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Viranjini P Munasinghe is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Cornell University. She is an historical anthropologist focusing on the Caribbean, specifically Trinidad, and the Indo-Caribbean experience resulting from the indentured labor system. Her research examines the intricate relationships among ethnicity, nationalism, and the politics of exclusion within the frameworks of nation-building projects. Munasinghe's work critically investigates how narratives of creolization and multiculturalism can operate to exclude certain citizenry while promising inclusion. In her current research, she explores the constitution of nations as projects, drawing comparisons across empirical settings in the Americas and Asia. Her theoretical inquiries delve into issues of race, ethnicity, and the political implications these concepts have within the discourse of anthropology. Munasinghe's publications include significant academic articles investigating nationalism and identity politics, contributing to the understanding of mixed ancestries within the Caribbean. She engages with the symbolics of 'dougla,' a term for those of mixed African and Indian ancestry in Trinidad, highlighting the complexities of cultural identity and belonging.
Cornell University • Ithaca, NY
Teaching and researching in the field of anthropology, with a focus on historical anthropology and the Caribbean.
Department of Architecture