Provisional PhD Thesis Title: Constructing Legitimacy : The Impact of Externally Funded Infrastructural Development on State Legitimacy of Recipient Countries
Expected completion date: Summer 2025
Thesis Short Description:
Abhilash’s thesis explores the linkage between externally funded infrastructural development and state legitimacy of the recipient countries. Specifically, it focuses on projects funded by the World Bank Group and China in the African continent. Typically, provision of public services and building of critical infrastructure by governments garners much credit and legitimacy from the citizenry. This topic seeks to explore if that is still the case when the service providing actor is not the government itself but an external entity.
Abhilash Prasann’s research interests lie at the intersection of State and Development. He holds a Bachelor in Political Science with a focus on International Relations from Trinity College, USA. He holds a Master’s degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University in Washington DC. He has previously worked at Observer Research Foundation, Vivekananda India Foundation, World Resources Institute, and Creative Associates.