Suren Pillay
Professor of Sociology, Queens College and the CUNY Graduate Center
Associate Professor Suren Pillay is a Senior Researcher and Acting Director at the Center for Humanities Research. He holds a Phd (with Distinction) in Anthropology from Columbia University, and an MA (cum laude) in Development Studies from the University of the Western Cape. Between 2007 -2010 Suren was seconded to the Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa where he led research on the effects of violence and crime on citizenship in post-apartheid South Africa, and conducted research on migration and xenophobia. Prior to that he was a Senior Lecturer in Political Studies at the University of the Western Cape. His current research focuses on the constitution and reconstitution of the ‘Political’ and Justice in Africa; and the politics of knowledge production in postcolonial societies. His most recent publications include the co-edited volume with Chandra Sriram , Peace vs Justice? The Dilemma of Transitional Justice in Africa (James Currey/UKZN: 2010), which was recognized by the American publishing association with an award for “Choice Outstanding Academic Title for 2010”. His most recent journal article “Crime Community and the Governance of Violence in post-Apartheid South Africa”, Politikon, 2009, was highlighted by the African Studies Association (USA) as one of the ‘ten most downloaded articles in African Studies’ in 2009-2010. He is currently working on a book manuscript provisionally titled The Partisan’s Violence. Suren is also an editor of Social Dynamics, and a frequent contributor to the press.
