ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. This book explores the four main conjectures, namely policies and practices of e-Governance in India. In the last two decades there has been an unprecedented upsurge in the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) geared towards 'good governance' goals, both across developed and developing countries. Foucauldian notion of power both in terms of 'economy of power' and 'networks of power relations' beyond repressive state apparatus serves two purpose for our understanding of governance in the modern state. Following the aftermath of the Cold War, the last decade of the twentieth century witnessed renewed interest in democracy, participation, transparency and efficiency. This wider context of political transition coincided with the massive failure of Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAP) in most of the developing countries. Identity politics and subsequent political mobilization do claim recognition of the state while challenging the particular regime and its legitimacy.
