Stating the difference: State, discourse and class reproduction in Uttar Pradesh, India

Much development literature concerned with state-society relations operates with a simplistic state-people dichotomy. In contrast, this article focuse s on the intersection between state and society and argues that this plays an important part in class reproduction in 'civil society'. This issue is e xplored with reference to the role of the local state in class reproduction in the Indian countryside. The focus is on the means by which rural social groups negotiate access to the local state and discourses surrounding the state. The balance of colonization, co-option and opposition that character izes the relationship between dominant rural classes and local state offici als/institutions is examined against the impact of the rise of a populist l ow class party. It is argued that the intersection between 'class' and 'sta te' is closer than even critical studies of state-society relations have po sited. Moreover, the state can, within certain limits, be brought to serve interests other than those of the dominant classes.