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336 Walker Building
University Park, PA 16802
wua1@psu.edu
Economic Geography; Energy; Power; State-Society, Citizenship and Governance; Urbanization and Environment; Development-Underdevelopment; Biotic Resources and Intellectual Property Rights.
My research examines the evolution of India's economic policy regime in general, and electric-energy policy in particular, by embedding them in the social, political, and economic transformation and contestations in the country. I analyze the transient nature of the state-society coalitions to understand the transition of India's electricity sector from one that was largely state controlled and financed, with some socialist objectives, to one that has adopted neoliberal policies and become foreign investment dependent.
I am interested in theorizing economic crisis in the context of globalization. I am particularly interested in the global circulation of resources, realization of fixed capital and the difficulties that arise from differential turnover times. I ground my theory of economic crisis by examining the contingent conditions related to particular cases - particularly the case of economic crisis in India.
My research examines foreign direct investments (FDI) made by Enron, Bechtel and General Electric in India's electricity sector. Ideally, FDI should benefit the host countries. But empirical evidence shows that FDI in energy under a unipolar global order and a neoliberal regime is embedded in exploitative power relations. I argue that the complex relationships amongst electricity, fossil fuels, conflict in the Middle East, political power exerted by the US government on behalf of Energy corporations, corruption and kickbacks in energy deals and structural adjustment policies makes control and exchange of energy resource in the global market a form of exercise of geopolitical power which impacts local politics and development.
My research examines techniques of governmentality in the production of energy and economic policy regime in India, and in turn subjection or the willed effect of the social subjects. I also examine the tensions within the state to argue that policy, hegemony and governmentality are also contested from within the hegemonic or juridical system.
I am analyzing the environmental impact of the Enron, Bechtel and GE funded Dabhol Power Project, and opposition to the project based on environmental concerns. I am particularly interested in the potential of such local environmental movements to upscale and present a viable challenge to global energy corporations and the neoliberalizing Indian state.
I am examining: 1. What are the links between the global flows of capital, production of environmental discourse and Delhi's space? 2. How do environmental discourses and city planning come together to produce militarized urban spaces? 3. How have urban planning and governance affected the location of slums and industries and the lives of people in the city of Delhi?
Ahmed, W. (Forthcoming) Neoliberalism and Contested Policies of the Power Industry in India. Industrial Geographer.
Ahmed, W. 2008. Political Economy of Power Policy in India. In Studies in Indian Economy, ed. K. R. Gupta, 92-107. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers and Distributors (P) Ltd.
Ahmed, W. 2008. Indigenous Communities and their Marginalized Space in India. In Studies in Indian Economy, ed. K. R. Gupta, 188-218. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers and Distributors (P) Ltd.
Ahmed, W. 2006. Global Discourses and Local Politics in the Production of Power Policy in India. Development 49 (3): 94 - 100.
Ahmed, W. 2006. Capital and Labor: Contestation in India in the Neo-liberal Era. Think India 9(3): 36-46.
Ahmed, W. 2006. Mobile Global Capital and Business Ethics. In Vandita Dar, Preeti Rawat and Gouri Raverkar (eds.) National Seminar on Business Ethics: Challenges & Scenario Ahead - A Compendium of Research Papers. Mumbai: SIES College of Management Studies.
Sahai, S., Kumar, U., Ahmed, W. 2005. Indigenous Knowledge: Issues for developing countries, Gene Campaign: New Delhi.
Sahai, S., Mahanta, B., Ahmed, W. 2005. Farmers' Perception on Agro-biodiversity, Gene Campaign: New Delhi.
2007: Earl Cook Award in recognition of best paper from Energy and Environment Specialty Group, Association of American Geographers.
2007: Runner-up in paper competition organized by the Graduate Student Affinity Group, Association of American Geographers.
2007: Travel award based on paper completion from the Asian Geography Specialty Group, Association of American Geographers.
2007: Travel award from the Organizing Committee of the Second Global Conference on Economic Geography 2007, Beijing, to present paper titled "Spaces of Power: Foreign Direct Investment in India."
2006: Paper titled "Neoliberal Utopia and Urban Realities in Delhi" awarded the best graduate student paper by the Urban Geography Specialty Group, Association of American Geographers.
2006: Pruser Holzhauer Graduate Enhancement Grant.