When Quotas Collide with Institutions: Ranked Identities and Electoral Politics

• In Event: Gender Quotas and Women's Agency

Abstract

This paper examines the role of intersectional identities in party nominations and argues that, in a ranked society, inequalities exist within and across minority groups. Consequently, political parties tend to nominate candidates from middle-ranking groups, rather than lower-ranking groups, in SMD elections. Furthermore, they tend to elect more candidates from middle-ranking groups, rather than lower-ranking groups, in PR elections. The paper presents descriptive evidence to support the claim that ranking of identities is significant. The empirical findings reveal that upper caste and middle-ranking Indigenous groups are more likely to be nominated and elected than lower ranking groups. These results are consistent with the theoretical framework proposed in this paper, which argues that ranked identities play a crucial role in shaping the outcomes of institutional interventions, such as quotas. Overall, this paper contributes to our understanding of ranked identities and how institutions, such as quotas, can have an unequal impact on the groups they aim to benefit.

Author

• Ojashwi Pathak, University of Maryland, College Park