It is a truism that “geography is not egalitarian” when it comes to the effect of geography on polity and economics. Geographers have long noted that mountains and hills generally results in “minute mountain states” or “dwarf republics” among its inhabitants, which often results in constant feuds among those groups (Semple, 1911). Nagaland, a state in the Northeast region of India, with hilly terrain being its geographic setting bears no exception to that. The pre-colonial and pre-Christianity Nagaland was characterized by independent village republic with the practice of head hunting among the villages and tribes. Such political arrangement has its ramification in the cultural values of the Nagas- especially on the matter of who they identify as ‘one of us’ (radius of identity) and thereby whom to trust (radius of trust). Ever since, Nagaland is within India and elections are held in accordance to Indian constitution for state Legislative Assembly. During which villages often have “village candidate”, a candidate from a village for whom the entire village is forced (in some cases voluntarily) to vote for the candidate- which goes against Indian constitution. This article argues that the cultural values developed during the pre-colonial Nagaland in its geographic setting have its influence and legacy in the electioneering practices of Nagaland.
