Pavithra Suryanarayan

Dr. Pavithra Suryanarayan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Her research focuses on ethnic politics, state capacity, party politics, and Indian politics, employing historical political economy methods with an emphasis on causal identification and archival research. She has received prestigious awards such as the Heinz I Eulau Award (2021) and the Mancur Olson Award for her work in political economy. Her research has been featured in outlets like the New York Times and The Hindu.

Her key research areas include the intersection of ethnic inequality with institutional development, voting preferences, and party system dynamics in ranked ethnic systems like India and the U.S. She also explores state capacity’s role in class voting and party system institutionalization in Indian states. Her work bridges historical contexts with contemporary political challenges, offering insights into governance and electoral behavior.

Prof. Suryanarayan contributes to academic discourse through her editorial roles with Broadstreet, the Journal of Historical Political Economy, and the Comparative Politics Newsletter. Her recent publications address topics like state capacity, pandemic governance in India, and the historical roots of bureaucratic structures.

• Key Awards: Heinz I Eulau Award (2021), Mancur Olson Award, Franklin L. Burdett/Pi Sigma Alpha Award.
• Editorial Roles: Editor of Broadstreet, Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Historical Political Economy.

Her research trends emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to understanding how historical legacies and institutional frameworks shape modern political outcomes, particularly in developing democracies.