The Impact of Party Systems on Marginalized Ethnic Group Welfare

• In Event: Identity and Partisan Politics in Contemporary India

Abstract

What party system best serves ethnic groups that have been politically, economically, and socially marginalized? This paper examines this question through three related questions: how inclusive political parties are in different party systems, what choices are available to marginalized voters within these systems, and how does the welfare of marginalized groups vary across party systems.

Bipolar systems are often commended for pushing parties towards more broad-based policy positions, the provision of public goods rather than patronage, and political stability. However, there are drawbacks: marginalized groups can often be ignored, sidelined, or vilified as seen in states like Gujarat and Rajasthan. This paper sheds light on an aspect of party system politics that appears to favor multiparty systems.

The paper compares party systems in three Indian states, multiparty Uttar Pradesh, two-party Rajasthan, and, until recently, Punjab and its bipolar alliance system. It also examines the impact of changes in the party systems of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab in recent years. This cross-sectional and temporal variation demonstrates how multiparty systems, though populated with more ethnic parties, can make more inclusive appeals to voters than bipolar systems. It also demonstrates the differences in choices available to voters in these three systems. Using recent survey data from Lokniti, it demonstrates the willingness of voters in these different states to switch between parties and to opt for non-traditional party choices based on the strength of the appeals made. Finally, it examines how the party system impacts the welfare of Muslims and Scheduled Castes by looking at representation, experiences of violence and feelings of insecurity, and benefits from government programs.

Author

• Madhavi Devasher, University of New Hampshire