Governance in the Gullies: Democratic Responsiveness and Leadership in Delhi’s Slums*

We use detailed ethnographic evidence to design and interpret a broader representative survey of 800 households in Delhi’s slums, examining the processes by which residents gain access to formal government and develop their own, informal, modes of leadership. While ethnically homogeneous slums transplant rural institutions to the city, newer and ethnically diverse slums depend on informal leaders who gain their authority through political connections, education and network entrepreneurship. Education and political affiliation are more important than seniority in determining a leader’s influence. Informal leaders are accessible to all slum dwellers, but formal government figures are most accessed by the wealthy and the well-connected. * We are grateful to the World Bank’s Research Department for funding the survey upon which this stud