Social Transformation of an Island Nation [Hardcover]

Language: English. In the development small island states (their number is 43 out of the total number of 191 states as members of the United Nations), there are inherent structural impediments. Mainly due to the legacy of the colonial regimes. Their potential resources were exploited by the colonists leaving them high and dry., , Mauritius is one such nation that witnessed slavery and exploitation for more than 100 years and after a long sustained struggle by the political leaders, it could attain independence from the British on March 12, 1968., , This macrolevel study based on documentary evidences, researches and observations made on different aspects of change and continuity of the sociocultural life of the people, and through interaction with the key informants, is an attempt to analyze the dynamics of development, focusing on social transformational changes resulting in generating a sort of developmental wonder in this island nation since its Independence. About The Author: Rani Mehta, born in Mauritius, is presently a senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Panjab University; Chandigarh. She has an excellent record to her credit and was awarded Gold Medal by the Panjab University, Chandigarh for standing First in M.A. Sociology, examination in 1999. Besides, she was recipient of Gadgil Gold Medal of Panjab University, Chandigarh for standing first among all the Social Sciences subjects in the same year. Dr. Mehta obtained her Ph.D. in Sociology from the Panjab University, Chandigarh in December 2003 on UGCNET Fellowship. Her doctoral work was published as a book entitled "Crisis in Higher Education : Role Analysis of Teachers in a University System" in 2004. Besides teaching at the Department of Sociology, Panjab University, Chandigarh since August 2004, she on a foreign assignment, has also done one semester teaching in the Faculty of Social Studies and Humanities at the University of Mauritius in 2008. Besides a book, she has also contributed several articles and papers to professional journals. Her career of interest are Sociology of Development, Education and Population Studies. S.R. Mehta is a former Baba Prithvi Singh Azad Professor in Sociology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, and a fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Rashtrapati Nivas, Shimla. Before joining Panjab University, Chandigarh, he was a Sociologist and Head of Evolution in World Bank Project on Rural Development in Mauritius. Besides, he also had a stint as a short term consultant on Teamwork in Primary Health Care, at World Health Organisation, SEARO, New Delhi in 1984. Professor Mehta has published nine books and contributed more than sixty papers in professional journals. Contents: CONTENTS: # Preface. Introduction, • Authors’ Note: Mauritius Revisited, • Conceptual Framework of the Study, • Methods of the Study.Profile of Mauritius, • Geographical Location• History • Population, • Racial and Ethnic Composition Religious, Groups, Caste or Sect and Linguistic Groups, • Economy • Polity • Social Services., Economic Transformation: Causes for, and Consequences of an Economic, "Miracle", • Development Paradigms • Economic, Transformation • PreIndependence Scenario, • Post Independent Economic Development:, Diversification and Pinnacle of Economic, "Miracle" • Critical Appraisal of Mauritius’s, Economic "Miracle". • Economic Transformation:, Futuristic Trends.Social Transformation of an Island Nation, Power Struggle of Coalition Politics, • Power Dynamics in Politics • The Political, Rise of People of Indian Origin (Indo, Mauritians in the Pre Independent Period), • Political Movement for Freedom • Electoral, Politics: Gains and Pains of Democracy, • Political Arithmetic: Entrenched Ethnicity, Coalition Politics • Media, NonGovernmental, and Welfare Organizations and Local, Governance., SocioCultural Dynamics, • Concept of Social Change • Changes in, Ethnic and Racial Relationships • Social, Stratification: Class and Caste Dimensi.…