Theme Panel: Political Parties and Grassroots Democracy in India #APSA2025
Full Paper Panel with Virtual Participation Participants: (Chair) Irfan Nooruddin, Georgetown University (Discussant) Niloufer Siddiqui, SUNY, University at Albany (Discussant) Ashutosh Varshney, Brown University Session Description: Political parties have, at the best of times, been described as indispensable to democracy. But in times of rising authoritarianism, institutional fragility, democratic backsliding, their roles as gatekeepers of democracy is even more pivotal. This panel examines how parties and grassroots organizations strategically navigate institutional frameworks to communicate, maintain relevance, consolidate power, connect with voters, and balance organizational mandates.
