Personalized Impressions of Indian-Americans in American Politics and Culture

The phenomenal upsurge of enthusiasm for Kamala Harris in July and August is inspirational for me to witness – and support. She brings a multi-ethnic background to her Presidential candidacy that is unique – and illustrative of how significantly the American population has become so diverse.  While it is obvious that an over-emphasis on ethnic identities could also operate negatively, I am personally impressed with how immigration patterns of the past fifty years have become so well integrated into the American politic.  And for me, it is how Indian Americans, in particular, have emerged as a significant presence in the American political world that has caught my eye.

Continue reading “Personalized Impressions of Indian-Americans in American Politics and Culture”

Updating the Ste Anne Campaign Poster Battles

Monitoring the campaign poster saga a short distance from Villa Ndio has been an opportunity for me to appreciate the push and pull between right and left extremes in French politics from a fairly disinterested perspective. From time to time, I pass by one of the public signboards that are available for posting various announcements. This one is quite remarkable for its visibility from the main (and only) road between Peymeinade and Grasse. Above the signboard, it says “Grasse – Libre à vous afficher” (meaning it’s supposedly available for anyone to post something).   But it is clearly dominated by rival political factions in the immediate vicinity of the signboard – a small enclave known as “Ste Anne”. Continue reading “Updating the Ste Anne Campaign Poster Battles”

Personal Reflections on US Immigration

 

In my opinion, the most striking and overlooked phenomenon in the United States is the dramatic demographic shift in the American population since 1965.  The year 1965 may stand out in current American history books for the march on Selma, the Voting Rights Act and early protests against the US escalation in Vietnam. In retrospect, however, I believe that the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 will eventually be recognized in the history books, if it hasn’t already, as a far more transformative event than any of the others from that time period. Continue reading “Personal Reflections on US Immigration”

Kamala Harris for an inclusive Presidency!

About a week ago I posted a personal commentary about Indian Americans in America, one of whom happens to be none other than Vice President Kamala Harris . Oddly, I had not anticipated that she would so suddenly be transformed from her supporting role in President Biden’s re-election campaign to become the  Democratic candidate for President of the United States herself!  Here are some follow-up reflections on what this means to me in my personal attachment to the Indian-American community in the US. And I look forward to being actively involved in supporting her candidacy. Continue reading “Kamala Harris for an inclusive Presidency!”

Personalized Impressions of Indian-Americans in American Politics and Culture

The phenomenal upsurge of enthusiasm for Kamala Harris in July and August is inspirational for me to witness – and support. She brings a multi-ethnic background to her Presidential candidacy that is unique – and illustrative of how significantly the American population has become so diverse.  While it is obvious that an over-emphasis on ethnic identities could also operate negatively, I am personally impressed with how immigration patterns of the past fifty years have become so well integrated into the American politic.  And for me, it is how Indian Americans, in particular, have emerged as a significant presence in the American political world that has caught my eye.

Continue reading “Personalized Impressions of Indian-Americans in American Politics and Culture”

Comparing US and EU Recent Migration Trends

The United States has the largest foreign-born population of any country in the world (roughly 50 million). This is not the highest percentage of the population – many smaller countries have that standing (including Switzerland – but also Germany and Austria).  With a long (albeit erratic) history of previous immigration flows, both voluntary and forced, the US is probably the most diverse country in the world.  But the EU has also experienced comparably significant increases in migration and diversification. Without dwelling on the past, however, my commentary compares the US with the EU and explores the similarities and differences in the challenges they are facing and how they are being addressed. Continue reading “Comparing US and EU Recent Migration Trends”

International Women’s Day 2024: France the Pioneer

With cold and stormy weather in southern France keeping me at home on International Women’s Day, I watched wistfully as the sunshine shone on the large crowds gathered in front of the Ministry of Justice at the Place Vendôme in Paris. We were witnessing the formalities of enshrining a woman’s right to an abortion as an amendment to the French Constitution. And I didn’t have to be there in person to join the celebration.  France is definitely the pioneer in what President Emmanuel Macron described as the “beginning of a struggle” to establish the right to an abortion as a universal right everywhere. Continue reading “International Women’s Day 2024: France the Pioneer”

European Migration Issues: An Introductory Commentary

Migration has become a  prominent political issue in both the US and Europe. One could argue that it has always been a visibly controversial and divisive issue – and certainly so in the past ten or fifteen years.  What is different this year, however, is how rapidly it has risen to the top of the political agenda both in the US and Europe. The heating up of the migration debate may be attributable to its easy manipulation by populists in a significant year for elections in both the US and Europe. But it is clear that the record numbers of people seeking to migrate have been aggravated by the unusual ways that the legal framework for what one might call “irregular” or “unauthorized” migration have come to dominate the debate. The following commentary assesses the European and French context of the migration debate, with some preliminary comparisons with the US context. A separate commentary is planned to reflect further on recent developments in the US. Continue reading “European Migration Issues: An Introductory Commentary”

Slim Democratic Majorities in Virginia

The outcome of the state legislative elections in Virginia, held on Tuesday, 6 November 2023, produced narrow majorities for the Democrats in both houses of the General Assembly. In contrast to the alarming polarization and the populist takeover of one of the major political parties at the national level, this is an encouraging example of democracy in action. I include this chronicling of Virginia’s politics from afar in this series on “Democracy under Threat” with a bit of optimism while also recognizing the worrisome undercurrents that are evident even in Virginia. Continue reading “Slim Democratic Majorities in Virginia”

In the Final Days of the Virginia Elections

In these last few days before Election Day in Virginia (Tuesday, November 7th), I have the impression that democracy is alive and well in this part of the world. One can lament the enormous and unrestricted amount of money that has gone into the 140 state legislative races for the Virginia General Assembly, as well as the barrage of negative advertising by or on behalf of many of the candidates, especially in the hotly contested districts. But it is a truly competitive election, thanks to the involvement of the media and civil society groups and academic commentators in publicizing where all that money is coming from and how the candidates are positioning themselves on the issues. I am impressed. Continue reading “In the Final Days of the Virginia Elections”