Sujatha Fernandes is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Sydney, joining in 2016. Previously, she held positions at Queens College and the City University of New York’s Graduate Center, and was a Wilson-Cotsen Fellow at Princeton University. She earned a PhD in Political Science from the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on social and labor movements, global Black cultures, migrant workers, and anti-Blackness in the Americas. She has authored six books, including The Cuban Hustle (2020) and Curated Stories (2017), and her work explores storytelling, climate justice, and marginalized communities. Dr. Fernandes has received grants such as the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Project (2021) and contributed to initiatives like the Racial Justice and the Curriculum Project at the University of Sydney. She has been featured in global media, including The New York Times , NPR , and Orion Magazine . Her writing spans academic articles, creative nonfiction, and op-eds addressing climate displacement, migrant rights, and cultural policy. Notable works include analyses of Venezuela’s urban movements, Cuba’s cultural politics, and domestic worker advocacy. She sits on the editorial board of Transition: The Magazine of Africa and the Diaspora . Her interdisciplinary approach bridges sociology, anthropology, and literature, with ongoing projects in climate fiction and interlinked short stories.
Auritro Majumder is Associate Professor of English at the University of Houston's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, holding a courtesy appointment in the India Studies Program. His academic profile spans literary scholarship, critical theory, and intellectual history with a focus on non-Western perspectives. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in English from Syracuse University (2014), a Certificate in Critical Theory from Cornell University (2012), an M.A. (First Class) in English from Jadavpur University (2009), and a B.A. (First Class Honours) in English from Jadavpur University (2007). Majumder's research centers on peripheral internationalism and decolonial knowledge production , examining literary traditions across India, the Soviet Union, China, Latin America, and the United States. His work bridges literary theory , critical race studies , and global political movements , with particular emphasis on Bengali literature, caste-race intersections, and South-South cultural networks. His monograph Insurgent Imaginations: World Literature and the Periphery (Cambridge University Press, 2020) redefines world literature through non-Western frameworks. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent engagement with decolonial aesthetics , transnational solidarity , and subaltern epistemologies . His scholarship demonstrates interdisciplinary reach spanning literary studies, political theory, film criticism, and comparative intellectual history, with increasing focus on contemporary debates around planetary consciousness and peripheral modernities. His scientific recognition includes: Project Completion Grant, CLASS (2019) William Lee Pryor College Professorship (2018-2019) Research Progress Grant (2017) CLASS Research Funds (2016) New Faculty Summer Research Grant (2015) Majumder actively contributes to academic service as Executive Committee member of the Modern Language Association’s South Asian and South Asian Diasporic Language, Literature and Culture Forum, editorial board member for Mediations , jurist for the National Endowment for the Humanities, and reviewer for multiple international journals. He has lectured globally across North America, South Asia, Europe, and Brazil. His teaching portfolio includes courses on postcolonial literature, modern Indian literature, and graduate seminars in postcolonial theory. Current projects include a monograph titled The Global South in Literature and Theory and a co-edited anthology Cultures of the Cold War in South Asia .
Dr. Elaine Richardson is a Professor of Literacy Studies in the Department of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University. Her work focuses on African Diasporic literacies, discourse studies, and gender studies. She holds a B.A. and M.A. from Cleveland State University and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. B.A. and M.A., Cleveland State University Ph.D., Michigan State University Her research explores language, literacy, and discourse practices in Afro-diasporic communities, with emphases on sociolinguistics and critical discourse analysis. She co-edited key texts like Understanding African American Rhetoric and Hiphop Literacies , and her outreach includes youth empowerment projects. Notable awards include the Cleveland State University Distinguished Alumni Award (2007) and Fulbright Scholar Award (2004). Her work bridges academia and community through projects like cultural literacy initiatives and hip hop education networks.
