Government and Politics in South Asia

Paper Code: 
Pol 423- A
Credits: 
04
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course seeks to  present  a  comprehensive  analytical perspective on South Asia’s regional politics vis-à-vis world affairs. The thrust of this course is to study the institutions, processes, problems, and solutions that pertain to the region as a whole.

The objectives of this course are to:

  • 1. the  issues  on  peace  and  security  in  the  South  Asia  region
  • inter-state  conflicts  and  other matters  concerning  bilateral  relations 
  • Regional  cooperation  and confidence building measures in South Asia

                                                          Course Objectives (CO)

Course

Learning outcomes (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

POL 423-A

Government and Politics in South Asia

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

CO84:   Understand the strategies adopted by states for coping with conflicts.

CO85:  Give a comparative framework on  the  variant  forms  of  government- authoritarian  and democratic-of  its  member  nations.

CO86:   undertake some case studies on the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts in South Asia 

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Power Point Presentation

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, Seminar presentation, Giving tasks.

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects

 

 

 

 

12.00
Unit I: 
Unit 1

Introduction- Historical, political and economic profile

Demographic patterns and resource base

 

12.00
Unit II: 
Unit 2

Pakistan- Freedom movement, political system, foreign policy

Maldives- political system, problem of development

 

12.00
Unit III: 
Unit 3

Nepal- democratic movement, role of monarchy, problems between various regions, foreign policy, role of China

Sri Lanka- political system, foreign policy

 

12.00
Unit IV: 
Unit 4

Bhutan- monarchy, social patterns

Bangladesh- freedom movement, political system, environmental issues

 

12.00
Unit V: 
Unit 5

Common problems- conflicts, ethnic and religious movements, migrations, refugee problem, terrorism, interstate disputes

SAARC- evolution, growth, constraints, potentials

 

Essential Readings: 
  • Brass, P. (2010), Routledge Handbook of South Asian Politics: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge
  • Visweswaran, K. (2011), Perspectives on Modern South Asia: A Reader in Culture, History, and Representation. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons
  • Basu, R & Rahman, M.S. (2016), Governance in South Asia. New York: Routledge
  • Hettige, S. & Gerharz, E. (2015), Governance, Conflict and Development in South Asia: Perspectives from India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. New Delhi: SAGE Publishing India
  • Mazumdar, A. (2014), Indian Foreign Policy in Transition: Relations with South Asia. New York: Routledge

 

References: 
  • Paul,T.V.(ed), (2010),South Asia’s Weak States, California,Stanford University Press
  • Johnson, R,,(2005),A Region in Turmoil: South Asian Conflicts Since 1947, London,Reaktion Books
  • Syed,M.H.,(2003), Encyclopedia of SAARC Nations, 3 volumes, Gyan Publishing house
  • Wadley , S. (2014) South Asia in the World: An Introduction. Routledge
  • Hagerty, D.T. (2005), South Asia in World Politics. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
  • Slate, N. (2012), Colored Cosmopolitanism. Cambridge: Harvard University Press
  • DeVotta, N. (2015), An Introduction to South Asian Politics. Abingdon, Oxon: Taylor & Francis
  • Smith, D.E. (2015), South Asian Politics and Religion, Princton: Princeton University Press
  • Blom, A. & Rewal, S.T.L. (2019) Emotions, Mobilisations and South Asian Politics. Abingdon, Oxon: Taylor & Francis
  • Bose, S. (2003), Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace. Cambridge: Harvard University Press
  • Paul, T.V. (2010), South Asia's Weak States: Understanding the Regional Insecurity Predicament. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press
  • Basrur , R.M. (2008), South Asia's Cold War: Nuclear Weapons and Conflict in Comparative Perspective. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge
  • Jivanta, S. (2018), Maritime Governance And South Asia: Trade, Security And Sustainable Development In The Indian Ocean. Singapore: World Scientific
  • Mendis, D. (2007), Electoral Processes and Governance in South Asia. New Delhi: SAGE Publications India
  • Pande, A. (2011), Explaining Pakistan's Foreign Policy: Escaping India. New York: Routledge
  • Padukone, N. (2014), Beyond South Asia: India's Strategic Evolution and the Reintegration of the Subcontinent. Bloomsbury Academic
  • Raja Mohan, C. (2003), Crossing the Rubicon: The Shaping of India's New Foreign Policy. Viking- India

 

Academic Year: 
2020-21
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