Democracy’s Crossroads: How Extremism Reshapes Power and Inclusion in the United States and India

This thesis examines the historical and structural factors that have shaped the current rise of extreme conservatism, shift toward exclusionary politics, and authoritarian tendencies in India and the United States, two of the world's largest constitutional democracies. By tracing the rise of Hindutva-driven nationalism under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India and the emergence of Christian nationalism in the U.S., particularly under Donald Trump, this research investigates how economic strife, population dynamics, and the strategic use of religion fuels the appeal of exclusionary ideologies. This comparative analysis is grounded in historiography, demographic data, economic trends, and current policies. In this approach, this research reveals how these elements intersect to consolidate power for majority groups while marginalizing minorities, often through the erosion of democratic norms, increases in political violence, and solidification of social hierarchies. By focusing on the mechanisms behind and consequences of extremism, this thesis argues that the rise of extremism is not caused by religion or economics alone but instead caused by the perception of existential threats to traditional identities and power structures, highlighting the complex relationship between extremism, power, and constitutional ideals within democracies.