Audrey Truschke is Professor of South Asian History and Director of Asian Studies at Rutgers University–Newark, within the Department of History, Faculty of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and specializes in the cultural, imperial, and intellectual history of early modern and modern India (c. 1500–present). Her scholarship bridges deep historical inquiry with urgent contemporary debates, particularly around religious identity, nationalism, and decolonization. Truschke earned her B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Chicago (2004) and her Ph.D. in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies from Columbia University (2012). Her academic journey includes prestigious fellowships at Stanford University, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris III. Her research centers on South Asian history, with a focus on the Mughal Empire, Indo-Muslim rule, Sanskrit-Persian cultural exchanges, and the historical construction of Hindu identity. She critically examines how premodern histories are mobilized in modern political projects, especially Hindu nationalism (Hindutva). Her work spans cultural, intellectual, and religious history, emphasizing philology, translation, and the politics of historical memory. Truschke’s recent publications reveal a consistent trajectory: analyzing the evolution of religious and ethnic identities, particularly 'Hindu' and 'Han', through longue durée historical lenses. Her articles explore how empires, religions, and languages interacted in South Asia, and how these pasts are weaponized in the present. She frequently engages with themes of hegemony, identity formation, and the dangers of historical falsification, especially in the context of Hindutva ideology and its global manifestations. Scientific Awards and Honors: Karwaan Book Award (2022) National Endowment for the Humanities Public Scholars Fellowship (2021) Rutgers Board of Trustees Research Fellowship for Scholarly Excellence (2020) John F. Richards Prize in South Asian History, American Historical Association (2017) Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship (2013–2016) Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship (2009–2010) Truschke is an active advisor and mentor, though specific student names are not listed in the provided texts. She has secured significant research funding, including grants from the NEH and Princeton University Press. Her public scholarship includes contributions to the South Asia Scholar Activist Collective , the Hindutva Harassment Field Manual , and the Reporting Guide on Hindu Nationalism . She is currently writing a single-volume history of India for Princeton University Press, forthcoming in 2025. She is affiliated with several research initiatives, including the South Asia Scholar Activist Collective (SASAC), and maintains an active public presence through her personal website, media appearances, and public writings. Her work bridges the academy and public discourse, challenging dominant narratives and promoting historical accuracy in understanding South Asia.
Professor Leigh K. Jenco holds the position of Professor of Political Theory at the Department of Government, London School of Economics and Political Science (on sabbatical during 2024/25). Her expertise spans Chinese Thought, Taiwan Studies, Political Philosophy, and Global Intellectual History. She previously taught at the National University of Singapore and has held visiting roles at Taiwan's Academia Sinica, National Taiwan University, and the University of Heidelberg. Education: B.A. from Bard College M.A. and Ph.D. from University of Chicago Her research explores late Ming neo-Confucian concepts of equality through literary theory and the 20th-century rediscovery of Chinese folksong compendia. She leads the £1.5M British Academy-funded 'Chinese Global Orders' project and was the principal investigator for the EU's 'East Asian Uses of the European Past' initiative. She served as associate editor of the American Political Science Review (2016–2020). Her publications include groundbreaking monographs like Changing Referents (Oxford UP, 2015) and Making the Political (Cambridge UP, 2010), which bridge political theory with Chinese intellectual history. Current projects focus on Ming dynasty poetics and cross-cultural knowledge transfer. Grants & Projects: Lead investigator for 'Chinese Global Orders' (£1.5M, British Academy) EU H2020 'East Asian Uses of the European Past' (€1.2M) She is fluent in Classical Chinese, Mandarin, and English, and her work emphasizes global comparative frameworks to challenge Eurocentric narratives. Her research often intersects historical texts with contemporary political debates, particularly around cultural borrowing and identity formation.
Balázs Trencsenyi is Professor in the Department of Historical Studies at Central European University (CEU) and serves as Director of the CEU Institute for Advanced Study in Budapest. He is also Co-Director of Pasts Inc., Center for Historical Studies, and a Member of the 'Democracy in History' Working Group at the CEU Democracy Institute. His academic leadership includes directing the Erasmus Mundus+ Program 'History in the Public Sphere' (2019–2023) and heading the History Department (2017–2020). His educational background includes a PhD in Comparative History from CEU (2004), an MA in Nationalism Studies from CEU (1998), and an MA in Philosophy from Eötvös Loránd University (1997). Trencsenyi is a leading scholar in the intellectual and political history of East Central Europe, with a focus on transnational and comparative approaches. His research examines political modernity, crisis discourses, nationalism, national characterology, anti-modernism, and the conceptual history of identity and temporality. He has directed major collaborative projects such as the ERC-funded 'Negotiating Modernity' and 'European Regions and Boundaries: A Conceptual History.' His influential publications include the multi-volume A History of Modern Political Thought in East Central Europe (Oxford University Press) and Intellectuals and the Crisis of Politics in the Interwar Period and Beyond (2025). His recent articles reflect sustained engagement with crisis discourses, authoritarian regime-building, transnational intellectual history, and the politics of memory in East Central Europe. Themes across his work include the fragility of democracy, the legacy of state socialism, and the interplay between nationalism and modernity. CEU Community Service Excellence Award (2023) Fellow of Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (2020) Member of Academia Europaea (2011) ERC Starting Grant (2008–2013) Trencsenyi has supervised numerous doctoral students in political thought, nationalism, and intellectual history. He has led research clusters such as 'Crises of Democratization' under the CIVICA project and co-organizes the 'Invisible University for Ukraine' initiative. He is Editor of East Central Europe (Brill) and has served on editorial boards and peer-review panels for major academic institutions and journals. His teaching covers comparative history, political modernity, crisis discourses, and counter-cultural movements under socialism.
