Dr. Sudhir Selvaraj

Biography

I am a political scientist who studies democratic decline, nationalism, and anti-minority violence (broadly defined), with a regional focus on South Asia. I have recently co-edited three special issues: the first on Hindu Nationalism and Anti-Christian Violence for Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, co-edited with Kenneth Bo Nielsen (University of Oslo) in 2025; the second on Hindutva and the Rule(s) of Law for Social & Legal Studies, co-edited with Raphael Susewind (LSE) in 2024; and the third, titled Relocations of Hindutva: Hindu Nationalism under Modi 3.0, co-edited with Nielsen and Alf Gunvald Nilsen (University of Pretoria) for Development Studies. I am currently working on a co-edited volume (under contract with Palgrave Macmillan) on Religious Nationalism, Minorities, and Democracy in South Asia with Paul Rowe (Trinity Western University, Canada).

Beyond academia, I have contributed to public scholarship through platforms such as The Conversation, The Diplomat, South Asia Voices, and 9DashLine. My expertise has been featured in NBC News, iNews/iPaper, FRANCE 24, the Sydney Morning Herald, TVNZ, and BBC Radio.

At PSID, I teach a range of modules at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels on geopolitics, the politics of South Asia, applied conflict studies, and project management in international development. I have a strong interest in pedagogy, particularly in exploring how individuals learn through creative practices. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).

I hold a PhD in Politics from the King’s India Institute (completed on a Mazumdar Studentship) and an MA in International Relations (with distinction) from the Department of War Studies, both at King’s College London. I completed my BA (cum laude) at Concordia College, Minnesota, with a double major in Global Studies and Political Science and a minor in Business.

Before joining PSID, I was a Lecturer in International Development (Education) at King’s College London, where I remain a Research Affiliate. I am also affiliated with the Centre for Asian Studies in Africa, University of Pretoria, and the Centre for South Asian Democracy, University of Oslo. I am a co-founder and currently serve on the board of the ASPIRE Network, a new UK-wide network for teaching-track academics in Politics and International Relations.

Research

My current research interests lie at the intersection of religion and politics, especially in South Asia. In particular, I am interested in the social and political growth of nationalist movements, their impacts on religious, gendered and caste minorities, and the resulting effects on democracy and secularism, and the law.

Teaching

Modules

• Politics, Security and Development in South Asia - PES 7069
• Theories and Practices of Conflict Resolution - PES7064
• Power Shifts: Regional and Global Challenges - PES5029
• Applied Conflict Research - PES7036

Professional activities

Publications