Award-Winning Research Sheds Light on “Who Knows How to Govern?”

Assistant Professor of Political Science Shikhar Singh has been awarded the 2026 Heinz I. Eulau Award, one of the discipline’s most prestigious honors, for his article, “Who Knows How to Govern? Procedural Knowledge in India’s Small Town Councils.” The article was published in the American Political Science Review, the flagship journal of the American Political Science Association. 

Named after the influential political scientist Heinz Eulau, the award celebrates scholarship that demonstrates exceptional originality, rigor and impact on the field. Receiving this distinction places Singh and his co-authors among a select group of scholars whose work is shaping contemporary political science research. “The award honors the best paper published in the Review and Perspectives on Politics during the previous calendar year,” said Dean of the Social Sciences, Kerry Haynie. “This is a major achievement by Shikhar.” 

Singh’s award-winning article seeks to explain why municipal governments in the Global South, which are designed to be more accountable and responsive to voters, often fail to deliver better governance. The study identifies a fundamental but overlooked explanation: local elected officials often lack the procedural knowledge necessary to govern effectively. The paper uses detailed fieldwork and careful empirical analysis to document knowledge deficits among elected officials in India, how this affects the functioning of governments, and how difficult it is to acquire such knowledge even after winning office. “This project is part of a broader research agenda and multi-year effort to understand why urban areas in the Global South suffer from poor governance, public goods provision and unresponsive systems,” Singh said.  

The findings have broad implications not just for the study of urban local governance, but also for our understanding of how democracies function in developing countries — and the challenges faced in becoming more accountable and responsive to citizens. The paper points to the critical role of informed politicians who can navigate formal processes that often complicate governance challenges. In so doing, the research also contributes to a growing body of scholarship that seeks to understand how democratic institutions function beyond national capitals and major urban centers. 

In accepting the award, Singh expressed gratitude to his co-authors, mentors, and Duke colleagues, while emphasizing the broader importance of their research: “I’m deeply honored to receive this award alongside my co-authors, Adam and Tariq. My work has benefited tremendously from the advice and feedback of colleagues here at Duke. I hope our work helps better understand and resolve governance challenges arising from rapid urbanization, climate change and the spread of new technologies.” 

The award underscores the importance of innovative research that engages with real-world governance challenges. As political systems across the globe grapple with questions of capacity, accountability and effectiveness, Singh’s work provides a valuable framework for understanding how institutional knowledge shapes outcomes on the ground.