Author Biography
Nina Swidler holds a Ph.D in anthropology from Columbia University, New York. She joined the Fordham University faculty in 1968, where she is presently Associate Professor Emerita. Dr. Swidler's work was supported by grants from The National Institute of Mental Health, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, and Fordham University. She is the author of articles about tribal politics in colonial and post-colonial contexts. A graduate student when she first went to Balochistan in 1963, she observed a prominent sardar conducting court proceedings on his lawn, an experience which led to her dissertation on tribal organization and leadership. Concern about the limitations of the tribal frame led to an interest in the Kalat Khanate and ultimately to this monograph.
