Uncomfortable and inconvenient reflections on privilege, solidarity and, politics

Abstract

In this presentation, I aim to unpack and problematize the connection between good intentions, privilege, and politics. My role involves synthesizing diverse understandings of ‘agency’ within a large, international, interdisciplinary research group focused on a pressing global issue. Through interviews with scientists across the academic hierarchy, I have encountered complex tensions that have shaped my insights.
As a scholar from India, navigating multiple privileges while also recognizing areas of disadvantage, my position as a South Asian woman studying an in-group of scientists presents unique challenges. One of the critical questions I engage with is: How far do good intentions extend, and how can we effectively measure their impact, particularly when our work intersects with competing aims of knowledge production? Furthermore, in our efforts to amplify certain voices, do we inadvertently render others invisible? Lastly, I explore how reflexivity—especially regarding privilege—can yield potential benefits, as well as the limitations and counterproductive dimensions that may arise in this context.