Madhav Singh is an MPhil graduate in Politics (Comparative Government) from the University of Oxford. His research explores the uneven geography of democratic backsliding in federal systems, with a focus on how and why some subnational units maintain democratic stability amid national-level autocratizing pressures. His thesis examines the Indian case, where democratic decline under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the centre has not been uniformly replicated across the states. Through a combination of original measurement, elite interviews, and process tracing, his work shows how subnationalist movements, by framing central interventions as threats to state autonomy, can activate political mobilisation and institutional resistance in defence of democratic practices.
Research
- Democratic backsliding and resilience in federal systems
- Subnationalism, identity politics, and centre–state political dynamics in India
- Party systems, elite behaviour, and regime typologies in comparative perspective
- Qualitative and mixed-methods approaches, including elite interviewing and process tracing
Professional Experience
Previous
- Research Assistant, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (Lokniti) – Electoral behaviour and survey design in Uttar Pradesh
- Research Assistant, Centre de Sciences Humaines – Populism and the performative turn in Indian democratic discourse
- Research Assistant, Centre for New Economic Studies – Fiscal federalism and GST implementation
- Research Coordinator, Global Counter-Terrorism Council – Strategic misperceptions in India-China relations
- Research Intern, KPMG India – Ethnographic study on diversity and inclusion in corporate culture
Awards and Honours
- Summa cum laude, Ashoka University (2021)
- Dean’s List, Ashoka University (Every semester, 2018–2021)
- Excellence Trophy, Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (2018)
Teaching
Teaching Assistant, POL-3063: Overcoming, Ashoka University (Spring 2021)
Assisted Dr. Matthew Baxter in a graduate-level course on political resistance and adversity; developed assessments, held office hours, and facilitated discussions (average student rating: 4.8/5)
Email Madhav with any inquiries or further discussion on his research.
