Competing interests, social conflict and the politics of caste reservations in India

Inclusive victim consciousness predicts minority group members’ support for refugees and immigrants

“…Reasons for these clashes include conflict over resources and perceived symbolic threat such as the perception that the Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants were changing the religious and ethnic character of the region (Institute of South Asian Studies, ). Similarly, affirmative action rights have caused tension between disadvantaged minority groups in India: those who were granted these rights sometimes oppose their extension to other minority groups (Suri, ).…”

Other Backward Classes and the politics of reservations in India: Past and present

“…Although the number of jobs involved was only 15,000 per year, it sparked widespread protests reflecting sharp conflicts over the distribution of government jobs and educational resources. There was a violent upper caste backlash, especially in Delhi, Orissa, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, including instances of selfimmolation by upper caste students (Suri 1995). The upper castes took to the streets to prevent a policy change that would restrict their public sector job opportunities, which were extremely important before the 1991 economic liberalization.…”