Meet Michael Bhatia
The late Michael Bhatia’s work, photos and some interesting vid interview segments at this tribute site. Comes across about as academically wonkish as they come, all the more interesting that he would take so direct a role, that would lead to his death in combat in the company of American soldiers.
The Human Terrain Teams may well provide the best opportunity out there today for academics to get out of the ivory tower and have a positive impact in the most troubled parts of the world, no matter how they feel about American interventions. What could be more useful than trying to improve the relationship between American troops and local populations in war zones, and reduce the potential for harm in those relations? Too bad it is so politically incorrect. If the program has shortcomings, then improve it, or shut up about American soldiers lacking sufficient understanding for the people they are compelled to fight amongst.
Among the hits on the Human Terrain System is that it uses sociologists and anthropologists with little or no Afghan or Iraqi background, but Bhatia apparently began studying the Taliban in August of 2001. I’ve only skimmed the surface of the Bhatia site, but I’m getting the sense this is someone who had something to contribute.
Topics: Afghanistan, academia, military
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 11:27 am on Sunday, May 11, 2008
2 Responses to “Meet Michael Bhatia”
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May 11th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Filthy Google decided that Mr. Bhatia’s site is objectionable. The totalitarians provide this response when you follow the link to the tribute site:
“Content Warning
Some readers may find the content of this blog objectionable. In general, Google does not review nor do we endorse the content of this or any blog. For more information about our content policies, please visit the Blogger Terms of Service”
May 12th, 2008 at 9:38 am
At least social scientists like Michael Bhatia are willing to get out and actually observe and test hypotheses, unlike those social “scientists” who are content to sit in their ivory towers and chew over old theories ad infinitum.