Democracy's Reach: Political Representation and Elections in India
Last week marked the beginning of Francesca Refsum Jensenius's research residency at CAS. She will be conducting her research at the Centre in two phases—a month-long stay this autumn semester, with plans to return in the spring to complete her project.
Understanding India's democratic landscape
Francesca's Young CAS project, "Democracy's Reach: Political Representation and Elections in India," addresses urgent questions about democratic representation in the world's largest democracy. Her research examines three critical challenges to electoral representation in the Indian context: the disconnect between voter intentions and election outcomes, uneven public service delivery coupled with the prevalence of clientelism, and the institutional weakness of India's party system.
"Current discussions about challenges to democracy across the globe are nowhere more urgent and more consequential than in India, the world's largest electoral system and most populous country," Francesca notes.
The value of collaborative research
During her autumn residency, Francesca will work alongside three of her collaborators to focus specifically on analyzing the fragility
of India's party system and its effects on voter engagement in the political process. The team plans to finalize a paper examining the electoral consequences of voters' weak attachment to political parties while advancing a book manuscript about the political marginalization of the poor.
Additionally, the group plan to work on a survey focused on political leadership and representation in India, which they hope to implement in the coming year.
Francesca emphasizes the unique benefits of conducting research in a shared physical space. "Being in the same location allows for both focused co-writing and spontaneous conversation, thereby creating a form of intellectual momentum that's hard to achieve when working together across borders and time zones," she explains.
She highlights the environment of the Centre, appreciating “the beautiful building, the good food, and the energy that is created by being surrounded by many smart and curious people. It’s a setting that encourages focus on intellectual creativity, and I am excited to make the most of it.” She particularly looks forward to “engaging with scholars from diverse disciplines and backgrounds,” noting that in her experience such exchanges can be both intellectually stimulating and spark unexpected ideas and collaborations.
Broader research impact
Francesca’s project aims to bring together leading scholars on Indian politics from around the world to analyze original datasets and develop new research agendas for studying democracy in India and the developing world more broadly. The work addresses fundamental questions about democratic representation, accountability, and institutional strength that extend well beyond India's borders.
Looking ahead to her time at CAS, Francesca reflects, "I am particularly excited about the slower, more reflective pace that CAS encourages. Having time and space to think deeply, without the usual distractions, is a rare gift." She hopes to "leave not only with progress on my work, but also with renewed energy and inspiration."
Read more about Francesca's Young CAS project here >
Read more about the Young CAS Grant here >