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Semester 2

South Asia in the World (SAST08003)

Subject

South Asian Studies

College

CAHSS

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

1

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Course Summary

South Asia in the World is an interdisciplinary course which offers undergraduate students a first understanding of the Society, Politics, Culture and Economics of South Asia and provides a critical assessment of its growing significance in world politics and the global economy. It introduces students to the history, social, cultural and political dynamics of the region. Key themes which will be covered in the course are for instance (a) what is the lasting legacy of Partition on the political and economic integration of the region? (b) How have the main South Asian states tackled poverty, inequality and economic development; (c) Why is there so much gender inequality in South Asia and what have various states done to address it? (d) What are the main social cleavages (based on ethnicity, tribe, caste, religion) in South Asia, how have the states of South Asia sought to accommodate these differences and why have they developed different pathways in this regard? (d) To what extent has the liberalization of the South Asian economies affected their development and what have been the costs and benefits of globalization? What role has India played, as the largest South Asian country in world trade and climate change negotiations? (e) To what extent does the India-Pakistan rivalry affect the regional integration of South Asia, politically and economically? (f) Is India a rising power?

Course Description

The course aims to cover the following topics (preferably in the order stated here) *Note this list is indicative and subject to minor change* (1) The puzzle of South Asia: an introduction for social scientists; (2) The colonial experience in (British) India; (3) The Politics of Partition and its Legacy today; (4) Markers of Identity; caste in theory and practice; (5) Markers of identity; religion - introduction to Hinduism and shared concepts in Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism; (6) Markers of identity; religion - Islam in South Asia; (7) The Politics of religion: Hindu nationalism and Communal Politics; (8) Markers of identify; The Scheduled Tribes/Adivasis and the Indian State; (9) Markers of identity; territory: Territorial management in South Asia I: Indian federalism in theory and practice; (10) Territorial management in South Asia II: Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan; (11) Gender in South Asia I : Gender Politics & Women Movements in India; (12) Gender in South Asia II Gender Politics & Women Movements in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh; (13) South Asia and the Politics of Development: I from state led-development to liberalization?; (14) South Asia and the Politics of Development II: Comparing South Asian practices in addressing inequalities and poverty alleviation; (15) South Asia and the Politics of Development III: Health; (16) South Asia and the Politics of Development IV: Climate change and Energy; (17) South Asia in the World I: India and the WTO; (18) South Asia in the World II: India-Pakistan: enduring rivalries and its effect on regional integration in South Asia; (19) South Asia in the World: India as an emerging regional power?; (20) Revision class.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 0%, Coursework 100%, Practical Exam 0%

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