Abstract
The development state perspective argues that the autonomous, development-oriented state with competent bureaucracy and weak civil society is responsible for the inclusive growth in South East Asian countries and China. The social capital or civil society perspective argues that network of an associations or an autonomous and democratic civil society is instrumental for inclusive governance and development in north Italy. However, the paper argues that the relationship between the state and society is complimentary and promote inclusive governance and sustainable development. Inclusive policies (reflecting the preferences, needs and rights of citizens particularly disadvantaged groups) can be effectively formulated and implemented in both the collaborative and contesting State-society synergy. These issues are examined in the contexts of state-society synergy in the management of community forests in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa.