In the early 1960s when I was reading philosophy-politics-economics at Oxford, linguistic philosophy was all the rage. Whatever its philosophical limitations, it did provide a training in thinking precisely about the meaning of words and taught how sloppy language was an avenue (and mask) for sloppy thinking. There are two terms that have become ubiquitous in public discourse, and not only in India, which I want to discuss in this context.

Deepak Lal: Rights, stakes and Newspeak

Business Standard

In this column I shall discuss two themes that have become a regular part of a very confused Indian political discourse: corruption and the role of political and business dynasties.

Deepak Lal: Corruption and dynasties

My wife and I were in Moscow in early April. With temperatures of -50 C, there was no sign of spring. This continuing winter freeze reflected the mood of most of the participants at the annual international academic conference organised by the Higher School of Economics, which I had come to attend.

Deepak Lal: The Tsar in winter

Pranab Mukherjee&rsquo;s &ldquo;do nothing&rdquo; budget is only notable for heralding the return of India&rsquo;s predatory state &mdash; with retrospective taxation of direct foreign investments, and reintroduction of various notorious aspects of Fera &mdash; and for confirmation that India is continuing along the primrose path of creating a premature welfare state.

Deepak Lal: No dearth of democratic deficits, at home and abroad

With the recent downgrading by Standard &amp; Poor&rsquo;s of the sovereign debt of France and Austria, and the further discounts of the debt of the Club Med countries, the euro crisis could be reaching its denouement. This could be triggered fairly soon by the impasse on the &ldquo;haircut&rdquo; on Greek debt, which needs to be rolled over in late March.

Deepak Lal

Deepak Lal

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Deepak Lal: Rights, stakes and Newspeak

Deepak Lal: Corruption and dynasties

Deepak Lal: The Tsar in winter

Deepak Lal: No dearth of democratic deficits, at home and abroad

Deepak Lal: Europe delays the inevitable