Radhika Balakrishnan
Encyclopedia
Radhika Balakrishnan is the Executive Director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership
at Rutgers University
. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the Board of the United States Human Rights Network
and Chair on the Board of the Center for Constitutional Rights
.
, India and moved to Chicago
, Illinois when she was 13 years old.
in Economics. It was at the University of Illinois that Balakrishnan first became involved in the women's movement. In 1985 she received her Master of Arts (postgraduate)M.A. in Economics, and in 1990 she received her Ph.D.
in Economics, both from Rutgers University
.
as a program officer in the Asian Regional Program. From 2003 to 2009, she was a professor at Marymount Manhattan College
where she taught economics and international studies In September 2009, she joined Rutgers University as a professor of Women's and Gender Studies and the executive director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership
, where she focuses on issues of economics and social justice from a feminist perspective as they relate to macroeconomic policy, especially in health and education.
, human rights and the global economy, and human rights and economic social rights.
Balakrishnan's publications include:
Books:
Recent Articles and Book Chapters:
Center for Women's Global Leadership
The Center for Women’s Global Leadership, based at Rutgers University, was founded in 1989 by Charlotte Bunch, the former Executive Director and an internationally renowned activist for women's human rights...
at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the Board of the United States Human Rights Network
US Human Rights Network
The US Human Rights Network is a national network composed of over 200 self-identified grassroots human rights organizations and over 700 individuals working to strengthen what they regard as the protection of human rights in the United States...
and Chair on the Board of the Center for Constitutional Rights
Center for Constitutional Rights
Al Odah v. United States:Al Odah is the latest in a series of habeas corpus petitions on behalf of people imprisoned at the Guantanamo Bay detention center. The case challenges the Military Commissions system’s suitability as a habeas corpus substitute and the legality, in general, of detention at...
.
Early life
Radhika Balakrishnan grew up in Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India and moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois when she was 13 years old.
Education
Radhika Balakrishnan initially attended the University of Illinois to study engineering, but switched majors and graduated in 1980 with a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Economics. It was at the University of Illinois that Balakrishnan first became involved in the women's movement. In 1985 she received her Master of Arts (postgraduate)M.A. in Economics, and in 1990 she received her Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Economics, both from Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
.
Career
From 1992 to 1995, Radhika Balakrishnan worked at the Ford FoundationFord Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
as a program officer in the Asian Regional Program. From 2003 to 2009, she was a professor at Marymount Manhattan College
Marymount Manhattan College
Marymount Manhattan College is an urban, coeducational, independent, private, liberal arts college located in Manhattan, New York City, New York with a focus in performing arts. The mission of the College is to educate a socially and economically diverse student body by fostering intellectual...
where she taught economics and international studies In September 2009, she joined Rutgers University as a professor of Women's and Gender Studies and the executive director of the Center for Women's Global Leadership
Center for Women's Global Leadership
The Center for Women’s Global Leadership, based at Rutgers University, was founded in 1989 by Charlotte Bunch, the former Executive Director and an internationally renowned activist for women's human rights...
, where she focuses on issues of economics and social justice from a feminist perspective as they relate to macroeconomic policy, especially in health and education.
Interviews
- "More Women Peacekeepers Is Not the Solution" Cléo Fatoorehchi interviews RADHIKA BALAKRISHNAN of the Centre for Women's Global Leadership. Inter Press Service, December 2010.
- 16 Days of Activism: Spotlight on Militarism. Global Fund for Women, November 2010.
- Interview with Radika Balakrishnan on Huffington Post Article Why Human Rights are Indispensable to Financial Regulation. Law and Order Radio, Pacific Radio, April 2010.
- NGLS Interviews Radhika Balakrishnan, Executive Director, Center for Women’s Global Leadership. UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN NGLS), January 2010.
- Experts Comment on Rights in Times of Economic Crisis. Center for Economic and Social Rights, November 2009.
Research and Publications
Radhika Balakrishnan's primary research interests are gender and developmentGender and Development
The Gender and Development approach is a way of determining how best to structure development projects and programs based on analysis of gender relationships...
, human rights and the global economy, and human rights and economic social rights.
Balakrishnan's publications include:
Books:
- Why MES with Human Rights? Integrating Macro Economic Strategies with Human Rights (New York: Marymount Manhattan College, 2005)
- The Hidden Assembly Line: Gender Dynamics of Subcontracted Work in a Global Economy (Editor) (Kumarian Press, 2001)
- Good Sex: Feminist Perspectives from the World's Religions (Co-editor along with Patricia Jung and Mary Hunt) (Rutgers University Press, 2000)
Recent Articles and Book Chapters:
- "Corporate Control of Our Democracy: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission," Co-authored with James Heintz in The Huffington PostThe Huffington PostThe Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
, July 2010. - "Making the International Monetary Fund Accountable to Human Rights," Co-authored with James Heintz in The Huffington PostThe Huffington PostThe Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
, April 2010. - "Rethinking Macro Economic Strategies from a Human Rights Perspective," Co-authored with Diane ElsonDiane ElsonDiane Elson is a Gender and Development social scientist.Elson is currently a professor of Sociology at the University of Essex. She was previously employed by Manchester University as a lecturer in Economics and later, as chairman in Development Studies....
and Raj Patel in Development Vol.53 No.1. March 2010. - "Why Human Rights are Indispensable to Financial Regulation," Co-authored with James Heintz in The Huffington PostThe Huffington PostThe Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
, March 2010 - "Auditing Economic Policy in the Light of Obligations on Economic and Social Rights," Co-authored with Diane ElsonDiane ElsonDiane Elson is a Gender and Development social scientist.Elson is currently a professor of Sociology at the University of Essex. She was previously employed by Manchester University as a lecturer in Economics and later, as chairman in Development Studies....
in Essex Human Rights Review Vol.5 No.1. July 2008. - "Exploring Collaborations: Heterodox Economics and Economic Social Rights Framework," in Feminist Economics Vol.13 No.1. January 2007.
- "Why do Firms Disintegrate? Towards an Understanding of the Firm-Level Decision to Subcontract and its Implication for Labor," Co-authored with Asad Sayeed in Labor and the Globalization of Production: Causes and Consequences of Industrial Upgrading edited by William Milberg. 2004, Palgrave Macmillan.
External links
- From Classrooms to Centre Stage: A Professor Who Speaks for Women
- "More Women Peacekeepers Is Not the Solution" Cléo Fatoorehchi interviews RADHIKA BALAKRISHNAN of the Centre for Women's Global Leadership
- 16 Days of Activism: Spotlight on Militarism
- Interview with Radika Balakrishnan on Huffington Post Article Why Human Rights are Indispensable to Financial Regulation
- NGLS Interviews Radhika Balakrishnan, Executive Director, Center for Women’s Global Leadership
- Radhika Balakrishnan's Biography on the CWGL Website
- Radhika Balakrishnan's Publications
- Radhika Balakrishnan's Articles, Statements, and Interviews