‘The Retreat of Democracy’ presents an expanded and reworked selection of Basu's best journalistic and academic writings on political and economic themes since the late 1990s. As well as essays on globalization and democracy, the book provides analyses of ideas in economics, as well as anthroplogical observations on social norms, the role of culture, and travel in India and abroad. It also includes an intellectual biography of Amartya Sen, with a discussion of his scientific contributions.