Michael V. Bhatia
Encyclopedia
Michael V. Bhatia was born in Upland, California
on August 23, 1976. He attended Brown University
, where he graduated magna cum laude with a B.A.
in International Relations
in 1999. He was the recipient of the Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
and a Marshall Scholarship
to study at the University of Oxford
where he earned his M.Sc. in International Relations in 2002. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Watson Institute for International Studies
at Brown University and a lecturer at Carleton University
, Ottawa
. Bhatia was killed on May 7, 2008 in Khost Province
, Afghanistan
where he was serving as a social scientist
in consultation with the US Defense Department. On May 16, 2008, by order of the Secretary of Defense of the United States, Michael was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom
posthumously.
in war-torn countries. His research and humanitarian work brought him to the Sahrawi refugee camp
s in western Algeria
, East Timor
, Kosovo
, and Afghanistan.
Besides published works (see below) which Bhatia wrote and edited, he was working on a doctoral dissertation, “The Mujahideen: A Study of Combatant Motives in Afghanistan, 1978–2004” when he died.
Bhatia's field work had taken him to Khost Province, where he was working on resolutions to inter-tribal conflicts concerning land rights as part of the pilot Human Terrain System
(HTS) program with the U.S. Army
's 82d Airborne Division. A 5 to 8 person Human Terrain Team (HTT) consists of social scientists and anthropological experts (sometimes called "academic embeds"), and trained military personnel. They use a Mapping Human Terrain Tool Kit to assist with research and analysis and maintaining a human terrain data repository concerning factors such as local population social groups, interests, beliefs, motivating factors and leaders.
It has been estimated by US military personnel that Bhatia's Human Terrain Team helped one brigade reduce its killings by 60 to 70%, increase the number of districts supporting the Afghan government from 15 to 83, and reduce Afghan civilian deaths from over 70 during the previous brigade's tour to 11.
Bhatia's human terrain studies, work, and his death are the subject of part three in the documentary Human Terrain, directed by James Der Derian
.
Salerno, Khost Province. His team was making an initial mission into a remote area of Khost province where they intended to initiate a negotiation process between tribes. He was killed when the Humvee
he was riding in was struck by an improvised explosive device
(IED). Two soldiers from Task Force Currahee were also killed in the attack, and two others were critically injured.
Upland, California
Upland is a city in San Bernardino County, California, located at an elevation of 1,242 feet . As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 73,732, up from 68,393 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated on May 15, 1906, after previously being named North Ontario.-History and culture:Upland...
on August 23, 1976. He attended Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, where he graduated magna cum laude with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in International Relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
in 1999. He was the recipient of the Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship is a highly competitve national fellowship that exposes college graduates to various issues related to international peace and security. It was created to honor the legacy of Dr. Herbert Scoville Jr. The Scoville Fellowship was established in 1987, two...
and a Marshall Scholarship
Marshall Scholarship
The Marshall Scholarship, a postgraduate scholarships available to Americans, was created by the Parliament of the United Kingdom when the Marshall Aid Commemoration Act was passed in 1953. The scholarships serve as a living gift to the United States of America in recognition of the post-World War...
to study at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
where he earned his M.Sc. in International Relations in 2002. He was a Visiting Fellow at the Watson Institute for International Studies
Watson Institute for International Studies
The Watson Institute for International Studies is a center for the analysis of international issues at Brown University, focusing mainly on global security and political economy and society. Its faculty span a wide range of disciplines, including, anthropology, economics, political science, and...
at Brown University and a lecturer at Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
, Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. Bhatia was killed on May 7, 2008 in Khost Province
Khost Province
Khost is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the east of the country. Khost province used to be part of Paktia province in the past...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
where he was serving as a social scientist
Social Scientist
Social Scientist is a New Delhi based journal in social sciences and humanities published since 1972....
in consultation with the US Defense Department. On May 16, 2008, by order of the Secretary of Defense of the United States, Michael was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom
Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom
The Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom is a decoration established to acknowledge civilian employees of the United States Department of Defense who are killed or wounded in the line of duty.-Description:...
posthumously.
Research and work
Bhatia's work concentrated on conflict resolutionConflict resolution
Conflict resolution is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of some social conflict. Often, committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest...
in war-torn countries. His research and humanitarian work brought him to the Sahrawi refugee camp
Refugee camp
A refugee camp is a temporary settlement built to receive refugees. Hundreds of thousands of people may live in any one single camp. Usually they are built and run by a government, the United Nations, or international organizations, or NGOs.Refugee camps are generally set up in an impromptu...
s in western Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
, Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, and Afghanistan.
Bhatia's field work had taken him to Khost Province, where he was working on resolutions to inter-tribal conflicts concerning land rights as part of the pilot Human Terrain System
Human Terrain System
The Human Terrain System is a United States Army program utilizing experts from social science disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, political science, regional studies and lingustics to provide military commanders and staff with an understanding of the local population...
(HTS) program with the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's 82d Airborne Division. A 5 to 8 person Human Terrain Team (HTT) consists of social scientists and anthropological experts (sometimes called "academic embeds"), and trained military personnel. They use a Mapping Human Terrain Tool Kit to assist with research and analysis and maintaining a human terrain data repository concerning factors such as local population social groups, interests, beliefs, motivating factors and leaders.
It has been estimated by US military personnel that Bhatia's Human Terrain Team helped one brigade reduce its killings by 60 to 70%, increase the number of districts supporting the Afghan government from 15 to 83, and reduce Afghan civilian deaths from over 70 during the previous brigade's tour to 11.
Bhatia's human terrain studies, work, and his death are the subject of part three in the documentary Human Terrain, directed by James Der Derian
James Der Derian
James Der Derian is a Watson Institute research professor of international studies and professor of political science at Brown University. In July 2004, he became the director of the Institute’s Global Security Program...
.
Death
Bhatia was assigned to the Afghanistan Human Terrain Team #1, in support of Task Force Currahee based at Forward Operating BaseForward Operating Base
A forward operating base is any secured forward military position, commonly a military base, that is used to support tactical operations. A FOB may or may not contain an airfield, hospital, or other facilities. The base may be used for an extended period of time. FOBs are traditionally supported...
Salerno, Khost Province. His team was making an initial mission into a remote area of Khost province where they intended to initiate a negotiation process between tribes. He was killed when the Humvee
High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle , better known as the Humvee, is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151 MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV,...
he was riding in was struck by an improvised explosive device
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
(IED). Two soldiers from Task Force Currahee were also killed in the attack, and two others were critically injured.
Commentary
List of works
- Terrorism and the Politics of Naming (Third Worlds), (2007, Routledge; ISBN 978-0415413725, 232 pages)
- "Shooting Afghanistan: Beyond the Conflict" (2008, photo-essay)
- "The peace allergy: why the U.S. military had no plans for post-war Iraq", Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, July 1, 2003, Foundation for Nuclear Science, Inc., Vol. 59, Issue 4, page 52 (8)
- "Sins of omission: the AJC's project interchange and the creation of American opinion. (American Jewish Committee)", Middle East Policy, September 1, 2002, Middle East Policy Council, Vol. 9, Issue 3, page 98 (7)
- "Postconflict profit: the political economy of intervention", Global Governance, April 1, 2005, Lynne Rienner Publishers, Vol. 11, Issue 2, page 205 (20)