Dr Arun Kumar
Senior Lecturer in Global Development & Management
Research interests
- Public Services Management & Organisation
Biography
Arun Kumar is a Senior Lecturer in Global Development & Management at King's Business School. He researches the role of philanthropic, nonprofit, and official aid organizations in global development. He also has a strong interest in the histories and social role of management in relation to global poverty, inequality, and social inclusion.
Areas of Expertise:
- Nonprofit management
- Philanthropic foundations
- Global development
- Poverty and inequalities
- History of management education
His interdisciplinary research has been published in journals such as the Academy of Management Learning & Education, Business & Society, Development & Change, Economy & Society, Enterprise & Society, Journal of Business Ethics, and Organization among others. His first book Philanthropy and the Development of Modern India: In the name of Nation (Oxford University Press, 2021) tracked the historical role of Indian elites' philanthropy in shaping development and modernity in twentieth century India.
Arun is currently editing several special issues: on management education and inequalities (Academy of Management Learning & Education), on histories of social entrepreneurship (Business History), and on caste (Business & Society). In addition to serving on the editorial board of several field-leading journals, he is as an Associate Editor at the Business & Society journal.
Arun began his professional career consulting with leading NGOs, independent think tanks, donor agencies, and philanthropic foundations on questions of governance, accountability, and inclusion in key public services and public welfare schemes. After working for seven years in the nonprofit development sector, he returned to academia for his doctoral studies.
He joined King's College London in 2022, having previously taught in France, India, and the UK.
Current PhD Students
Elena Christodoulou
Are you currently accepting new PhD students?
Yes
Management collusion in poverty: Archetypes, conceits, and performative neophytism
Kumar, A. & Cooke, B., 2024, In: ORGANIZATION.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
UNEQUAL WORLDS: MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND INEQUALITIES
Kumar, A., Soundararajan, V., Bapuji, H., Kohler, T., Alcadipani, R., Morsing, M. & Coraiola, D. M., Sept 2024, In: Academy of Management Learning and Education. 23, 3, p. 379-386 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
A call for postnational historiography: Notes on writing "history from above"
Kumar, A., 14 Jul 2023, Handbook of Historical Methods for Management. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, p. 303-313 11 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Nation-building and its exclusions: Elite philanthropy and the limits of social reform
Kumar, A., 1 Mar 2023, The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Philanthropy and Humanitarianism. Taylor and Francis AS, p. 271-280 10 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Why the Super-Rich Will Not Be Saving the World: Philanthropy and “Privatization Creep” in Global Development
Brooks, S. & Kumar, A., 1 Feb 2023, In: Business and Society. 62, 2, p. 223-228 6 p., 1.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Book review: Jessica Sklair, Brazilian elites and their philanthropy: Wealth at the service of development
Kumar, A., 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) In: ORGANIZATION.Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review
On NGOs and development management: What Do Critical Management Studies Have to Offer?
Girei, E., Kumar, A. & Angeli, F., 2022, Organizing for Sustainable Development: Addressing the grand challenges. Routledge, p. 100-116 17 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Philanthropy and the Making of a New Moral Order: A History of Developing Community
Kumar, A., May 2022, In: JOURNAL OF BUSINESS ETHICS. 177, 4, p. 729-741 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
“Educate, Agitate, Organize”: Inequality and Ethics in the Writings of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
Kumar, A., Bapuji, H. & Mir, R., Jun 2022, In: JOURNAL OF BUSINESS ETHICS. 178, 1, p. 1-14 14 p., 1.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Bridges, platforms, and satellites: Theorizing the power of global philanthropy in international development
Kumar, A. & Brooks, S., 2021, In: ECONOMY AND SOCIETY. 50, 2, p. 322-345Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Philanthropy and the Development of Modern India: In the Name of Nation
Kumar, A., 2021, Oxford Univerity Press; Oxford. 240 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
US philanthropy’s shaping of management education in the 20th century: Towards a periodization of history
Kumar, A. & Cooke, B., 2020, In: Academy Of Management Learning & Education. 19, 1, p. 21-39 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
From Henley to Harvard, at Hyderabad? (Post- and neo-) colonialism in management education in India
Kumar, A., 2019, In: Enterprise and Society. 20, 2, p. 366-400Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Dis/ability at work? Media representations, CSR, and diversity
Kumar, A. & Kothiyal, N., 2018, Disability in South Asia: Knowledge and Experience. Ghai, A. (ed.). Sage Publications Sage CA: Thousand Oaks, CA, p. 359-379Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Managing international development: (Re)positioning critiques
Frenzel, F., Case, P., Kumar, A. & Sedgwick, M. W., 2018, In: the journal, Ephemera. 18, 3, p. 577-604Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Pragmatic and paradoxical philanthropy: Tatas’ gift-giving and scientific development in India
Kumar, A., 2018, In: DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE. 49, 6, p. 1422-1446 3.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Making history: Archives, historiography, and their silences
Kumar, A., 2016, In: Academy of Management Proceedings.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Book review: Rosalind Eyben, International aid and the making of a better world
Kumar, A., 2015, In: MANAGEMENT LEARNING. 46, 3, p. 363-366Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review
Ableing work, Disableing workers?
