‘The sort of critical awareness necessary to actually enrich discussions of civil society, rather than contribute to its elusiveness, pervades through the book.’ —Professor Vedi R. Hadiz, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne, Australia

‘…introduces readers to the dynamics shaping the complex relationship between CSOs and the state in today’s India and Bangladesh.’ —Professor Sarah Ansari, Royal Holloway, University of London

‘This volume should be a compulsory read for everyone who is interested in contemporary contests in the civil society space in South Asia…’ —Professor Amit Prakash, Centre for the Study of Law and Governance, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

‘This edited anthology is a timely and an important contribution to the scholarship on civil society and citizenship, particularly in South Asia.’ —Associate Professor Mohammad Salehin, Centre for Peace Studies, The Arctic University of Norway, Norway

Civil Society and Citizenship in India and Bangladesh presents new multidisciplinary research, exploring the opportunities and challenges facing civil society in today’s India and Bangladesh. It informs contemporary understanding of citizenship, gender rights and social identities and is published at a time of increased global uncertainties related to changing civic space, political tensions, a downturn in the world economy and the rise of populism. India and Bangladesh are key contexts, not the least because of rapid (and uneven) economic and social development but their contrasting experiences of democracy and discrimination and inequality faced by dierent groups and communities.

This new multidisciplinary title presents new research findings that also contribute to theory-building on the form, functioning and democratic role of civil society in the 21st century.