MODERN DEMOCRATIC PRACTICES AND INDIGENOUS POLITICAL TRADITIONS AMONG THE NAGAS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/zah0jj16Keywords:
Nagas, Electoral democracy, Customary institutions, Consensus politics, Indigenous governanceAbstract
Modern democratic practices, particularly electoral democracy, have shaped the socio-political life of the Nagas in the state of Nagaland. The introduction of competitive elections and modern democratic institutions after statehood in 1963 has significantly altered indigenous democratic practices that were predominantly communitarian rather than individualistic in orientation. While liberal democratic norms focus on individual autonomy, secret ballots and party competition, Naga society has historically prioritised collective decision-making rooted in clan, village and customary authority. Drawing on secondary sources, the study situates Naga political traditions within their historical context of village republics, customary laws and consensus-based governance. The paper highlights how electoral practices such as bloc voting, household voting and the selection of “consensus candidates” reflect local adaptations to modern democracy rather than outright rejection of it. At the same time, the study identifies contemporary challenges such as money politics, erosion of community integration and tensions between constitutional democracy and customary norms. The paper argues for a contextualised understanding of democracy that recognises the plurality of democratic expressions.
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