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The "islams" of Muslims in Post-9/11 Fiction: Ayad Akhtar's American Dervish
Get PDFThe attacks on the Twin Towers have politically categorized Muslims as “good,” “bad,” or “moderate” in post-9/11 United States. These categories are reductive when it comes to understanding complex Muslim formations in a post-9/11 world as they impose a politicized ideal of what it means to be a Muslim. The “ideal” American Muslim is supposedly an American first and a Muslim second. While there is significant scholarship against such reductive categorizations, what remains largely unnoticed is a Muslim’s subjectivity in relation to Islam in everyday life: the ways in which a Muslim interacts with Islam on a day-to-day basis are often idiosyncratic in nature. This paper introduces the concept of “everyday Islam” as a key tool to resist Muslim essentialism. Drawing on the works of Saba Mahmood, Santiago Sia, and Nadia Fadil among others, it analyzes Ayad Akhtar’s American Dervish (2013) and argues that the novel displays different sensibilities that Muslims bring to their interactions with Islam on a daily basis. By focusing on the character of Mina, Akhtar’s female protagonist, this paper examines how an interplay of moments, situations, and contexts shapes her day-to-day practices of Islam. In doing so, it challenges the reductive political categorizations of Muslims as “good,” “bad,” or “moderate,” and expands our understanding of the diverse ways in which Muslims make sense of Islam in often incongruous ways. (PG
The aspirational shift of urban transport infrastructure: the emerging mobility transition in India
No full textWitnessing an immense increase in its urban transport investments since the 2000s, the early 2000s in India saw a number of bus rapid transit, walking, and cycling projects. However, many of these projects were systematically stalled through bad press, judicial interventions, and, eventually, the reduction or withdrawal of funding. In 2015, Indian transport policies gradually entered the new infrastructure regime, promising ‘world-class’ and supposedly sustainable mobility options with smart technology and shiny public infrastructure. Large-scale investments were made in building and expanding road infrastructure and metro rail projects, and promoting electric vehicles. Employing discourse analysis to study policy documents across the years, we argue that there has been a shift in transport planning policy from ‘affordable’ to ‘aspirational’ transport infrastructure and with sustainability used as a buzzword. Whether these are the aspirations of the State or the people, infrastructure building has become an important part of political value signaling. As the aspirational aspects become the new rationality guiding the funding and implementation of infrastructure projects, sustainability remains in the policy rhetoric, and the concerns of accessibility and affordability recede into the background. The prevalence and popularity of ‘aspirational infrastructure’ define the ongoing low-carbon mobility transition in the Global South
COVID-19, Employment Disruptions, and the Gendering of Mental Health: evidence from a nationwide survey during the first wave of the pandemic in India
No full textObjective: We examine the effect of changes in the work status of men on the gendering of mental health in the empirical context of the strict national lockdown imposed in late March 2020, amidst the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Methods: We utilize a novel nationally representative cross sectional survey conducted in the second week of June 2020, after the national lockdown was officially revoked. Result: We report three main findings. First, females, rather than males, were more likely to report that their mental health had worsened compared to the pre-pandemic period. Second, the gender mental health gap was higher at higher levels of lockdown stringency. Third, the gender mental health gap was most likely to occur in households where the main income earner had been completely laid off, provided lockdown stringency was high; and least likely to occur in households where the main wage earner was working from home or not working from home without reduction in income, irrespective of the level of lockdown stringency; and moderately likely to occur for all work arrangements that involved partial job or income loss, provided lockdown stringency was high. Conclusion: This study of the immediate aftermath of a strict lockdown has important implications for future pandemic management strategies, namely, that governments can contribute to better mental health overall during a pandemic by paying particular attention to the psychological challenges faced by women and how these may be graded by the level of lockdown stringency and lockdown-induced changes in the work status of men. We also discuss possible directions for future researc
From trusteeship to kleptocracy? The changing role of the Indian state in natural resource (mis)management
No full textThe note discusses the changing role of the Indian State in the management of natural resources, specifcally focusing on the principle of Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources (PSNR). PSNR was seen as an economic corollary of decolonisation and self-determination, aiming to ensure the economic independence of developing states and the self determination of colonised peoples. India, a developing democracy at the time, voted in favour of the UNGA resolution on PSNR, which recognised the sovereignty of States and peoples over their natural wealth and resources. However, there has been some tension between the State and non-State actors in the exercise of this sovereignty, especially in terms of the well being of all its people. Focusing on Adivasis in India, we argue that economic growth has often favoured certain sections of society at the expense of indigenous peoples, leading to dissent and conficts of interest. We analyse this oppression through tools at the hand of the State, for instance, in the concept of PSNR and the Public Trust Doctrine (PTD), which considers the State as the trustee of all natural resources meant for public use and enjoyment. However, in several resource-rich regions in India, private economic interests frequently lead to the mismanagement and exploitation of natural resources, disproportionately afecting indigenous and marginalised communities. This note highlights the need for fair and equitable treatment, transparency, and non-discrimination in the management of natural resources to ensure the wellbeing and rights of all stakeholders
