Here is a discovery I made, based on one interview in Oaxaca, Mexico. I know that for a scientifically reliable insight, a sample size of one is not considered reliable. However, indulge me as I share one remarkable insight into how artisans and crafts persons are surviving the pandemic in Oaxaca, Mexico.  The secret: through barter.

On a recent visit to one of the pueblos in the vicinity of Oaxaca de Juarez in Oaxaca, I encountered an artisan – a lady who works with red clay – and is someone part of a women’s cooperative formed about 20 years ago.

The potters who form the cooperative are all women who work with clay to form various types of products – plates for food, ornamental objects for decoration, and kitchen utensils, too. This has been a way of life for them for centuries, and though sometimes times are tough, these women have stuck it out. I was interested in learning more about how they are surviving the pandemic. One of the women said, “Well, we are not asking for money anymore. We are ok with barter. If a farmer pays us with onions or tomatoes instead of cash, we are ok with it.” 

“So, barter is what you are doing,” a colleague of mine inquired.

“Yes, we don’t call it that; but yes, an exchange of somewhat equal value.”

The leader of the group, Doña Macarena, was not too happy with this setup. Though she didn’t speak to the is sue of barter directly, she pointed out that people sometimes don’t recognize the value and craft involved in making clay pots. “We are artisans making beautiful products, and sometimes we find people who don’t recognize our talents and work,” she said.

However, as I prepared to leave the workshop, after a lively demonstration during which Doña Macarena made a Comal for us, in no more than 10 minutes, an exquisite plate-like object, she added that this was the very first clay object that she learnt to make from her own mother. “I am happy to be keeping up the tradition and knowledge; that is how we survive,” she added. That, and a little bit of innovation and a little bit of pragmatism seem to be the trick to surviving the pandemic for these artisans.

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Providing a broad overview on public sector corruption, including local and national perspectives, this edited collection examines case studies from across the globe, from Hong Kong to India, from South Africa to Brazil. The contributions also cover themes that are not studied often, including corruption in government procurement, the nascent issue of the “right to privacy” stemming from e-governance and the proclivity of governments to hide behind Official Secrets Acts to withhold information—ostensibly guaranteed under the “right to information,” which is vital in the fight against corruption. Presenters will discuss insights from research and praxis, and help attendees understand the phenomenon of corruption and how it manifests itself in various ways in the public sector across the regions. 

One of the panel presenters will be our own Program Director and Professor, Sabith Khan, the new Chair of ASPA’s South Asia Section! Others include Amanda M. Olejarski of West Chester University and the Public Integrity journal, Meghna Sabharwal from University of Texas at Dallas, Krishna K. Tummala of Kansas State University, and Pardhasaradhi Yarlagadda from Osmania University in India. We hope you can make it!

To register, visit the BookTalks Webinar Series here.

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