Pavithra Suryanarayan
@pavisuri.bsky.social
Associate Professor, Government Department, LSE
Indian politics, state capacity, status politics, historical political economy
www.pavisuri.com
Editor at http://broadstreet.blog
Indian politics, state capacity, status politics, historical political economy
www.pavisuri.com
Editor at http://broadstreet.blog
Pinned
Endogenous State Capacity
Canonical studies of the origins of state capacity have focused on macro-historical or structural explanations. I review recent research in historical political economy that showcases the role of politics—agents, their constraints, and their motivations—in the evolution of state capacity. Findings from both developed and developing countries emphasize how elite conflict, principal–agent dilemmas, and ethnic and racial differences have shaped agents’ preferences for capacity. These new studies demonstrate that state capacity can be strategically manipulated by political and economic elites, and that the various dimensions of state capacity—extractive, coercive, legal—do not necessarily move together. Refocusing our attention on the political drivers of state capacity has also shed light on why there are such stark subnational variations in the development of state capacity, particularly within large polities like India, China, and the United States. The findings point to the need for more nuanced conceptualization and measurement of state capacity. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Political Science, Volume 27 is June 2024. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
tinyurl.com
🚨My Annual Review article "Endogenous State Capacity" is now available online. I am very grateful for the rich conversations with @annagbusse.bsky.social @pberamendi.bsky.social Cathy Boone, David Stasavage, Emily Sellars, Volha Charnysh, Dann Naseemullah, Francesca Jensenius, Mai Hassan & Xiuyu Li.
On the one hand our storied media institutions are under immense threat from the rise of populist authoritarians, closed social media ecosystems and misinformation. On the other there is this. Seriously 😐
November 14, 2025 at 5:57 PM
On the one hand our storied media institutions are under immense threat from the rise of populist authoritarians, closed social media ecosystems and misinformation. On the other there is this. Seriously 😐
Reposted by Pavithra Suryanarayan
And they say bluesky is not worth the time
November 14, 2025 at 9:19 AM
And they say bluesky is not worth the time
Right now John Lewis, Burberry, Waitrose and Tesco are in an intense battle for the best Christmas ad of the year and I am here for it.
This Waitrose ad is better than the majority of movies I've seen this year.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sOy...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sOy...
Keira Knightley stars in Waitrose’s Christmas ‘mini romcom’ ad
YouTube video by Daily Record
www.youtube.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Right now John Lewis, Burberry, Waitrose and Tesco are in an intense battle for the best Christmas ad of the year and I am here for it.
Reposted by Pavithra Suryanarayan
“Every single person in the Epstein emails should be removed and excluded from positions of any power forever” would be a good op-ed, but probably won’t appear in the NYT. Even more importantly, it would be a good political party platform, but that probably won’t happen either
November 13, 2025 at 4:41 PM
“Every single person in the Epstein emails should be removed and excluded from positions of any power forever” would be a good op-ed, but probably won’t appear in the NYT. Even more importantly, it would be a good political party platform, but that probably won’t happen either
Reposted by Pavithra Suryanarayan
WHITE HOUSE: FEDERAL STATISTICAL SYSTEM MAY HAVE PERMANENTLY BEEN DAMAGED WHITE HOUSE: OCTOBER JOBS REPORTS LIKELY NEVER RELEASED
November 12, 2025 at 6:34 PM
WHITE HOUSE: FEDERAL STATISTICAL SYSTEM MAY HAVE PERMANENTLY BEEN DAMAGED WHITE HOUSE: OCTOBER JOBS REPORTS LIKELY NEVER RELEASED
Put the concerted effort by a particular newspaper over the years to platform anti-woke in context of the same paper sitting on Epstein correspondence. Staying silent is one thing, but running a info campaign to malign the social foundations of the me too movement or BLM is quite another.
November 13, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Put the concerted effort by a particular newspaper over the years to platform anti-woke in context of the same paper sitting on Epstein correspondence. Staying silent is one thing, but running a info campaign to malign the social foundations of the me too movement or BLM is quite another.
Reposted by Pavithra Suryanarayan
Maybe it’s just the Humanities professor in me, but let it be noted that events of today (ahem) have demonstrated the value of being able to assess a large volume of qualitative data and do careful textual analysis with deep attention to context.
November 13, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Maybe it’s just the Humanities professor in me, but let it be noted that events of today (ahem) have demonstrated the value of being able to assess a large volume of qualitative data and do careful textual analysis with deep attention to context.