Henrik Andersson is an Associate Professor and researcher in Practical Philosophy at the Department of Philosophy, Lund University, within the Faculty of Humanities and Theology. He is also an affiliated researcher at the Birgit Rausing Centre for Medical Humanities (BRCMH). His academic career includes a postdoctoral fellowship at Lund University and the University of Colorado, and prior work at the Institute for Futures Studies on the project 'Population and the Sustainable Development Goals: An Ethical Evaluation.' Andersson's research focuses on value theory and applied ethics, with particular expertise in incomparability, semantic vagueness, and ethical evaluation of population policies. His fingerprint shows strong engagement with concepts of indeterminacy, incommensurability, vagueness, and ethics across multiple domains. His recent scholarly output demonstrates a clear trend toward addressing contemporary ethical challenges related to food systems, population policies, and moral progress. The articles show increasing engagement with practical applications of philosophical theory to real-world problems, particularly in the areas of sustainable development and technological innovation. Oscar II Scholarship for best humanities dissertation at Lund University (2017) Zapffe award (2024) Andersson has led and participated in significant research projects including 'Non-Determinate Trade-offs in Ethics' (active) and 'Value Relations' (completed dissertation project). He actively organizes academic events such as the Value Theory Seminar Series and Value Incommensurability workshops, demonstrating leadership in his field. His collaborative work spans multiple institutions and disciplinary boundaries, reflecting his commitment to interdisciplinary approaches to philosophical problems. Andersson maintains an active presence in both academic and public discourse, with publications ranging from peer-reviewed journal articles to newspaper contributions addressing ethical dimensions of contemporary issues.
Jan Oskar Engene is an Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Politics at the University of Bergen, Norway. His academic career spans several decades with significant contributions to both terrorism studies and heraldry research. Engene's research interests have evolved significantly over time, beginning with a strong focus on terrorism, political violence, and European security. His early work centered on the TWEED (Terrorism in Western Europe: Explaining the Trends) dataset, which documented terrorist incidents across Western Europe from 1950 onward. Over the years, his research expanded to include political symbolism, heraldry, and flag history, particularly regarding Norwegian political symbols and their evolution. His work demonstrates a unique interdisciplinary approach, bridging political science with historical and symbolic analysis. Analysis of Engene's publication trends reveals a clear evolution from predominantly terrorism-focused research in the 1990s and early 2000s toward increasing engagement with heraldry, political symbolism, and Norwegian historical identity markers in recent years. The earlier works focus on quantitative terrorism analysis, counterterrorism policy, and European security frameworks, while more recent publications examine municipal heraldry, county coats of arms, and historical political symbols. This shift demonstrates Engene's ability to apply political science methodologies to diverse research areas while maintaining a consistent focus on political symbolism and identity. Engene has supervised numerous Master's theses at the University of Bergen, primarily in the areas of terrorism studies, European politics, and political identity. His supervision record includes students researching topics such as state responses to terrorism in Italy, Nordic political systems, and regional identity in Western Europe. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the available materials, his TWEED project represents a significant research undertaking that likely involved external funding. Engene maintains active engagement with public discourse through media appearances, having participated in numerous television and radio programs discussing terrorism, security policy, and political symbolism. His work with the TWEED project established him as a leading expert on European terrorism patterns, while his more recent heraldry research has positioned him as a specialist in Norwegian political symbolism and historical iconography.
Emma Reay is a Lecturer in Media and Communication at the Cambridge School of Creative Industries, Anglia Ruskin University, where she teaches Critical Games Studies, Digital Media Theory, and Youth Culture modules. She also delivers Game Design and Art courses at the University of Southampton, with research bridging games studies, childhood studies, and education. Her academic credentials include: BA in English Literature from the University of Oxford MA in English Literature from the University of Oxford MPhil in Children’s Literature from the University of Cambridge PhD in Education from the University of Cambridge Dr. Reay’s research centers on child representation in digital media , with pioneering work on the silent child trope and toy studies in gaming. Her scholarship examines cuteness as a narrative device , social justice themes in children’s media, and the intersection of literary theory with game design , particularly in how games handle childhood vulnerability and agency. Her publication trajectory reveals a concentrated focus on children’s representation in contemporary video games (2018-2022), with increasing emphasis on ethical dimensions like violence against child characters and social justice applications. Key outlets include Game Studies and Journal of Gaming and Virtual Worlds , demonstrating methodological innovation through large-scale game analysis (e.g., surveying 500+ games for her PhD). Her accolades include: Jaqueline Wilson award Pigott award Vice-Chancellor's award Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, Dr. Reay serves as Game Design consultant for higher education institutions and indie developers. She is a key collaborator on the University of Cambridge’s Good Death project exploring gaming and mortality, while maintaining active conference engagement through invited talks at IRSCL, ChLA, and DiGRA events. Her Twitter presence extends public discourse on games and media.
