Understanding for intervening Constructivist and psychoanalytic oriented social research provides evidence that human behaviour is driven by the shared meanings of the subjective social experience (Blumer 1969, Mead 1934, Berger and Luckmann 1966, Moscovici 1961, Matte Blanco 1975, Carli 1993).…
Reality starting to creep into the billionaire oasis of Davos
At this time of year, about 2,000 private jets fly into Zurich airport and various smaller Swiss airports (including the Dübendorf military airbase). Hundreds of helicopter flights move from Zurich to Davos, where the hotel rooms go for as high…
State of the climate: How the world warmed in 2018
The climate data for 2018 is now mostly in, though the ongoing shutdown of the US government has caused some datasets to be delayed. In this article, Carbon Brief explains why last year proved to be so remarkable across the…
Are Actions Against the Venezuelan Government Really About Oil?
Venezuela's economy is in freefall. Hyperinflation, power cuts and shortages of food and medicine are driving millions of Venezuelans out of the country. And yet the man many blame for the dire state of the nation, Nicolás Maduro, was sworn…
India’s real GDP grew by an impressive 8.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2018-19. This was much higher than almost everybody’s expectations. If there was a sleeping Doubting Thomas in an analyst’s head he was woken out of…
Who is afraid to answer questions on jobs in India
In a week from the publication of the paper titled "All you wanted to know about jobs in India - but were afraid to ask" in early July 2018, I had raised ten observations to members of the EAC-PM pertaining…
Ajit Doval’s sons run a web of companies including a Cayman Islands hedge fund even as father demands crackdown on tax havens Vivek Doval’s (left) hedge fund in the Cayman Islands is linked inextricably to businesses run by his brother…
10% General Reservation: The Biggest Scam
The BJP government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced a bill to give 10% reservation to the economically poor that fall within the General category. This group had not received any reservation benefits until now, but would…
The Curious Exit of Modi’a Blue-Eyed Boy
Urjit Patel’s stunning move on Dec. 10 to resign as the 24th governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has sparked another bout of uncertainty in India’s economy and political landscape. The move, coming around nine months ahead of…
India’s New Rules To Govern Social Media Raise Fears Of More Censorship
The Indian government spoiled the holiday festivities for many last year by introducing on Christmas eve a draft policy of rules that would force a whole range of internet companies to remove content from their platforms. The regulations are intended…
Social media giants plan push-back on India’s new regulations
Reuters: Global social media and technology giants are gearing up to fight sweeping new rules proposed by the Indian government that would require them to actively regulate content in one of the world’s biggest Internet markets, sources close to the…
Anand Teltumbde’s appeal on his imminent arrest
I, an IIM-A alumnus, IIT Professor, executive director of BPCL, Ex-MD & CEO of Petronet India, senior professor and chair, Big Data Analytics in Goa Institute of Management, author of 26 books, columnist in the Economic and Political Weekly, writer…
AIFRTE condemns threatened arrest of Prof. Anand Teltumbde
Professor Anand Teltumbde, an IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus, IIT Professor, Executive Director of BPCL, Ex-MD & CEO of Petronet India, Senior Professor and Chair, Big Data Analytics in GIM, author of 26 books, columnist in EPW, writer of innumerable articles, a noted…
When the State Conspires Against Us
This article appears on Day 35 of the mining tragedy at Ksan. The lack of compassion for the 15 miners was palpable from Day One. Arguments like this have been floating around – “Why did the miners choose to go…
Only by a strange twist of fate will the miners — trapped in the flooded mine at Ksan in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills for over two weeks — survive the catastrophe. How can anyone inside a 70-foot vertical shaft and…
Sukalo: The Face of Tribal Struggle in Sonbhadra, UP
Adivasis comprise about 70% of population of Sonebhadra, a heavily forested region in Uttar Pradesh. Many Adivasis living in the region have been denied of their lands and rights because of the Sections 4 and 20 of the Indian Forest…
2018: The year Indian women journalists took the power back
In a year of “unprecedented hostilities” towards journalists, “nearly half” the media deaths were from countries that are not at war—India, Mexico and, for the first time, the US—according to a report by the non-governmental, non-profit media watchdog Reporters Sans…