India, the world’s largest democracy, offers an opportunity to study various questions relevant to politics and policy. How does a multiethnic democracy sustain itself? Who supports right-wing policies and politics in India? Have caste and gender-based reservations (quotas) improved political participation? Have welfare policies improved the well-being of the poor? Has right-wing politics shifted the contours of religious, ethnic, and regional divisions?
This course provides a unique opportunity for students to work on questions like these through a semester-long, data-driven research project of a student’s choosing on the Politics of India. Students will interact one-on-one with the instructional team throughout the term, receiving guidance on project development, data analysis, and writing a research paper. Prior knowledge of Indian politics is recommended, not required. Those without knowledge of Indian politics will have access to background materials to familiarize themselves with key concepts, political actors, and recent developments in the Politics of India.
The course is ideal for those who want to experience conducting independent research and data analysis. You don’t need a background in statistics to take the class—just an openness to learning how to analyze and interpret data. The instructional team will assist students in accessing relevant datasets, conducting analyses, interpreting data, and providing regular feedback on their progress.