Professor Louise Tillin
Professor of Politics
Research interests
- International development
- Policy
- Politics
Biography
Louise is Professor of Politics in the King’s India Institute.
Her latest monograph Making India Work: The Development of Welfare in a Multi-Level Democracy is published by Cambridge University Press (2025). Making India Work examines the development of welfare in India over the last century from the early decades of the twentieth century to the present. Other books include Deconstructing India’s Democracy: Essays in Honour of James Manor, edited with Rob Jenkins (Orient Blackswan, 2025); The Politics of Poverty Reduction in India: The UPA Government, 2004 to 2014 (with James Chiriyankandath, Diego Maiorano and James Manor) (New Delhi, Orient Blackswan, 2020); Indian Federalism (New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2019); Politics of Welfare: Comparisons across Indian States, edited with Rajeshwari Deshpande and KK Kailash (New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 2015); Remapping India: New States and their Political Origins (Hurst & Co/Oxford University Press, 2013).
Louise is former Managing Editor of the journal Regional and Federal Studies, and an editorial advisory board member of Pacific Affairs and India Law Review. Before joining King’s in 2011, she was Joyce Lambert Research Fellow in Politics at Newnham College, Cambridge. Louise holds a DPhil in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Sussex. She was a Thouron Scholar (MA South Asia Regional Studies) at the University of Pennsylvania and has a BA (Hons) History from Cambridge.
Research
- Federalism, democracy and territorial politics
- History and politics of Indian social policy
- Political economy of development in India
- Diaspora politics
Louise is currently the UK Principal Investigator of Diaspora Politics and the International Mainstreaming of National Populism (InDiPop) funded by the Economic and Social Research Council in the UK, as part of an Open Research Area project of the national research funding agencies of France (ANR), Great Britain (ESRC), Canada (SSHRC) and Germany (DFG), with Japan’s national research funding agency JSPS as an associated partner.
Information about previous research projects supported by funders including the British Academy, British Council, Economic and Social Research Council, European Research Council, and Leverhulme Trust can be found on her Research Profile.
Teaching
Postgraduate
- 7YYINGA4 Global Affairs Capstone Project
- 7YYIN030 Global Welfare Politics
Further details
Research
Global South Research Group
The Global South research group brings together scholars engaged in research on international political and economic trends, non-European perspectives, and south-south comparisons.
Urbanisation, Rural Development and Social Transformations research group
A research group examining urban-rural development and its effect on the developing world.
News
Rethinking Welfare in India's Political Economy
New book is more than a historical account—it’s a call to rethink how welfare is conceptualized and delivered in India
King's expert on federalism quoted in Indian Supreme Court's tax judgement
Professor Louise Tillin's award-winning article was quoted by the dissenting judge in a case about centre-state division of powers.
New research suggests that health is a larger concern for Indian voters than previously believed
The first-ever survey on electoral perceptions around health in India shows that health, though not a top priority, does influence voting decisions.
India's foreign policy geared towards securing national interest and maximising opportunities
India’s High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami spoke about India’s foreign policy and trade relations, in a lecture hosted by King’s India Institute.
Director of King's India Institute wins Best Article Award
Professor Louise Tillin’s article ‘Building a National Economy: Origin of Centralized Federalism in India’ has won the John Kincaid Best Article Award,...
King's India Institute celebrates ten years of impact
Now in its 10th year, the King’s India Institute has been celebrating its many achievements and the importance of deepening public understanding of...
Indian Supreme Court judge addresses courts' role in protecting human rights
On Monday 20 June, Honourable Dr Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, from India’s Supreme Court, addressed an audience of over 200 people at an event organised by...
Examining the economic and social impact of COVID-19 on India
A new website from the King's India Institute presents a real-time picture of COVID-19's impact on individual states across India.
Lines in the Hills: Indo-Chinese Rivalry in the Himalayas
Following a clash at the Himalayan border in mid-June – the most violent confrontation between India and China in decades – the King’s India Institute and Lau...
Events
The State of Democracy in South Asia
Dr SY Quraishi will speak about his new book in a panel discussion with other scholars.
Please note: this event has passed.
India’s Highway to a Financialised Future and its Digital Public Infrastructure
Jai Bhatia will speak about initiatives reshaping India's financial landscape.
Please note: this event has passed.
Making India Work: The Development of Welfare in a Multi-Level Democracy
Join us for the launch of Professor Louise Tillin's book.
Please note: this event has passed.
Global Hindutva: Transnational Identities, Multiculturalism and the Indian Diaspora
Dr Edward Anderson will speak about his book on the Indian diaspora.
Please note: this event has passed.
Introduction to Global Affairs - 4 March 2025
Discover more about studying Global Affairs MSc
Please note: this event has passed.
Policing in India: Can separate police stations for marginalised communities deliver justice for hate crimes?
Dr Nirvikar Jassal will deliver a talk as part of the King's India Institute seminar series.
Please note: this event has passed.
From Red Tape to a Red Line: How land record digitisation can stall infrastructure investment
Dr Aliz Toth will deliver a talk on land record digitisation in India
Please note: this event has passed.
