurred in recent decades. By profiling two areas of improved outcomes: infrastructure (roads and bridges) and welfare (distribution of bicycles to school-going girls), the article argues that the improvements are the outcome of the political and bureaucratic elite’s ideas and political will. The case of Bihar shows that the rationalities within a state depend on social learning, puzzling, and powering, having a powerful impact on policy paradigms even in weak states.KEYWORDS: State capacitypolicy reformsideasdevelopmentIndia AcknowledgementsI thank Alasdair Roberts, John Echeverri-Gent, John Harriss and Sumit Ganguly for their comments on the initial draft of this paper. Thanks also to the anonymous referees for valuable comments and suggestions. This paper has gained immensely from the presentation at the International Studies Organization’s Annual Convention in 2018 (San Francisco) and from sharing my preliminary conjectures in a blog published by the Building State Capability (BSC) program at the Harvard Kennedy School. I am also thankful to Mriduchhanda Chattopadhyay for helping me generate Figure 1, depicted in this article. All errors, however, are entirely mine.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1 Nevertheless, RJD rule did empower the backward castes in an upper caste-dominated state. Targeted welfare schemes such as constructing houses for the poor in 600 blocks across the state and the introduction of mobile Charwaha Vidyalayas (shepherd schools) meant for shepherd boys of school-going age were some meaningful policy initiatives (Also see Roy, Citation2021).2 Established in 1934, IRC is an apex body for highway engineers in India working with the objective of road development.3 DPR is a detailed outline of the proposed project’s technical, financial and work-related tasks.4 While most of the funding was from the central government, ADB funded the state highway program. Various funding sources such as the state government’s funds, National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development, NABARD, Central Road Fund, Border Area Development Program, International Road Connectivity Scheme and the Finance Commission were utilised.5 ADB provided $420 million for phase I of the Bihar State Highways Project and $300 million for phase II to complete 1,209 km of state highways (PIB, Citation2013).