ABSTRACT
The final chapter written by Ciecierska-Holmes and Jörgensen discusses the findings of the book chapters against the background of comparative politics literature. Drawing on two different literatures, Indian politics and comparative environmental politics, it reflects on linkages between India’s domestic institutions, actor constellations and international factors with environmental policy, as they are significant in the book chapters. Following the structure of this book, it first reflects how centralisation and decentralisation, lacking empowerment of the local level, the transition of the party system, democratic institutions and the judiciary and political-administrative capacity matter in environmental policy. It also considers the role of actor constellations, particularly the role of India’s civil society, in policy change. Third, it zooms in on three aspects addressed in the chapters about the policy subsystems of forests, water, city development, energy and climate. These are the importance of livelihoods and social inclusiveness, the potentials of environmental leapfrogging and noticeable shifts in dominant policy paradigms. The third section connects Indian environmental policy with the international environmental politics. More recent developments in India’s environmental politics after the governmental change in 2014 are considered.
