Richard W Franke – författare

This ethnography of Nadur Village explores the ramifications of Kerala State's policy of wealth redistribution to achieve equality. The author shows a decline in income inequality and an improved quality of life for most villagers despite high unemployment, low incomes and the persistence of inequalities that redistribution has not overcome. This e

This ethnography of Nadur Village explores the ramifications of Kerala State's policy of wealth redistribution to achieve equality. The author shows a decline in income inequality and an improved quality of life for most villagers despite high unemployment, low incomes and the persistence of inequalities that redistribution has not overcome. This e

This ethnography of Nadur Village explores the ramifications of Kerala State''s policy of wealth redistribution to achieve equality. The author shows a decline in income inequality and an improved quality of life for most villagers despite high unemployment, low incomes and the persistence of inequalities that redistribution has not overcome. This e

This ethnography of Nadur Village explores the ramifications of Kerala State''s policy of wealth redistribution to achieve equality. The author shows a decline in income inequality and an improved quality of life for most villagers despite high unemployment, low incomes and the persistence of inequalities that redistribution has not overcome. This e

The authors tell the story of a democratic workers' cooperative that makes hand-rolled cigarettes, known as "beedis," in the unorganized sector of a fiercely competitive capitalist economy in India. For decades, beedi workers have been among the most exploited and impoverished of India's work force. In 1969, in the southwestern Indian state of Kerala, several thousand workers banded together to form a worker-owned beedi cooperative. The authors argue that their skill and determination, combined with Kerala's generally leftist political culture, allowed them to beat the odds. The cooperative surprised the private sector beedi barons by creating an enterprise that has lasted and prospered, offering the best wages and benefits in the business, while making a profit and contributing to the local economy.The authors analyze the major features of the cooperative, assessing its overall structure, worker-elected management, shop floor democracy, and progress in providing a better life for its worker-owners. Tensions are also discussed, including the complaints of women workers and the need for diversification from tobacco.

The authors tell the story of a democratic workers' cooperative that makes hand-rolled cigarettes, known as "beedis," in the unorganized sector of a fiercely competitive capitalist economy in India. For decades, beedi workers have been among the most exploited and impoverished of India's work force. In 1969, in the southwestern Indian state of Kerala, several thousand workers banded together to form a worker-owned beedi cooperative. The authors argue that their skill and determination, combined with Kerala's generally leftist political culture, allowed them to beat the odds. The cooperative surprised the private sector beedi barons by creating an enterprise that has lasted and prospered, offering the best wages and benefits in the business, while making a profit and contributing to the local economy.The authors analyze the major features of the cooperative, assessing its overall structure, worker-elected management, shop floor democracy, and progress in providing a better life for its worker-owners. Tensions are also discussed, including the complaints of women workers and the need for diversification from tobacco.

True to its ideology and philosophy, Islam as a Faith and religion stands for total submission to Almighty, who is the creator of universe and supreme authority for all the worlds. He is also the master of the Day of Judgment. Today, Islam is known as the progressive religion, promoted and preached by Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh), who declared oneness of God and invited people to a Faith, which called for belief in unity of God and the prophet hood of Muhammad (Pbuh) himself. But, one significant fact is misunderstood by most of the people, that Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) is not the founder of Islam. Islam in fact was introduced, through Prophet Adam (Pbuh) at the time of the creation of the world, itself. Islam maintains that Almighty Allah''s oneness is absolute and he is the only source of all creation and disposes of all lives and events. Islam stresses upon the prophet hood of Had rat Muhammad (Pbuh), who came to this planet as the benefactor and merciful for all the human beings. Islam''s God is God of all the people-not only the believers; and Holy Prophet (Pbuh) is kind and merciful for the whole mankind-not only for his followers. Islam also calls for the fraternity and brotherhood of its followers, forming a single community, termed as Ummah. Islam declares that there would be a Day of Judgment on the last day of this world, termed as Qiyamat. On that day virtues would be rewarded and evils would be punished for. This encyclopedic study is an asset for scholars, religious experts and as well as students.

In this definitive history, a key figure in the People's Campaign in Kerala provides an insider's account of one of the world's most extensive and successful experiments in decentralization. Launched in 1996, the campaign mobilized over 3 million of Kerala's 30 million people and resulted in bottom-up development planning in all 1,052 of its villages and urban neighborhoods. The authors detail the background of the campaign, trace its stages, assess problems and successes, and evaluate concrete results and reforms. Local Democracy and Development tells a powerful story of mass mobilization and innovation as bureaucratic opposition was overcome, corruption and cynicism were rooted out, and parliamentary democracy prevailed. Considering both the theoretical and applied significance of the campaign both in the context of India's development since independence and of recent international debates about decentralization, civil society, and empowerment, this study provides invaluable lessons for sustainable development worldwide.