معرفی
Christophe Jaffrelot serves as the Avantha Chair and Professor of Indian Politics and Sociology at the King's India Institute, King's College London, where he also functions as Research Lead for the Global Institutes. He maintains dual academic appointments as a senior research fellow at CERI-Sciences Po and teaches South Asian politics and history at Sciences Po, Paris. Additionally, he holds positions as an Overseas Fellow and Non-Resident Scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
His educational background includes a Diploma from Sciences Po (1985), an M.A. in History from the University of Paris I-Sorbonne (1986), an Advanced Study Degree from EHESS (1986), a Hindi DULCO from the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (1990), and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Sciences Po (1991).
Jaffrelot's research focuses on the politics of religion and identity in South Asia, with particular expertise in the sociology of caste and class in India, political economy of business in India, and the dynamics of populism and authoritarianism. His work examines how religious nationalism shapes democratic institutions, with special attention to Hindu nationalism in India and Islamic politics in Pakistan. He analyzes voting behavior, particularly the relationship between caste, class, and electoral politics, and investigates the transformation of India's political elite.
- Chair of the British Association for South Asian Studies
- Senior editor of the Hurst book series 'Comparative Politics and International Studies' (founded 1999)
- Regular columnist for The Indian Express
Jaffrelot leads multiple international research projects including studies on Muslims in India (funded by Henry Luce Foundation with Princeton and Columbia Universities), Shared Sacred Sites in South Asia (ANR-funded with EHESS), the Social Profile of Indian Elected Representatives (CNRS-funded with Ashoka University), and Federalism in Pakistan (with Lahore University of Management Science). His research methodology combines historical analysis with contemporary political sociology and fieldwork.
He directs the Authoritarianism and Populism research group and the Indo-Pacific research group at King's College London, examining geopolitical strategies and state relationships across the Indo-Pacific region. His work connects theoretical frameworks of ethnic democracy with empirical studies of political behavior in South Asia.