Elections in the World’s Largest Democracy: How Does This Reshape Global Politics
Journalist and anchor Sonia Singh will deliver this seminar at the King's India Institute.
Please note: this event has passed.
2024 and Beyond: The Implications of India’s Election Results
Roundtable discussion with Christophe Jaffrelot, Louise Tillin, Anit Mukherjee and Sunil Mitra Kumar.
Please note: this event has passed.
The Colonial Constitution: An Origin Story
This talk delves into the writings of Indian leaders and debates around the Constitution.
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
The political economy of populism in India
PROFESSOR LOUISE TILLIN explores the sources of populism in India, its recent developments, and what this means for the 2024 general elections.
A democratic health check: why India shows the need for democracies to prioritise healthcare
Dr Louise Tillin and Sandhya Venkateswaran discuss the politics and democracy of healthcare in India as part of the Build Back Better Together essay series.
DecovIndia – interdisciplinary research at King's in times of a pandemic
A look into collaborative working on the DecovIndia Project at King's during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spotlight
Reimagining India's health system
Why is that India's voters appear to place curiously little emphasis on health when it comes to voting decisions? Professor Louise Tillin is investigating...
Research
Global South Research Group
The Global South research group brings together scholars engaged in research on international political and economic trends, non-European perspectives, and south-south comparisons.
Urbanisation, Rural Development and Social Transformations research group
A research group examining urban-rural development and its effect on the developing world.
News
Rethinking Welfare in India's Political Economy
New book is more than a historical account—it’s a call to rethink how welfare is conceptualized and delivered in India
King's expert on federalism quoted in Indian Supreme Court's tax judgement
Professor Louise Tillin's award-winning article was quoted by the dissenting judge in a case about centre-state division of powers.
New research suggests that health is a larger concern for Indian voters than previously believed
The first-ever survey on electoral perceptions around health in India shows that health, though not a top priority, does influence voting decisions.
India's foreign policy geared towards securing national interest and maximising opportunities
India’s High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami spoke about India’s foreign policy and trade relations, in a lecture hosted by King’s India Institute.
Director of King's India Institute wins Best Article Award
Professor Louise Tillin’s article ‘Building a National Economy: Origin of Centralized Federalism in India’ has won the John Kincaid Best Article Award,...
King's India Institute celebrates ten years of impact
Now in its 10th year, the King’s India Institute has been celebrating its many achievements and the importance of deepening public understanding of...
Indian Supreme Court judge addresses courts' role in protecting human rights
On Monday 20 June, Honourable Dr Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, from India’s Supreme Court, addressed an audience of over 200 people at an event organised by...
Examining the economic and social impact of COVID-19 on India
A new website from the King's India Institute presents a real-time picture of COVID-19's impact on individual states across India.
Lines in the Hills: Indo-Chinese Rivalry in the Himalayas
Following a clash at the Himalayan border in mid-June – the most violent confrontation between India and China in decades – the King’s India Institute and Lau...
Events
The State of Democracy in South Asia
Dr SY Quraishi will speak about his new book in a panel discussion with other scholars.
Please note: this event has passed.
India’s Highway to a Financialised Future and its Digital Public Infrastructure
Jai Bhatia will speak about initiatives reshaping India's financial landscape.
Please note: this event has passed.
Making India Work: The Development of Welfare in a Multi-Level Democracy
Join us for the launch of Professor Louise Tillin's book.
Please note: this event has passed.
Global Hindutva: Transnational Identities, Multiculturalism and the Indian Diaspora
Dr Edward Anderson will speak about his book on the Indian diaspora.
Please note: this event has passed.
Introduction to Global Affairs - 4 March 2025
Discover more about studying Global Affairs MSc
Please note: this event has passed.
Policing in India: Can separate police stations for marginalised communities deliver justice for hate crimes?
Dr Nirvikar Jassal will deliver a talk as part of the King's India Institute seminar series.
Please note: this event has passed.
From Red Tape to a Red Line: How land record digitisation can stall infrastructure investment
Dr Aliz Toth will deliver a talk on land record digitisation in India
Please note: this event has passed.
Elections in the World’s Largest Democracy: How Does This Reshape Global Politics
Journalist and anchor Sonia Singh will deliver this seminar at the King's India Institute.
Please note: this event has passed.
2024 and Beyond: The Implications of India’s Election Results
Roundtable discussion with Christophe Jaffrelot, Louise Tillin, Anit Mukherjee and Sunil Mitra Kumar.
Please note: this event has passed.
The Colonial Constitution: An Origin Story
This talk delves into the writings of Indian leaders and debates around the Constitution.
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
The political economy of populism in India
PROFESSOR LOUISE TILLIN explores the sources of populism in India, its recent developments, and what this means for the 2024 general elections.
A democratic health check: why India shows the need for democracies to prioritise healthcare
Dr Louise Tillin and Sandhya Venkateswaran discuss the politics and democracy of healthcare in India as part of the Build Back Better Together essay series.
DecovIndia – interdisciplinary research at King's in times of a pandemic
A look into collaborative working on the DecovIndia Project at King's during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spotlight
Reimagining India's health system
Why is that India's voters appear to place curiously little emphasis on health when it comes to voting decisions? Professor Louise Tillin is investigating...