• Commentary
  • Research
  • Experts
  • Events
Carnegie China logoCarnegie lettermark logo
{
  "authors": [
    "Milan Vaishnav"
  ],
  "type": "other",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "SAP",
  "programs": [
    "South Asia"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "South Asia",
    "India"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform",
    "Democracy"
  ]
}

Source: Getty

Other

Ethnic Identifiability in India: Evidence from a Voter Survey

While Indian voters often misidentify the ethnic identity of their candidate, the degree of error is small but systematic.

Link Copied
By Milan Vaishnav
Published on Aug 2, 2017

Source: Asian Survey

Abstract

The ethnic politics literature assumes that one's ethnic identity is readily identifiable. This paper evaluates how well this assumption holds in practice, drawing on a voter survey in the Indian state of Bihar. While voters often misidentify the identity of their candidate, the degree of error is small but systematic.

Read Full Text

This article was originally published in Asian Survey.

About the Author

Milan Vaishnav

Director and Senior Fellow, South Asia Program

Milan Vaishnav is a senior fellow and director of the South Asia Program and the host of the Grand Tamasha podcast at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. His primary research focus is the political economy of India, and he examines issues such as corruption and governance, state capacity, federalism, and electoral behavior. He also conducts research on the Indian diaspora.

    Recent Work

  • Paper
    How Populist Middle Powers Are—and Are Not—Reshaping Global Politics
      • Christopher Chivvis

      Christopher S. Chivvis, Rohan Mukherjee, Milan Vaishnav

  • Commentary
    Carnegie’s Summer Beach Reads
      • Steve Feldstein
      • +8

      Sophia Besch, Eric Ciaramella, Steve Feldstein, …

Milan Vaishnav
Director and Senior Fellow, South Asia Program
Milan Vaishnav
Political ReformDemocracySouth AsiaIndia

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie China

  • Commentary
    The Challenges Behind China’s Global South Policies

    While China will remain a significant political and economic force in the Global South, its ambition to leverage the Global South as a counterbalance to the United States and the Global North is far from assured.

      Xue Gong

  • Commentary
    China’s Rising Influence in the Middle East

    Transactional relationships are stable but can be shallow.

      • +1

      Paul Haenle, Maha Yahya, Benjamin Ho, …

  • Article
    The Many “One Chinas”: Multiple Approaches to Taiwan and China

    Beijing says that over 180 countries accept its “one China principle” regarding Taiwan, but the reality is more complicated.

      Chong Ja Ian

  • Commentary
    Renewed Clashes on the China-India Border

    Can China and India disengage from contested territories along the border?

      • +1

      Paul Haenle, Ashley J. Tellis, Han Hua, …

  • Commentary
    China’s Zero COVID Policy Is a Double-Edged Sword

    Beijing must choose between preserving its pandemic narrative or facing more unrest.

      Paul Haenle

Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie China
Carnegie China logo, white
Keck Seng Tower133 Cecil Street #10-01ASingapore, 069535Phone: +65 9650 7648
  • Research
  • About
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • For Media
Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie China
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.