Dr. Anisha Samantara

Biography

Anisha is a Lecturer in the Department of Peace Studies and International Development. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Glasgow as a Commonwealth Scholar and a PhD in Development from the University of Bradford with a QR International Development Fund Scholarship. Her thesis explores community-based water management in cities in India and Indonesia.

Anisha’s research lies at the intersection of urban anthropology, water poverty and collective action. More specifically, it evaluates socio-ecological spaces using Ostrom’s theory of the ‘Commons’. Her research also focuses on operationalising Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach in evaluating freedoms and well-beings of communities in post-colonial cities. Anisha’s approach to human development and social justice is guided by a decolonial lens and is also informed by her experience as a scholar from the global south.

She teaches modules on sustainable development and policy analysis and co-teaches African Development Bank modules on development practice. She is an active member of the Development Studies Association. Her key research interests are: Sustainable Development Goal No. 6- Clean water and sanitation, contemporary urban environments and community-based participatory action research. 

Teaching

Modules

• Politics, Security and Development in South Asia - PES7069-B

Publications