Why Representation Matters
The Meaning of Ethnic Quotas in Rural India

This book explores how political quotas mandating inclusion of marginalized groups socially impact the intergroup relations.

Simon Chauchard (Author)

9781107125926, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 February 2017

322 pages, 22 b/w illus. 1 map 28 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.1 cm, 0.62 kg

'Chauchard's study is yet an important one that pursues its objectives rigorously. This is certainly reflected in his exhaustive discussion on terminology and his review on the domain of reservations … Chauchard's study is undoubtedly one that cannot be ignored by scholars and students of political systems. Even general readers will be enriched in terms of understanding the dynamics between values and prejudices of people, social policy and its implementation and social research.' Chandni Girija, Aigne

When members of groups that have long been marginalized finally gain access to political offices, it is expected that the social meaning of belonging to such a group will change and that these psychological changes will have far-reaching behavioral consequences. Supporters of political quotas granting such access often argue that they improve the nature of intergroup relations. However, these presumed psychological effects have remained surprisingly uncharted and untested. Do policies mandating the inclusion of excluded groups in political offices change the intergroup relations? If so, in what ways? By drawing on careful multi-method explorations of a single case - local-level electoral quotas for members of formerly 'untouchable' castes in India - this book provides nuanced, thorough and ultimately optimistic responses to these questions.

List of figures
List of tables
Acknowledgments
Note on terminology
1. Political representation and intergroup relations
2. Untouchability in rural India: persistence and evolution
3. Local representation in rural India: a view from the ground
4. Theory: the impact of descriptive representation
5. Quantitative methodology
6. The material and tangible effects of descriptive representation
7. The cognitive impact of descriptive representation
8. The effects of descriptive representation on interpersonal relations
9. Descriptive representation and intergroup relations in comparative perspective
Appendix A. Methodical note on field research
Appendix B. The pair-matches
Appendix C. Additional balance tests
Appendix D. Did members of the scheduled castes self-select into reserved villages?
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Comparative politics [JPB], Politics & government [JP], Social, group or collective psychology [JMH], Social theory [JHBA], Society & culture: general [JF], Society & social sciences [J]