Social Justice through Inclusion

India has one of the most extensive quota systems in the world: the reserved seats for the Scheduled Castes (SCs, the former “untouchables”) in the country’s legislative assemblies. Combining evidence from quantitative datasets from the period 1969–2012, archival work, and in-depth interviews with politicians, civil servants, and voters across India, this book explores the long-term effects these quotas have had for the political elite and for the general population. It finds that the quotas have played an important role in reducing caste-based discrimination, particularly at the elite level. Contrary to what one might expect, this is not because the quota system has led to more group representation—SC politicians working specifically for SC interests—but because it has created and empowered a new SC elite who have gradually become integrated into mainstream politics. The findings and discussions have broader implications beyond the case of India. Policies such as quotas are often implemented with the explicit goal of changing society and are supported with arguments that assume various positive, long-term consequences. The nuanced discussions in this book shed light on how the quotas for SCs have shaped the incentives for politicians, parties, and voters, noting the trade-offs inherent in how such policies of group inclusion are designed.