The BBC let got of a DG and a news editor for an editorial decision. What’s the NYT planning to do for sitting on emails for two election cycles that directly link the President to Epstein?
But her Emails!!!!
But her Emails!!!!
turns out the emails we should have been reading in 2016 were from the NYT
November 13, 2025 at 10:27 AM
The BBC let got of a DG and a news editor for an editorial decision. What’s the NYT planning to do for sitting on emails for two election cycles that directly link the President to Epstein?
But her Emails!!!!
But her Emails!!!!
Reposted by Pavithra Suryanarayan
Kind of wild that while food assistance was withheld from millions of families, one Trump-supporting billionaire (Ellison) saw his net worth grow more this year than the entire SNAP budget. And the YTD gains of the other four richest men would’ve fully covered salaries for all 2M federal employees.
November 11, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Kind of wild that while food assistance was withheld from millions of families, one Trump-supporting billionaire (Ellison) saw his net worth grow more this year than the entire SNAP budget. And the YTD gains of the other four richest men would’ve fully covered salaries for all 2M federal employees.
This was a good read but this caught my eye and I had a hearty laugh: “Begala continued, Let me get to the heart of your question: Zohran Mamdani had the weakest win of a successful New York Democrat in 35 years.“ How are you a “political consultant” and coming up with gems like this?!!!!
Opinion | Young Voters Are the Holy Grail. Zohran Mamdani Just Showed Democrats How to Win Them.
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:45 PM
This was a good read but this caught my eye and I had a hearty laugh: “Begala continued, Let me get to the heart of your question: Zohran Mamdani had the weakest win of a successful New York Democrat in 35 years.“ How are you a “political consultant” and coming up with gems like this?!!!!
Reposted by Pavithra Suryanarayan
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
There is the angry Dem voters/base, then there is the Republican Party and its voters, and then there is the Dem Party- that continues to toil in the belief that it is the only responsible party so it just negotiates with itself. Completely unsustainable
November 10, 2025 at 7:33 AM
There is the angry Dem voters/base, then there is the Republican Party and its voters, and then there is the Dem Party- that continues to toil in the belief that it is the only responsible party so it just negotiates with itself. Completely unsustainable
Reposted by Pavithra Suryanarayan
It is fantastically BBC to have the DG resign over mis-quoting Trump mere days after Trump experienced an absolute tidal wave of terrible election results.
November 9, 2025 at 8:12 PM
It is fantastically BBC to have the DG resign over mis-quoting Trump mere days after Trump experienced an absolute tidal wave of terrible election results.
Reposted by Pavithra Suryanarayan
Just absolutely classic BBC. You've just broadcast the most successful programme of the year, uniting Gen Z kids online and Boomers on broadcast in a return to appointment television. And instead of celebrating, your DG reigns due to a made-up right-wing scandal.
November 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Just absolutely classic BBC. You've just broadcast the most successful programme of the year, uniting Gen Z kids online and Boomers on broadcast in a return to appointment television. And instead of celebrating, your DG reigns due to a made-up right-wing scandal.
About £110-120 a week.
Disability benefits here in the UK are less than most people believe.
They're harder to get than most people believe.
Fraud is lower than most people believe.
The evidence you need to get them is more than most people believe.
The Government and media rely on this collective ignorance.
They're harder to get than most people believe.
Fraud is lower than most people believe.
The evidence you need to get them is more than most people believe.
The Government and media rely on this collective ignorance.
November 7, 2025 at 9:14 PM
About £110-120 a week.
Reposted by Pavithra Suryanarayan
The Nuffield PPRF is an amazing postdoc - a brilliant community, lovely college, and yes, great food. And, usually, also with a family of ducks.
We have just published the call for the Nuffield Postdoctoral Prize Research Fellowships in Politics. These are 3-year fully-funded postdocs that will allow you to focus on your research in a great academic environment. (And with excellent food)
www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/the-college/...
www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/the-college/...
Postdoctoral Prize Research Fellowships in Politics - Nuffield College Oxford University
www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 7:39 PM
The Nuffield PPRF is an amazing postdoc - a brilliant community, lovely college, and yes, great food. And, usually, also with a family of ducks.
Reposted by Pavithra Suryanarayan
In light of recent events, it seems like a good time to reup this.