Global International Relations
No full textGlobal International Relations is a term that refers to the growing body of literature that aims to incorporate hitherto untapped non-Western knowledge forms for the purpose of overcoming the limitations of Western-centrism in theory and practice of International Relations (IR). If one looks at the chronological evolution of IR knowledge-building, one identifies the influence of Western-centrism that compelled this discipline to revolve around the major incidents of Western history, thereby sidelining not only non-Western history but also non Western knowledge forms. The primary objective of global IR is to de-centre IR knowledge and reconcile the cognitive gaps between the West and the non-West. The novel cosmovisions related to global IR offer opportunities to conceive of and found a "new world order", anchored in a temporally-spatially indivisible human condition on Earth, and delineate guiding principles for innovative theory-building and policymaking that could transcend the geocentric limitations of knowledge production and knowledge application. © The Editors and Contributors Severally 2025
Integrating generative artificial intelligence into green logistics: a systematic review and policy-oriented research agenda
No full textIn light of mounting environmental issues, the logistics industry plays a critical role in promoting sustainability. While generative artificial intelligence (GAI) has the potential to revolutionize green logistics, several barriers still prevent its widespread adoption. In existing literature, little is known about applications, drivers, enablers, critical barriers, and challenges associated with implementing GAI along with green logistics. To fill this gap, this study aims to systematically identify and assess the existing body of knowledge on the GAI and green logistics nexus, drawing on a systematic literature review carried out in compliance with the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) protocol. The study identifies 34 key GAI-driven green logistics applications, 23 drivers and enablers, and 38 major barriers and challenges. The findings illustrate that GAI-driven green logistics applications, such as risk assessment and mitigation, decision support and real-time environmental response, resilience testing and scenario planning, are essential for developing sustainable logistics ecosystems. Organizational readiness, stakeholder collaboration, and supportive regulatory frameworks emerge as crucial enablers, while lack of digital infrastructure, investment costs, and regulatory gaps constitute significant barriers. The study proposes a decision-making framework to prioritize policy initiatives that could promote GAI adoption in green logistics. This research fills current knowledge gaps and has significant implications for supply chain stakeholders, scholars, and policymakers aiming to support sustainable and cutting-edge logistics systems
China’s Environment and Energy Performance under Xi Jinping
No full textDespite massive investments and mega plans, the environmental story of contemporary China appears to have entered a loop, of progress and derailment. Under the Xi regime, some new and significant changes have been undertaken in this journey. China’s commitment to capping emissions has increased dramatically. Underlining the domestic plans are its international ambitions of assuming the global leadership on climate change. This is reflected in its outlook on energy, where the keywords can be diversification and sustainability. China has established the largest solar panel farm in the world. In addition, new institutional changes have been made to further empower local environmental bureaus. This chapter will look at some of the significant new initiatives and study their outcomes thus far
Gender Migration
No full textOver the last few decades, the changing role of gender in migration has emerged as an important field of research and is being extensively explored under various disciplines. Literature on migration pointed out several significant changes in the migration trends and patterns, particularly an increase in the number of women migrants when they are no longer ‘associational’, and the emergence of gendered perspectives on a range of topics. Women are migrating for work, responding to the growing women-centric occupations in an independent capacity. Gender in migration is about women joining labour force after migration, popularly known as ‘feminisation of migration’. This chapter explores the various nuances of migration with reference to women, focusing on India. It begins with an overview of the growing literature on migration of women in India. The chapter highlights that while ‘feminisation of migration’ has enhanced the visibility of women in the migration discourse, much more needs to be done in terms of generating appropriate data, ensuring their protection and security and increasing their participation in the labour market
Confinements of Conjugality The Law’s Caring Wives and Working Husbands
No full textFamily law scholarship has not given much attention to the use of restitution of conjugal rights in the context of care work. The paper examines cases involving employed women living apart from their spouses leading to husbands filing petitions for RCR. Such petitions demand that the wives give up their current employment and take up residence with the husband. The paper argues that the jurisprudence of the Indian courts on this issue has reinforced the sexual division of labour and the extraction of unpaid care work from wives. It also highlights the influence of caste and class on the adjudication of such case
A complex intersection of deepfakes and copyright infringement
No full textThe advent of deepfake technology has introduced new challenges to copyright law due to its ability to manipulate media content. This chapter delves into the intricate relationship between deepfakes and copyright law, examining the legal frameworks in key jurisdictions and the ethical implications for creators. Beyond the legal considerations, deepfakes also raise significant ethical concerns which need to be addressed. Deepfakes, generated by artificial intelligence, can reproduce, transform, and adapt existing copyrighted material, raising questions about authorship and originality. It is crucial to address the challenges posed by deepfakes while balancing the interests of creators, copyright holders, and the public