I visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after nearly four years. My first visit was in 2017, when I was invited to speak at a national conference at the King Fahd University, Dammam. It was my first visit to the country, despite having traveled to neighboring countries a few times. The visit this time, in December 2021 was eye-opening and showcased the massive changes ongoing, both economically and socially.             It is easy to dismiss the “change” discourse in the kingdom as propaganda. And of course, social scientists will tell you n ..read more

I have made my fair share of faux-pas when it comes to addressing people, in an academic setting. So, based on over a decade of experience living, working and surviving American academia, here are a few tips for you, to navigate this complicated landscape. I’ll just focus on the seemingly innocuous topic of how to address your colleagues, who have a PhD. My own faux-pas :             First things first: American academia is known for its informality. As someone who studied in the Indian educational system, where the professor or teacher is ..read more

How are artisans and craftspeople in Mexico surviving the pandemic? Here is a discovery that I made, based on one interview in Oaxaca, Mexico. I know that for a scientifically reliable insight, a sample size of one is not considered reliable. However, indulge me, as I share one remarkable insight into how artisans and crafts persons are surviving the pandemic in Oaxaca, Mexico.  The secret : through barter.             On a recent visit to one of the pueblos in the vicinity of Oaxaca de Juarez in Oaxaca, I encountered an artisan – a l ..read more

Did you know that a majority of the refugees from the Middle East live in the region? Lebanon & Jordan host millions of people who have fled war, conflict or other disasters. There are an estimated 1.5 million Syrians in Lebanon, for example. In Pakistan, the story is similar : about three million Afghans reside in the country.  With the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban and the unstable situation driving people out, there are fears of a massive refugee outflow from Afghanistan.  While the discourse around refugees in the US is centered around those who are arriving here, he ..read more

“You can’t do too well if you are creative or very imaginative, in Washington DC,” said the senior member of a Congressional staff who I was meeting in the nation’s capital. This was  a few years ago, when I had just finished my Master’s degree and was managing a small nonprofit.             I was the Executive Director of an NGO, that was working to place minority youth in public service careers and I was meeting her to get some advise on placing our alumni in internships or jobs. Her comment struck me as odd and unusual, but given t ..read more

On a recent trip that I took recently, I turned on the screen on the airplane and watched Before the Flood, a well-made documentary, narrated by Leonardo Di Caprio.             The documentary is a summary of what we already know : We are screwed. From a climate-change perspective, we are already well past the stage where we can reverse the full effects of man-made climate change.             A report from the UN IPCC also warns us about this fact. A fact that is being debated by peopl ..read more

Part 1 “If the Sultan of Mysore had had a bit more luck, George Washington might be known as the Haider Ali of North America,” writes  Blake Smith, a professor at the University of Chicago. Who is Haider Ali? You may be wondering. And why are we comparing him to the Founding father of the United States of America? Isn’t that a bit heretical? Image credit : deccanherald.com             Bear with me, as I untangle this mystery and introduce you to an incredible father-son duo, from South India, who had a part to play in the American rev ..read more

I am moderating this webinar on June 29, 2021. Join us to learn more. Share this with your friends, as the event is open to all and free! The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) is proud to partner with its South Asian Section for Public Administration (SASPA) to present a BookTalk: Corruption in the Public Sector: An International Perspective. Taking place this Tuesday, June 29 at 10:00 a.m. ET, and free to attend, book editor Krishna Tummala will discuss this resource alongside other experts in the field. Providing a broad overview on public sector corruption, includ ..read more

Is America’s standing in the world getting better, with President Biden at the helm? Initial data seems to suggest that this hasn’t yet happened. However, not all is lost. One of the ways that this can be accelerated is through vaccine diplomacy. As a recent media report pointed out, the commitment by the US to give away about 500 million vaccines is a significant commitment towards a humanitarian crisis. It ought to be recognized for what it is – a gesture of goodwill and a commitment to addressing the largest humanitarian crisis that we as a human race have faced in our lifetimes. While the ..read more

~Jacqueline Phelps Pursuant to state law, environmental justice means “the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.” (California Government Code, 2019). Many of us understand why the consideration of environmental justice in decision-making processes is essential, and have experienced the inequities that have resulted in our communities when it is not. Maybe the community that you grew up in doesn’t have adequate access to open space, or maybe there a ..read more