Newsmaker: Azlan Tajuddin

Noteworthy: Tajuddin recently authored a book titled “Malaysia in the World Economy (1824-2011): Capitalism, Ethnic Divisions, and ‘Managed' Democracy,” published by Lexington Books. The 292-page book explores the issue of why the industrial development of a post-colonial society is seldom accompanied by a proportionate democratization of its political system.

Age: 51

Residence: Brookline

Occupation: Tajuddin is an associate professor and chair of the sociology department at La Roche College in McCandless.

Background: Before going to La Roche, Tajuddin held management positions in business and government.

Education: Tajuddin received his bachelor's degree in political science/international relations from the University of Minnesota, his master's in international studies at the University of Sheffield in England and his doctorate in sociology from the University of Tennessee.

Quote: “Completing a book on Malaysia's development experience enabled me to not only explore more information about the country; it also gave me a wealth of knowledge about particular aspects of social, political and economic problems every country is faced with.”