Rainer Forst is Professor of Political Theory and Philosophy at Goethe University Frankfurt, where he holds positions in both the Institute of Political Science and the Institute of Philosophy. He serves as Director of the Research Center for Normative Orders, Co-speaker of the cluster initiative "ConTrust – Trust in Conflict," Spokesperson of the Leibniz Prize Research Group "Transnational Justice," and Deputy Spokesperson of the Coordinating Institute Frankfurt at the Research Institute for Social Cohesion. Additionally, he is a Permanent Fellow at the Research College for Human Sciences Bad Homburg, Director of the Justitia Center for Advanced Studies, and Head of the Master's program in Political Theory. Since 2017, he has also been a Research Professor of Political Theory at the Social Science Research Center (WZB) in Berlin. Forst received his education studying philosophy, political science, and American studies in Frankfurt/Main, New York, and at Harvard University. His academic journey includes: Ph.D. under Jürgen Habermas with thesis "Contexts of Justice: Political Philosophy Beyond Liberalism and Communitarianism" (1993) Habilitation in 2003 with "Tolerance in Conflict: History, Content, and Present of a Controversial Concept" Professor Forst's research focuses on foundational questions of political philosophy and critical theory. His work centers on justice theory, democracy, toleration, normative orders, and social cohesion. He has developed a distinctive approach he terms "critical constructivism," which builds on Kantian philosophy while engaging with the Frankfurt School tradition of critical theory. His research examines how justification processes form the basis of legitimate political orders and how concepts like solidarity and tolerance function within democratic societies. Forst's work is notable for its systematic integration of historical analysis with normative theory, creating frameworks for understanding contemporary political challenges through the lens of philosophical tradition. His recent publications reveal a growing focus on democratic regression, trust in conflictual societies, and the philosophical foundations of social cohesion. Forst has increasingly addressed the dual crises of democracy - both the political-normative justification crisis and the global structural crisis. His work connects Kantian philosophy with contemporary democratic theory, exploring concepts like the "noumenal republic" as frameworks for understanding justice and legitimacy in complex societies. A consistent thread throughout his scholarship is the examination of how power relations intersect with normative claims in political justification processes. Professor Forst has received significant recognition for his contributions to political philosophy: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2012), Germany's highest research honor Member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy Permanent Fellow at the Research College for Human Sciences Bad Homburg As an educator and mentor, Forst has directed numerous research initiatives and supervised many doctoral students who have gone on to prominent academic positions. He leads the international MA program in Political Theory funded by the German Academic Exchange Service and has established several significant research centers including the Research Center for Normative Orders, the Leibniz Prize Research Group "Transnational Justice," and the Center for Advanced Studies "Justitia Amplificata." His editorial work includes serving as Associate Editor of Ethics and member of editorial boards for numerous prestigious journals including Political Theory and Constellations. Forst's research infrastructure includes the Research Center for Normative Orders, which he directs, and the cluster initiative "ConTrust – Trust in Conflict," which examines political coexistence under conditions of uncertainty. His Leibniz Prize Research Group "Transnational Justice" investigates justice beyond national borders, while the Justitia Center for Advanced Studies serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research on justice-related topics. These institutions form an integrated network supporting collaborative research across philosophy, political science, and law.
