Doctoral Candidate Pravin Prakash
Pravin Prakash is currently pursuing a PhD at the Institute of Political Science, Universität Heidelberg, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Aurel Croissant. Pravin is also a Doctoral Fellow at the Heidelberg Graduate School for the Humanities and Social Sciences, supported by the prestigious DAAD-GSSP Scholarship. He holds a Master of Social Sciences and a Bachelor of Social Sciences (with honors) in Political Science from the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Pravin's dissertation examines how illiberal social movements drive autocratization from below, reshaping state-society relations through violence, disinformation, and mutual legitimization. Focusing on India, his research analyzes how grassroots movements can act as agents of norm erosion, fostering a slow but sustained shift toward autocracy. Drawing on contentious politics theory and a Gramscian perspective, the study conceptualizes bottom-up autocratization as a collective change project. It examines how social movements, through the strategic use of violence and hate-spin, contribute to processes of radicalization and institutionalization. By reshaping norms and reinforcing exclusionary narratives, these movements help entrench authoritarian politics, blurring the boundaries between state and society in the autocratization process.
Pravin has extensive experience in public policy research and think tank work, having consulted for government agencies and the private sector on issues related to social cohesion, radicalization, and extremism. He previously served as an Associate Research Fellow at the Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS) at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, where he conducted research on social resilience, violence, and extremism. Currently, he is the Head of Strategic Initiatives at the Centre for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH), where he plays a key role in developing and implementing strategies to address and combat hate, extremism, and disinformation. His research focuses on social cohesion and resilience in plural and multicultural societies, contributing to policy discussions on multiculturalism, secularism, and violence.
A prolific writer, Pravin has been actively publishing for over a decade, producing journal articles, book chapters, and commentary pieces across various academic and policy platforms. His work engages with critical issues such as political violence, authoritarianism, and democratic decline, shaping scholarly and public discourse on these topics.
With over a decade of teaching and lecturing experience, Pravin has designed and delivered courses in political science at universities including the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Heidelberg University. At NUS, he tutored and guest lectured in the Political Science and South Asian Studies departments, while at Heidelberg, he independently developed and lectured modules on collective violence, extremism, and democratic decline. Beyond formal teaching, he has been actively involved in syllabus development, student mentorship, and speaking engagements at academic and policy-making forums.
Pravin’s research is driven by a deep commitment to understanding and addressing the root causes of hate and extremism, with a particular focus on promoting social resilience and developing informed public policy solutions.
