centreforneweconomicstudies

Colonial Cartoons: Drawing the Line Between Oppressor and the Oppressed

By Aditi Lazarus Abstract: This article explores the historical significance and evolution of cartoons as a medium of socio-political commentary in India, particularly during the British colonial rule. Initially introduced by the British through periodicals such as Punch, cartoons often depicted Indians in a stereotypical and negative light. However, Indian publications like the Hindi Punch…
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Geopolitical Crossroads: Panama’s Strategic Decision

After the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Panama, earlier this month, the Central American nation pulled out from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on February 3, 2025. US President Donald Trump and Rubio had warned Panama that the US would be compelled to take tough measures, if the Central American nation…
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Blackface: A Legacy of Racial Imagery in Theatre

By Aditi Lazarus Abstract This article explores the historical evolution of blackface minstrelsy, tracing its roots from medieval European religious plays to its peak in 19th-century American minstrel shows. Through the use of racialized makeup, blackface performances distorted Black identity and reinforced harmful stereotypes that justified racial hierarchies and systemic violence. By analyzing the role…
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PoSH Act from the perspective of Abolitionist Feminist

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (PoSH Act, 2013), aims to prevent workplace sexual harassment but faces criticism for being inefficient and not victim-centred. This article highlights its reliance on retributive justice, which often neglects victims’ needs and systemic issues. Incorporating abolitionist feminist perspectives, it advocates for restorative…
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Women’s Health, Safety and Choice: The Handmaid’s Tale Perspective

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale explores a dystopian world where women’s bodies are strictly controlled under an authoritarian regime, drawing unsettling parallels to real-world restrictions on reproductive rights. Her themes resonate strongly in light of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which has led to abortion bans across the United States, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities.…
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State of the States Newsletter

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Handcuffs and Deportation: The US-India Immigration Controversy

On February 5, 2025 a US C17 military aircraft with 104 Indian nationals, who were illegal immigrants, landed in Amritsar. Amongst the deportees were 19 women and 13 minors. It is likely that 487 Indian nationals are to be deported from the US soon. India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri in a press conference, on February 7,…
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State of the State’s Newsletter

February 8th 2025
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Witness Protection in India: Recent Initiatives by the Government and the Impact of New Criminal Laws

The role of witnesses in criminal trials is indispensable in ensuring the administration and efficacy of the criminal justice system. However, the Government of India and investigating agencies have sometimes fallen short in providing adequate protection to witnesses against the frequent threats, intimidation and coercion which they face. In this article, we examine how this…
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The Perils and Promises of One Nation, One Election

‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE) has become a hotly debated issue of contemporary Indian politics and governance and the proponents of this idea have assumed that this will be a revolution in the functioning of public policies while the opponents are quite wary of the consequences of this policy on the structure of India’s political…
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RECLAIMING THE FOUNDATIONS: A RETURN TO QUR’ANIC CONJUGALITY

Islamic feminists highlight the gender egalitarian and socially just nature of Islam and its founding principles. They have continued to argue their interpretation in line with what the religion provides for. They interpret the tenets without deviating from the fundamentals of Islamic principles, posing a challenge to the authority of patriarchal interpretations of the rights…
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The Odds of Capital Punishment: A Comparative Analysis

The controversial subject of capital punishment has often been used by the state machinery to force power over the population. Identifying the moral justification for its existence has been under criticism, however, it still finds support among various laws of the states. In this paper, we are analyzing its usage in two countries that are…
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