The Missing Identity

B L Maheshwari THE behaviour of a society, like that of an individual, is determined by its subjective perception of the objective reality. The key symbols, slogans, norms, myths and peculiarities of behaviour of any society are the products of the problems and challenges with which that society is grappling at a given point of time. However, ideology, in its manifold manifestations, provides the frame of reference for perception of the reality and the self-image of the society. Thus, development involves "transition from one set of values and practices to another", and a study of this evolution is an important part of political analysis. Since the elite in any society command the resources in the society and influence the thinking and behaviour at the mass level, the values and practices of the elite arc the dominant factors in determining the evolution of a society. Hence, students of political development concentrate on the study of the nature and significance of the different types of elites in the society.