Aakanksha Mathur - Catalyst

The UAE, a Pioneer in Women’s Empowerment – But the Struggle Is Far from Over

May 4, 2021November 10, 2021 Aakanksha Mathur

Through a developmental lens, the UAE’s forward-thinking leadership subverts orientalist depictions of the Middle East, bound by the West’s artificially constructed binary between the "rational" West (us) versus the "irrational" East (them).

Genocide As A “Cultural Norm”: U.S. Selective Intervention in Global Humanitarian Crises

March 24, 2021November 10, 2021 Aakanksha Mathur

The contradiction in both declaring the violence against Uyghur Muslims in China as genocide and then defending limited US involvement because of different “cultural norms” is a stark reminder of the Janus-faced developmental diplomacy that forefronts US interests and provides yet another convenient facade for non-interventionist policy.

A “Developing Nation” Forever? Why India’s Flawed Judiciary System Is Impairing Its Development Trajectory

February 17, 2021November 10, 2021 Aakanksha Mathur

India, the largest democracy in the world, is globally regarded as an economic force to be reckoned with; however, many rulings and loopholes in the judiciary system imply an uneven, and arguably stagnant, development in terms of women’s rights and safety in India.

TikTok and Democracy? The Implications of the US’ Proposed TikTok Ban

October 28, 2020November 10, 2021 Aakanksha Mathur

Ironically, the very presidency that critiques China's authoritarian leadership is the same one attempting to violate their fundamental right to self-expression.