What's the deal with KERALA ?

The state of Kerala is one of the few places in India (and the world) where Communist parties have a strong, long-standing—and still ongoing—influence. The "Kerala model" of development has prioritized the widespread provision of basic services such as education and healthcare over more traditional metrics of growth (GDP, etc.). The standard of living thus achieved places Kerala alongside many 'developed' countries despite its poverty relative to other Indian states, leading many to claim that Kerala's approach represents a genuine alternative to the prevailing neoliberal order.

Meanwhile, detractors argue that the putative successes of this 'model' are mere myths propped up by the state's special circumstances (such as its lucrative tourism industry and huge remittance flows from Gulf states), for which Communists have unfairly stolen credit.

So, which is it? Submarines, let's take the plunge, learn about the issues, and decide whether Kerala's story really does prove that ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE. Read as many (or as few) of the following materials as you wish, and feel free to join us even if you don't!

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TEXT :

• The Redistributive Development Strategy and the Making of the Kerala Model by T.M. Thomas Isaac, former Minister of Finance of Kerala (Chapter 4 from Kerala: Another Possible World, 2022; over-achievers can also check out Chapter 6, Response to the Crisis: Democratic Decentralization and People's Plan) ***LINK TO PDF MATERIALS WILL BE SHARED PRIVATELY FOLLOWING YOUR RSVP***
• Growth and Success in Kerala by ??? (from Yale Review of International Studies, 2013)
• The Kerala Model: A Critique by T.G. Jacob (from countercurrents.org, 2022)
• One of the few places where a communist can still dream by Greg Jaffe and Vidhi Joshi (from The Washington Post, 2017)