Kavita Khory

Professor of Politics

Specialization
International Relations, South Asian politics and regional security, political violence, nationalism, migration, and diaspora politics

A Mount Holyoke alumna (class of 1984), Kavita Khory’s scholarship and teaching traverse the fields of international relations and comparative politics.  Informed by a variety of disciplinary perspectives, Khory’s work ranges from analyzing political violence in South Asia to exploring forms and patterns of migration in global politics and questions of political identity and citizenship in multicultural societies.  She has written about nationalism and ethnic conflict in Pakistan, insurgency movements and regional security challenges in South Asia, and the domestic and foreign policy implications for Pakistan of the U.S. war on terrorism.  

Khory’s current research explores transnational political mobilization among South Asian diaspora populations situated principally in North America and Europe.  Locating contemporary forms of migration from South Asia in broader historical and theoretical contexts, Khory’s work focuses on transnational forms of activism and political violence involving diaspora organizations with ties to India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.  She is especially interested in analyzing both historical antecedents and contemporary debates linking immigration with security in the U.S. and countries of the European Union.  

At Mount Holyoke, Khory regularly teaches World Politics, International Security, Politics of Ethnic Conflict, Propaganda and War, Politics of South Asia, and International Migration.  She has been involved in a number of curricular initiatives at Mount Holyoke, including serving as co-director of a project funded by the Hewlett Foundation for promoting the case method across the curriculum.  

As part of the New York Times Knowledge Network, Khory will be offering an online course in October 2008 titled “War and Peace in South Asia: The Challenges to U.S. Policy.”   Drawing on perspectives from South Asia, the course will cover the United States’ diplomatic and military engagement since 9/11 with Pakistan and Afghanistan, the enduring conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, U.S.-India relations, nuclear proliferation, and resource scarcity and energy security.