Impact of reservation policies: India's quota politics during the post-independence period, 1950--2011

India has witnessed a "second democratic upsurge", which involved the broad and intensive political participation among the disadvantaged social groups, since the late 1980s. This dissertation focuses on the politics of historically disadvantaged caste groups, especially Other Backward Classes (OBCs). It assumes that Reservation Policies (RPs) played a constructive role. Through examining the case studies of Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, I explain three findings and three aspects of policy methodology.;The first finding is that the new social categories, such as the OBCs, are shaped or strengthened by the state. Through reviewing the Constitutional debates, Indian Census, and procedure of Caste Certificate issuance, I argue that the identity of OBC groups is a construction originating in or strengthened by RPs. The formation of such identity is an irreversible process. Based on this finding, I find that rigidity of state continuously using the same/incorrect standards of caste recognition unintentionally created new identity politics. This is illustrated by the "Creamy Layer" phenomenon. Thirdly, with its caste-based identification, limited reservation benefits and elites' interpretation of RPs, the state has strengthened casteism in the political landscape. I especially analyze resource effect and interpretive effect of RPs, arguing that insufficient allocation of resources and manipulation of interpreting RPs by the political elite caused a politics of contention on quotas.;On the methodological front, this dissertation provides a good case for policy research. It supports three hypotheses of policy approach: 1) Scope of programs: compared with the targeted programs in Uttar Pradesh, universal programs in Tamil Nadu shape a broader political coalition among welfare supporters. 2) Program spending: the policy beneficiaries in Tamil Nadu tend to participate in a more collective matter than Uttar Pradesh because more generously, more evenly and longer welfare benefits are provided. 3) Interpretation of programs: beneficiaries' political attitudes and behaviors tend to be manipulated by elite groups' interpretation of policies. Finally, I emphasize the importance of research into the relationship between welfare regimes and political participation.