“The way out isn't about left versus right; it's about clean versus corrupt, reform versus a rigged system, the people versus oligarchs.”
“The way out isn't about left versus right; it's about clean versus corrupt, reform versus a rigged system, the people versus oligarchs.”
The Democrats' Path Forward: Become the Anti-Corruption Party
But to reform the system they first need to reform the Democratic Party.
open.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:59 PM
In light of recent events, it seems like a good time to reup this.
“The way out isn't about left versus right; it's about clean versus corrupt, reform versus a rigged system, the people versus oligarchs.”
“The way out isn't about left versus right; it's about clean versus corrupt, reform versus a rigged system, the people versus oligarchs.”
Reposted by Pavithra Suryanarayan
I am grateful for the strong commitment to lawful free speech here, but in the spirit of free speech and open disagreement, I don’t think that the position of institutional neutrality outlined by President Kramer in this interview is the right one: blogs.lse.ac.uk/highereducat... (1)
‘If it’s lawful speech, don’t ask us to condemn it’ - LSE Higher Education
Into his second year as President and Vice-Chancellor of the LSE, Larry Kramer has dealt with a pro-Palestinian encampment, academic freedom infringements, and visa restrictions for foreign students. ...
blogs.lse.ac.uk
November 7, 2025 at 9:43 AM
I am grateful for the strong commitment to lawful free speech here, but in the spirit of free speech and open disagreement, I don’t think that the position of institutional neutrality outlined by President Kramer in this interview is the right one: blogs.lse.ac.uk/highereducat... (1)
Dominant parties in electoral authoritarian contexts have advantages in candidate recruitment. Candidates go to the party with deep pockets to improve chances of winning & gain rents. Gender/race/edu polarization however means Dems continue to have a deep talent bench despite rising authoritarianism
November 7, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Dominant parties in electoral authoritarian contexts have advantages in candidate recruitment. Candidates go to the party with deep pockets to improve chances of winning & gain rents. Gender/race/edu polarization however means Dems continue to have a deep talent bench despite rising authoritarianism
Reposted by Pavithra Suryanarayan
I helped make a film, out this week, called “Rovina’s Choice,” about the deaths this man without conscience or accountability has caused — already 600,000, ⅔ of them children.
November 6, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I helped make a film, out this week, called “Rovina’s Choice,” about the deaths this man without conscience or accountability has caused — already 600,000, ⅔ of them children.
Reposted by Pavithra Suryanarayan
lost in the catastrophe that is American politics right now is how terrible corporate governance has become. democratic backsliding touches private institutions too, and the people who run some of the biggest orgs in the world have quietly devolved them into regressive fiefdoms.
New: Conde Nast fired four employees who were among a group that confronted the company's head of human resources on Wednesday over the decision to fold Teen Vogue into Vogue/recent cuts. Employees who were fired included journalists from the New Yorker, Wired, and Bon Appétit.
November 6, 2025 at 6:19 PM
lost in the catastrophe that is American politics right now is how terrible corporate governance has become. democratic backsliding touches private institutions too, and the people who run some of the biggest orgs in the world have quietly devolved them into regressive fiefdoms.
I was not prepared for my 9 year old to report back from history club that they discussed the theory of Guy Fawkes gunpowder plot being an inside job.
November 6, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I was not prepared for my 9 year old to report back from history club that they discussed the theory of Guy Fawkes gunpowder plot being an inside job.
The best part about the backlash to the backlash is going to be relegating these people to the outer fringes of respectable politics. I cannot imagine reading these passages even five years ago.
Again, what the fuck, how are these words someone can spill out of their mouth
November 6, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The best part about the backlash to the backlash is going to be relegating these people to the outer fringes of respectable politics. I cannot imagine reading these passages even five years ago.
Reposted by Pavithra Suryanarayan
I’ll keep pushing this line of analysis because I’m increasingly convinced the clearest path out of this mess is for Dems to adopt a relentless anti-corruption, anti-inequality, anti-oligarchy, pro-democracy platform. The Dem leadership hasn’t realized it yet, but they’re now a reform party.
November 6, 2025 at 12:06 AM
I’ll keep pushing this line of analysis because I’m increasingly convinced the clearest path out of this mess is for Dems to adopt a relentless anti-corruption, anti-inequality, anti-oligarchy, pro-democracy platform. The Dem leadership hasn’t realized it yet, but they’re now a reform party.