Dr Neelam Raina's research explores the links between culture, conflict, poverty and development. Her doctoral research analyzed this from the perspective of Muslim women in post-conflict Kashmir and the role crafts plays in generating income for them. Crafts and working within them have changed the lives of women who have borne the impact of the conflict in Kashmir: their new and changed roles as head of their families and income earners has had deep repercussions for them and their families.
Dr Neelam's current research focuses on how Muslim women in other conflict zones cope and their needs of income generation in unstable environments, with limited skills and resources, and the question of whether vocational training could impact their ability to generate income through culturally relevant activities. She is interested in exploring women in Afghanistan and their survival strategies; and, in reverse, the impact on income generation on their socio-cultural identity.
Dr Neelam simultaneously continues to work in Kashmir with women's crafts groups, exploring the impact of skill based training on their income and in the long run on the quality of their lives. This work also feeds into development thinking with regards to post-disaster construction as well as the role that design plays in development.
Her research interest lies within the understanding of the potential role of design in economic development of conflict areas, with a special focus on women. Conflict areas and their presence within the broader zone of disaster recovery and reconstruction have been an area of interest and debate that emerged from her doctoral research. She is keen to explore the mechanisms that govern donor priorities while approaching reconstruction, and is also keen to explore the links between ethno-cultural identity, its economics and its importance to reconstruction.
Lecturer - School of Art and Design, De Montfort University, Leicester
British Association of South Asian Studies
The Cardiff Group
International Research on Post Disaster Reconstruction, University of Montreal
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
English, Hindi, Urdu
Dr Neelam currently teaches theory modules for Visual Culture at the Undergraduate level as well as Research Methods on the Post Graduate level.
She works within the University's Working Group on Attendance Tracking and Monitoring.
Design and Development
Feminist theory
Post Conflict Studies
Peace Studies
Design and Sustainability
South Asia
Textiles
Gender Studies
Labour, Livelihood
Cultural Studies
Economic Anthropology
'Design for Developing Contexts' (Forthcoming)
Chapter Title: The Role of Design in Reconstruction of a post conflict area : Kashmiri Crafts Editor : Dr James Fathers
Publisher: Ashgate Gower Publishing
'Post Disaster Reconstruction – Meeting Stakeholder Interests'.
Chapter Title: Economic Regeneration in Areas of Long Term Conflict: The Case of Kashmir Editors: David Alexander, University of Florence, Italy, Colin Henry Davidson, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Andrew Fox, Coventry University, Coventry, UK, Cassidy Johnson, University of
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Gonzalo Loizzarde, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Publisher: Firenze University Press.
'Gender and Islam – Perspectives from South Asia' (Forthcoming)
Chapter Title: 'Reconstruction of Kashmir and the role of Islam' Editors: Anna Lindberg, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of History and
Women's Studies, Pennsylvania State University, USA, Shailaja
Fennell, Ph.D, Faculty at the School of Development Studies, University of Cambridge, UK
Publisher: Routledge Press, London.
Paper Title: Post Conflict Crafts (Panel Organised and presenter)
London, 12th-14th April 2012
Conference Title: British Association of South Asian Studies Annual Conference
Organised by: School of Oriental and African Studies, London.
Paper Title: Power Matters – State Society Interactions in South Asia Paper Title: Lived Realities of Islam Edinburgh, 25th – 29th March 2009
Conference Title: British Association of South Asian Studies Annual Conference
Organised by: Centre for South Asian Studies, University of Edinburgh
Paper Title: Kashmir, Crafts and The Path To Reconstruction Otago, 22 – 25th November 2007
Conference Title: 17th New Zealand Asian Studies Society International Conference, 2007
Organised by: The New Zealand Asian Studies Society and The
University of Otago.
Paper Title: Reconstruction of Kashmir and the role of Islam
Leiden, 27- 30th June 2006
Conference Title: The 19th European Conference on Modern South Asian Studies
Organised by: European Association of South Asian Studies, International Institute of South Asian Studies and Leiden University.
Paper Title: Economic Regeneration in Areas of Violent Long Term Conflict– The Case of Kashmir
Florence, 17-19 May 2006
Conference Title: Third International I-Rec Conference. Post Disaster reconstruction: Meeting Stakeholder Interests.
Organised by: The I-Rec Group at the University of Montreal and CESPRO at the University of Florence.
Lecture: Crafts after Conflict - Economic and Social Reconstruction of Kashmir Oslo, 16th March 2006
Conference Title: My World - Interaction between Crafts and Design,
Organised by: Norsk Form (Norwegian Architecture and Design Centre), Oslo.
Funding: Sponsored and Invited by Norsk Form, Oslo.
Raina, Neelam and Hussain, Fatima (2022) The Practices of Making. [Portfolio/Project/Collection]
Raina, Neelam and Blitz, Brad (2021) Written evidence submitted to the Defence Select Committee - UK's withdrawal from Afghanistan. Parliamentary Committee on Defence. (Published online first)
Raina, Neelam (2021) Failing and forgetting Afghanistan [Blog post]. The Gender, Justice and Security Hub.
Raina, Neelam and Blitz, Brad (2021) We tried to get eligible Afghans out of Kabul. British officials did little to help [News article]. The Telegraph .
Raina, Neelam (2021) Invited key note - women, culture, knowledge and solutions. National Centre for Academic and Cultural Exchange - collaborations and partnerships for climate series. In: Collaborations and Partnerships for Climate, 23 June 2022, London, UK.
ESRC – Educating Designers for Global Citizenship (2005)
In design schools globally, the dominant culture is that of conspicuous consumption, ignoring the broader issues of social, environmental and economic impact. These issues are becoming more pressing for the world and for graduates, as global citizens. Design graduates in particular, with their multi disciplinary and communication skills, should be well placed to take on these challenges. In a global context, the problems of poverty and inequality of opportunity appear to be chronic. However, 2005 has seen a huge interest from the rich nations of the world in challenging global problems of poverty and its associated ills. The Make Poverty History campaign and Live 8, as well as on-going initiatives such as the Millennium Development Goals have all contributed to this. There is an opportunity for designers and design educators to respond these globally and critically important issues. The seminar series aims to bring together design educators, academics and practitioners, from different economic contexts; India, Brazil and Southern Africa, as well as the UK, Spain and Finland, to share experiences and knowledge about designing goods and products that promote, enable and enhance social and economic development. It will provide a unique opportunity for a global interchange of ideas and for planning collaborative actions addressing the issues faced.
