Democracy Undone: Authoritarianism and its Popular Appeal in Modern India

Author: Julianne Joseph

Field of Study: Philosophy, Politics and Law

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Matthew Cole

Easel: 63

Timeslot: Midday

Abstract: Democratic backsliding has swept across the globe, impacting even the biggest regimes. India, once the world’s largest democracy, has now transformed into a renowned autocracy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Strikingly, support for Modi has continued to thrive even beyond the demographic of Hindu Majoritarians. This research aims to provide an understanding of why Indian citizens are attracted to an authoritarian leader. Through the use of psychology journals and firsthand accounts from citizens, this study will consider both the trends of an authoritarian personality as well as plausible explanations for why many Indians possess this trait. Not only will Modi’s regime be analyzed and compared to the former democracies of India, this research will also examine how Hindu ideologies, such as karma, play a role in the attitudes of Indian citizens today. Taken together, this paper will study authoritarianism in a nation where psychological research often gets overlooked and provide a basis of understanding why India’s regime disables a fair and cooperative society.