APPLIED MICRO: From People’s War to People’s Rule: Rebel Governance and the Foundations of Inclusive Democracy; Professor Rohini Pande (Yale University)

Abstract

Revolutionary democratic movements aim to reorganize political power. Using the case of Nepal's People War, which overthrew a 240-year caste-based monarchy and established a federal democracy, we provide evidence on how inclusive revolutionary dynamics boost de jure democratic reforms and state capacity. Using a spatial regression discontinuity design, we show that wartime exposure to a rebel Maoist government increased political knowledge and engagement, especially among indigenous groups (Janajatis). Comparing neighboring municipalities, rebel government exposure increases Maoist electoral success ​and the municipality's fiscal wherewithal. We combine a full census in 11 districts with electoral data and novel party selection committee survey data to identify influence routes. Upper-caste party leaders exhibit implicit bias against Janajati political leadership. In areas exposed to wartime rebel governance structures, all parties have more Janajati party leaders, and subsequently more Janajati candidates. Likely reflecting the combination of rebel governance having emphasized class solidarity and electoral incentives, we show that mayors delivered more post-earthquake aid to the majority population group, irrespective of whether they were coethnics.