Dr. Valerie Cooms is a Research Fellow at the ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy within the Australian National University. Her work primarily focuses on quantitative social policy research with specialization in longitudinal studies and Indigenous affairs. She holds leadership roles in major national research initiatives evaluating policy effectiveness. Research Interests: Dr. Cooms' research spans longitudinal data analysis, statistical methodology, Indigenous policy evaluation, criminal justice reform, and social inequality measurement. Her work frequently examines the intersection of evidence-based policy and marginalized communities. Research Trends: Recent outputs demonstrate consistent focus on Indigenous policy assessment, criminal justice system reform, and political analysis of constitutional changes affecting First Nations communities. Her publications blend academic research with public engagement through multimedia formats. Research Projects: Principal Investigator for 'Review of methods for assessing progress towards Closing the Gap' (2023-2026) Co-Investigator for 'Footprints in Time: Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children' (2023-2024) Lead researcher for 'Longitudinal Studies of Indigenous Children Wave 13 Summary Report' (2022-2024) Contributor to 'Monitoring and Accountability Framework' project (2023-2024) Co-Investigator for literature review on women in court systems (2023-2024)
Dr. Xue Dong (Sarah Dong) serves as a Research Fellow at the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics within the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. Her work focuses on Indonesian socio-economic development, particularly labor markets, gender equality, and policy interventions in education and business formalization. Education: PhD in Economics from the University of Western Ontario Research Focus: Dr. Dong employs empirical methods including randomized controlled trials to investigate electoral impacts on public spending, financial aid accessibility for low-income students, and microenterprise registration barriers. Her fingerprint analysis reveals 100% concentration on Indonesian contexts with strong emphasis on labor markets (90%) and gender equality (71%). Publication Trends: Recent outputs (2023-2025) demonstrate methodological rigor in causal analysis of policy reforms, with consistent regional specialization in Indonesia. Her work bridges academic research and practical development solutions through partnerships with Indonesian institutions. Project Leadership: As Co-Investigator on three major grants, she examines corporate social responsibility in emerging economies (2022-2026), tax registration for MSMEs (2018-2020), and foreign aid effectiveness (2016-2021). These projects involve multi-institutional collaborations across Australia and Indonesia. Academic Service: Registered to supervise graduate students at ANU, she contributes to gender equality discourse through editorial work including the 2023 ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute publication on Indonesian gender dynamics.
Eric Rentschler is the Arthur Kingsley Porter Professor of Germanic Languages and Literatures at Harvard University, affiliated with the Film and Visual Studies Program. He holds a PhD from the University of Washington with academic training in German literature, history, and European intellectual history across Stuttgart, Bonn, and Prague. A leading scholar in German cinema and cultural studies, his work spans from Weimar-era films to contemporary German cinema, focusing on historical memory, political representation, and transnational cultural exchanges. Director of Harvard’s annual Berlin Film Program (coordinated with Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin) Editor of New German Critique and co-director of the German Film Institute Recipient of major grants including Guggenheim, Humboldt, ACLS, DAAD, and Fulbright fellowships His research integrates film theory with historical analysis, examining cinematic representations of Nazism’s legacy, post-wall German society, and transnational art movements. Notable publications include The Ministry of Illusion: Nazi Cinema and Its Afterlife (Harvard UP, 1996) and The Use and Abuse of Cinema: German Legacies from the Weimar Era to the Present (Columbia UP, 2015). Current projects explore German cinema during Helmut Kohl’s chancellorship. Award-winning educator, Rentschler has received Harvard’s Levenson Teaching Prize (2001) and Cabot Fellowship (2003). He organizes the monthly Film and Visual Studies Colloquium, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue between scholars and filmmakers.
Samuel Hayat is a CNRS-affiliated Research Fellow at the Center for Political Research (CEVIPOF) at Sciences Po, specializing in political representation and 19th-century revolutionary movements. His work intersects the history of ideas, historical sociology, and political theory. Current affiliation: Sciences Po (CEVIPOF) Visiting researcher: Maison Française d'Oxford (2020) Research focuses on: Political representation and embodiment 19th-century working-class movements Historical sociology of political concepts Democratic theory and participatory practices Recent publications explore: Yellow Vest Movement dynamics Working-class intellectual history Evolution of republican thought Conceptual history methodologies Co-editor of interdisciplinary works on: Democratic dispositifs Critical participation dictionary Political spokesperson roles
Dr. Razak Khan is a Research Fellow in the History Research Group at CeMIS (Center for Modern Indian Studies). His academic journey includes a DPhil from Freie Universität Berlin (2014) and postdoctoral fellowships at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Friedrich–Alexander University Erlangen–Nürnberg. Research Focus: Early modern/colonial India, South Asian Islam, Urdu public cultures, history of emotions, Indo-German comparative histories, and global intellectual history. Key Projects: His Habilitation project explores 'Minor Cosmopolitanism' through Syed Abid Husain's writings, while his book Minority Pasts (OUP, 2022) examines locality and belonging in Rampur. Publications: 15 recent works span transnational Indo-German intellectual histories, emotional geographies, Urdu archives, and Indo-Islamic cultural studies. Collaborations: Co-edited The Incomparable Festival (Penguin, 2021) and contributed to interdisciplinary volumes on emotions and migration.
