Political researcher and columnist writing on democracy, nationalism, political economy and popular culture in South Asia.
Asim Ali is an Indian political researcher, journalist, and columnist specialising in Indian politics, political economy, minority politics, elections, party systems, and democratic change in South Asia. Over the past decade, Asim Ali has built a reputation as a public intellectual who translates complex academic debates into clear and accessible analysis for wider audiences.
The research and writing of Asim Ali focuses on electoral behaviour, political parties, democratic backsliding, welfare politics, and the changing political landscape of India and South Asia. His work connects scholarly research with contemporary political developments and public debate.
As a columnist and independent researcher, Asim Ali has published more than 250 essays in leading Indian and international media outlets. These include newspapers such as The Telegraph, The Times of India, and The Hindu; magazines such as Frontline and Outlook; and digital platforms including The Print, The Quint, Moneycontrol, and Newslaundry. Internationally, he has contributed to The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Diplomat, and has been quoted in publications such as The Financial Times, The Economist, The Washington Post, and Le Monde.
From 2020 to 2022, Asim Ali worked as a Research Associate at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), New Delhi, where he studied party competition, ethnic mobilisation, and minority politics. His academic work includes peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Studies in Indian Politics and essays in policy and scholarly platforms including the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, India Forum, Seminar, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Centre for the Advanced Study of India.
Asim Ali has presented his research at major academic forums and international institutions. He delivered a presentation on political trends in India at KREA University’s seminar series “Where Is India Headed?” (March 2024) and served as a panelist at Harvard University’s Mittal Institute event on the 2024 Indian general election. He has also participated in regional policy workshops on democratic backsliding in Asia bringing together scholars and practitioners from South and Southeast Asia.
Asim Ali holds an MPhil in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Delhi, an MA in Development Studies from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, and a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering from BITS Pilani, Goa.
Key areas of expertise: Indian politics, political economy, minority politics, elections, political parties, democracy, South Asia.
Selected writings and publications of Asim Ali can be accessed on his personal website: https://asimali6.com.