Reply #14: Looks like Cohen writes where

[Igel]

Indians, the law, and the environment join up. Interesting nexus.

Scholars don't always pursue plagiarism cases: it's great to get credit, but it's not always worth the hassle. If you win, seldom is the plagiarizer de-tenured or fired. It can sometimes get you in hot water with your peers, because you're not being "collegial"--esp. if you're a woman. It's not like there's any money involved. It's far worse when they make up information than when they steal it.

The "threat", if it was made, might well not be personal, but professional: her conference abstracts, papers, and books might not painlessly pass peer review. She may not be invited to give talks. Rumors affecting her reputation may be spread. Reviews of her book(s) may be more negative than merited otherwise. Conferences she's hosting may receive only sucky paper abstracts.

My ogre ex-dissertation advisor was blacklisted until *his* advisor died and couldn't keep him from getting a job in the US; an ex-member of my dissertation committee, let's call him Dick, personally kept a grad student, let's call him George, who dissed one of Dick's friend's book. Dick finally retired, lost some of his pull, and George was finally able to get good job after 20 years of lecturing and working in truly podunk universities. Academia can be a petty, snarly, and heartless world.