Figure: An image from CARE's "I Choose Highbury" campaign In Aotearoa New Zealand, the land of stunning landscapes and a purportedly egalitarian spirit, there's an undercurrent that often goes unspoken: a culture of mediocrity intertwined with whiteness that systematically sidelines bold, disruptive work—especially when it challenges the Pākehā status quo. This isn't just abstract theory; it's lived experience. Let me share a recent reflection from my own journey in academia, one that highlights how white privilege operates through funding panels, perpetuates mediocrity, and ultimately wastes resources while marginalizing brown excellence. The Grant Rejection: Praise from Peers, Dismissal from the Panel It started with a grant application to a major New Zealand funder. Our project proposal underwent external peer review, and the feedback was glowing. Reviewers lauded its methodological rigor, ambitious scope, theoretical relevance, novelty, and potential for r...
This blog offers Mohan Dutta's reflections on the theoretical framework of the culture-centered approach, examining the interplays among culture, communication and marginalisation. It also explores resistance, the ways in which communities at the margins challenge structures. Writings on the blog are updated to reflect the organic analysis of structure and agency. Occasionally, this serves as a space for interlocutors examining marginalisation and voice.