Explained: This article explains the political background, key decisions, and possible outcomes related to Explained : India’s reservation system shows how ‘ordinary citizens can influence politics’, says Oxfam and Its Impact and why it matters right now.
Davos: As billionaires increasingly dominate the global political landscape, rights group Oxfam has pointed to India’s reservation system as a “compelling” example of how ordinary citizens can be empowered politically.
In its annual inequality report, released on the first day of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Oxfam International highlighted that billionaires are 4,000 times more likely to hold political office than the average citizen.
Making the case for building “the power of the many”, the report argued that ordinary people gain influence in a political system when institutional, social and political conditions enable them to participate meaningfully despite structural inequality.
“This happens when institutional inclusiveness, political incentives for responsiveness, collective organisation, effective governance and ideological commitments align,” Oxfam said.
The organisation added that non-state actors such as civil society organisations, grassroots movements and trade unions are “natural allies of states in building greater political engagement from under-represented communities, and ensuring access for all to meaningful participation in policymaking.”
Resisting the Rule of the Rich
The report, titled Resisting the Rule of the Rich: Protecting Freedom from Billionaire Power, cited several examples of progress in increasing political participation.
“In India, for example, political reservations (quotas) for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other marginalised groups create opportunities for economically disadvantaged and socially excluded communities to gain legislative representation and push redistributive policies,” Oxfam said.
India’s system provides reservations in legislatures for SCs and STs, as well as a 33 per cent quota for women, alongside additional provisions in education and government jobs for other weaker and marginalised groups.
Example of Brazil
Oxfam also highlighted Brazil’s Participatory Budgeting, which began in the 1990s and expanded during the 2000s.
“Its most prominent example was the city of Porto Alegre, whose experience became an international reference in participatory democracy by allowing citizens to directly decide on portions of the municipal public budget,” the report said.
The organisation urged governments to ensure an enabling civic space in line with international legal frameworks and standards to strengthen the political power of ordinary people.
Oxfam called on governments to publicly commit to and act on protecting freedom of expression, assembly and association – including online – so citizens, movements, journalists and organisations can organise, speak out and protest.
It also recommended ensuring transparency and accountability in upholding these rights, through regular reporting and scrutiny by both state and non-state actors, and by granting individuals and organisations access to resources and information.
Published: 19 Jan 2026, 10:59 am IST
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