Habits of the Heart

Tag: Democracy

  • Rashomon effect and understanding geopolitics in 2026: How to make sense of the world

    Rashomon effect and understanding geopolitics in 2026: How to make sense of the world

    We live in a post-modern world, where truth, with a certainty of 100% is very hard to establish, if not impossible. In a world of ubiquitous AI, seeing is not believing. We are also in a media context (in the USA and much of the West) where serious questioning of government propaganda is rare, if…

  • Interview with Dr. K.T. Connor on ethics and public life 

    Dr. K.T. Connor was a Senior Adjunct Professor with the MPPA program until recently, for over a decade and brings a wealth of experience in ethics, business as well as public leadership. She served as the Managing Director of Applied Axiometrics. She is the head of a virtual collaboration of consultants using decision-theory-based assessments in…

  • What is Leadership in the local context – Interview with PJ Gagajena, Assistant City Manager, City of Moorpark

    What is Leadership in the local context – Interview with PJ Gagajena, Assistant City Manager, City of Moorpark

    1. What does leadership mean, in a local government context? Leadership in a local government context means guiding and inspiring a community toward achieving common goals. It involves setting a vision, making strategic decisions, and fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness. Local government leaders engage closely with various stakeholders, including residents, businesses, and…

  • Separating myths from realities about undocumented migrants

    Undocumented workers contribute close to 500 billion USD in terms of economic output in CA

  • Is Hi-net worth philanthropy good for our society?

    They say a rich man’s joke is always funny and his/her ideas for public issues are always spot on. I say a rich man’s (policy) ideas are not always good for everyone. Many a time, actually, a rich philanthropist / giver’s ideas can actually work against public good. Don’t believe me? Look at various examples…

  • Travel, conversations and learning – How being part of conversations can shape your educational/ professional future

    We often think of travel as movement. Physical movement to see people, places or attend events. But have you ever considered travel as a conversation? A conversation to enter a new space, a new way of thinking and new way of experiencing life? This is what I realized during my recent trips with my students.…

  • How does tourism promote development? – Part 2

    Two models of eco-tourism The past ten days have been extremely educational for many reasons, one of them being in increasing my understanding of eco-tourism. I traveled to Ecuador and witnessed first-hand two models of eco-tourism that are markedly different, but offer incredible insights into how this form of tourism can aid in development as…

  • What is Development – And why does it matter?

    What is Development – And why does it matter?

    I am teaching a course during the summer term, which I have titled “Understanding development,” a class I developed over the past year or so. This is my second time teaching it and during each class, I try to challenge students about a conception of “development” they have, whether it is local or global.            …

  • What is cultural humility

    You may have heard the term “cultural humility,” being used in conversations and wondered “what on earth is that,?”. I was one of those people too, and was instructed in its usage a few weeks ago, by a staff member at Casa Alitas, an NGO that works with asylum seekers and refugees.             As Christy…

  • America’s philanthropy problem?

    A debate that is becoming salient, over the past few years is if philanthropic foundations are becoming powerful by the day? A recent article in The Huffington Post points this out. The writer points out, correctly, that Jeff Bezos solicited ideas for his philanthropy, just a few days before the purchase of Whole Foods. PR…

Twitter
LinkedIn