Author Archives: Samantha Balaton-Chrimes

About Samantha Balaton-Chrimes

Samantha Balaton-Chrimes is a senior lecturer in international studies at Deakin University. Her research is concerned with enduring political questions about how difference is negotiated in contexts of power asymmetries. Her work is interdisciplinary in nature, engaging political theory, anthropology, and development studies. She works in India with peoples' movements, and in Kenya with the Nubian community.

Desiring the Other and Decolonizing Global Solidarity: Time and Space in the Anti-Vedanta Campaign

Abstract: This paper considers a case study of Survival International’s campaign in support of the Dongria Kondh adivasi community of Odisha, India, and that community’s ultimately successful struggle to prevent mining company Vedanta from acquiring their sacred mountain, Niyamgiri. I argue this case presents an ethical conundrum for those of us interested in decolonizing solidarity: politically effective work rewards relationships and representations that shore up the making of radical Otherness, its valorization, and desires to know and help the radical Other. Rather than simply condemn Continue reading → Continue reading →