Locked in Place

The book delves into the reasons behind the varying success of countries in establishing developmental states post-World War II, focusing on India's unique experience. It argues that the response of domestic capitalists was crucial, highlighting how Indian industrialists actively campaigned against a robust state-led development initiative in the years following Independence. Despite ambitious programs in the 1950s and 1960s, the Indian state's lack of institutional capacity hindered rapid industrialization, challenging conventional views on state capacity and development.