Kumar, A., Kothiyal, N., Vanmala, H. & Sonpal, D., 2 Jan 2014, In: Development in Practice. 24, 1, p. 81-90 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Making community inclusion work for persons with disabilities: Drawing lessons from the field
Vanmala, H., Kumar, A. & Sonpal, D., 15 Mar 2014, In: Community Development. 45, 2, p. 151-165 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Pushpa Sundar, Business and community: The story of corporate social responsibility in India
Kumar, A., 2013, In: MANAGEMENT LEARNING. 44, 5, p. 563-566Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review
Educating the (neo-liberal) citizen: reflections from India
Kumar, A., 1 May 2012, In: Development in Practice. 22, 3, p. 361-372 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Trapped Between Ableism and Neoliberalism: Critical Reflections on Disability and Employment in India
Kumar, A., Sonpal, D. & Vanmala, H., 1 Jan 2012, In: Disability Studies Quarterly. 32, 3Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Management collusion in poverty: Archetypes, conceits, and performative neophytism
Kumar, A. & Cooke, B., 2024, In: ORGANIZATION.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
UNEQUAL WORLDS: MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND INEQUALITIES
Kumar, A., Soundararajan, V., Bapuji, H., Kohler, T., Alcadipani, R., Morsing, M. & Coraiola, D. M., Sept 2024, In: Academy of Management Learning and Education. 23, 3, p. 379-386 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
A call for postnational historiography: Notes on writing "history from above"
Kumar, A., 14 Jul 2023, Handbook of Historical Methods for Management. Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, p. 303-313 11 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Nation-building and its exclusions: Elite philanthropy and the limits of social reform
Kumar, A., 1 Mar 2023, The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Philanthropy and Humanitarianism. Taylor and Francis AS, p. 271-280 10 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Why the Super-Rich Will Not Be Saving the World: Philanthropy and “Privatization Creep” in Global Development
Brooks, S. & Kumar, A., 1 Feb 2023, In: Business and Society. 62, 2, p. 223-228 6 p., 1.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Book review: Jessica Sklair, Brazilian elites and their philanthropy: Wealth at the service of development
Kumar, A., 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) In: ORGANIZATION.Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review
On NGOs and development management: What Do Critical Management Studies Have to Offer?
Girei, E., Kumar, A. & Angeli, F., 2022, Organizing for Sustainable Development: Addressing the grand challenges. Routledge, p. 100-116 17 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Philanthropy and the Making of a New Moral Order: A History of Developing Community
Kumar, A., May 2022, In: JOURNAL OF BUSINESS ETHICS. 177, 4, p. 729-741 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
“Educate, Agitate, Organize”: Inequality and Ethics in the Writings of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
Kumar, A., Bapuji, H. & Mir, R., Jun 2022, In: JOURNAL OF BUSINESS ETHICS. 178, 1, p. 1-14 14 p., 1.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Bridges, platforms, and satellites: Theorizing the power of global philanthropy in international development
Kumar, A. & Brooks, S., 2021, In: ECONOMY AND SOCIETY. 50, 2, p. 322-345Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Philanthropy and the Development of Modern India: In the Name of Nation
Kumar, A., 2021, Oxford Univerity Press; Oxford. 240 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
US philanthropy’s shaping of management education in the 20th century: Towards a periodization of history
Kumar, A. & Cooke, B., 2020, In: Academy Of Management Learning & Education. 19, 1, p. 21-39 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
From Henley to Harvard, at Hyderabad? (Post- and neo-) colonialism in management education in India
Kumar, A., 2019, In: Enterprise and Society. 20, 2, p. 366-400Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Dis/ability at work? Media representations, CSR, and diversity
Kumar, A. & Kothiyal, N., 2018, Disability in South Asia: Knowledge and Experience. Ghai, A. (ed.). Sage Publications Sage CA: Thousand Oaks, CA, p. 359-379Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Managing international development: (Re)positioning critiques
Frenzel, F., Case, P., Kumar, A. & Sedgwick, M. W., 2018, In: the journal, Ephemera. 18, 3, p. 577-604Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Pragmatic and paradoxical philanthropy: Tatas’ gift-giving and scientific development in India
Kumar, A., 2018, In: DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE. 49, 6, p. 1422-1446 3.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Making history: Archives, historiography, and their silences
Kumar, A., 2016, In: Academy of Management Proceedings.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Book review: Rosalind Eyben, International aid and the making of a better world
Kumar, A., 2015, In: MANAGEMENT LEARNING. 46, 3, p. 363-366Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review
Ableing work, Disableing workers?
Kumar, A., Kothiyal, N., Vanmala, H. & Sonpal, D., 2 Jan 2014, In: Development in Practice. 24, 1, p. 81-90 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Making community inclusion work for persons with disabilities: Drawing lessons from the field
Vanmala, H., Kumar, A. & Sonpal, D., 15 Mar 2014, In: Community Development. 45, 2, p. 151-165 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Pushpa Sundar, Business and community: The story of corporate social responsibility in India
Kumar, A., 2013, In: MANAGEMENT LEARNING. 44, 5, p. 563-566Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review
Educating the (neo-liberal) citizen: reflections from India
Kumar, A., 1 May 2012, In: Development in Practice. 22, 3, p. 361-372 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Trapped Between Ableism and Neoliberalism: Critical Reflections on Disability and Employment in India
Kumar, A., Sonpal, D. & Vanmala, H., 1 Jan 2012, In: Disability Studies Quarterly. 32, 3Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review