Techno-Patrimonial Welfarism: How technology enabled welfarism is shaping electoral choices, while undermining democratic accountability

Yamini Aiyar (Brown University)

May 20, 15:00 CEST

Abstract. India has had a dramatic scale-up in the use of technology for welfare delivery, especially in the direct benefit transfer of cash and in-kind benefits. Technology disintermediates traditional political structures and centralises political attribution into the personal authority of party leaders. In so doing it plays a significant role in shaping or rather reshaping the terms of the democratic contract between citizens and politicians. We term this phenomenon “techno-patrimonialism.” In this talk I will explore this phenomenon of techno-patrimonialism and reflect on the contours of India’s fledgling welfare state and unpack its differing approaches to state-building, citizenship and democracy.