Introduction to South Asia

Introduction to South Asia

1 South Asia as Region

  1. Geography of South Asia
  2. History of South Asia
  3. Politics in South Asia
  4. South Asia in Global Geopolitics
  5. Economic Development and Cooperation in South Asia

2 Struggle for Independence and Nationalism in South Asia

  1. Nationalism in South Asia
  2. Freedom Struggle in South Asia – India
  3. Freedom Struggle in South Asia – Pakistan
  4. Freedom Struggle in South Asia – Bangladesh
  5. Freedom Struggle in South Asia – Sri Lanka
  6. Freedom Struggle in South Asia – Nepal
  7. Freedom Struggle in South Asia – Bhutan
  8. Freedom Struggle in South Asia – Maldives

3 Diversity and Pluralism in South Asia

  1. Understanding Diversity and Pluralism
  2. Diversity of Space
  3. Plurality of Culture and Religion
  4. Linguistic Diversity
  5. Ethnic Landscape
  6. Social and Economic Variations
  7. Political Pluralism

4 Political Structures and Processes in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh

  1. Constitutional Status
  2. Status of Rights
  3. Role of Judiciary
  4. Role of Election Commission
  5. Role of Army
  6. Role of Media
  7. Pressure Groups
  8. Status of Minorities
  9. Civil Society

5 Political Structures and Processes in Sri Lanka and the Maldives

  1. Political Structures in Sri Lanka
  2. Political Processes in Sri Lanka
  3. Political Structures in Maldives
  4. Political Processes in Maldives

6 Political Structures and Processes in Afghanistan, Bhutan and Nepal

  1. Similarities and Difference between Afghanistan Bhutan and Nepal
  2. Afghanistan: Geography
  3. The Great Game in Afghanistan
  4. Recent History of Afghanistan
  5. Bhutan: Geography
  6. Recent History
  7. Political Reform and Modernization
  8. Gross National Happiness Index
  9. Elections in Bhutan
  10. Nepal: Geography
  11. Recent History
  12. Contemporary History
  13. Recent Developments

7 Human Development and Regional Imbalances in South Asia

  1. Defining Human Development
  2. Dimensions of Human Development
  3. Human Development in the Context of South Asia
  4. Regional Imbalance in South Asia
  5. Policies for Improving Human Development

8 Migration and Development in South Asia

  1. Relationship between Migration and Development
  2. Economic Dimension
  3. Political Dimension
  4. Social Dimension
  5. Climate Change and Migration

9 Environment and Development

  1. Basic Terminology
  2. The Relationship between Development and the Environmental Condition
  3. Changing Trends of Development and their impact on Environment in South Asia
  4. Population Explosion And Development in South Asia
  5. Resource Utilization And Environmental Quality in South Asia
  6. Sustainable Development And Policy Reforms
  7. Results and Remedies
  8. Regional Forums For Ecological Issues In South Asia

10 Armed Conflicts in South Asia

  1. Changing Nature and Characteristics of Armed Conflicts in the Region
  2. Armed Conflicts between India and Pakistan
  3. Internal Armed Conflicts in India involving Non-State Actors
  4. Armed Conflicts Involving Non-State Actors in Pakistan
  5. Contemporary Armed Conflicts in Afghanistan
  6. Armed Conflicts in Sri Lanka and Nepal

11 Territorial Disputes

  1. Territorial Disputes and Their Meaning
  2. Theoretical Explanation of Territorial Disputes
  3. Bilateral Territorial Disputes
  4. Territorial Disputes between India and Pakistan
  5. India/China Disputes
  6. India/Nepal Disputes
  7. Bangladesh – India Disputes
  8. India / Sri Lanka Disputes
  9. Bangladesh / Myanmar Disputes
  10. Bhutan /China Dispute
  11. Pakistan and Afghanistan Disputes

12 Waters Disputes and Water Sharing

  1. Introduction: Understanding the Waterscape
  2. Run of Rivers
  3. South Asia: A Riverine Neighbourhood
  4. South Asiaโ€™s Major Rivers
  5. Water and Security or Hydropolitics
  6. Water Treaties
  7. Indus Waters Treaty
  8. Ganga Treaty

13 Civil Society in South Asia

  1. Different Types of Civil Society Organisations
  2. Defining Civil Societies
  3. Origin of the Concept of Civil Society
  4. Civil Society and the State
  5. Civil Society in Contemporary Political Thought
  6. Role and Significance of Civil Society
  7. Globalisation and Civil Society
  8. Civil Societies and South Asia
  9. Civil Societies and Social Movements
  10. Contributions by Civil Society in India
  11. Role of Media in Civil Society
  12. Civil Society and Democracy
  13. Critical Evaluation of Civil Society
  14. Role of Civil Society in Influencing Policy Making
  15. Resources and Principal Tactics of Civil Societies

14 SAARC

  1. Charter and its Principles
  2. Areas of Cooperation
  3. Summits and Important Outcomes
  4. Regional Centres
  5. Role of Observers
  6. SAPTA to SAFTA
  7. In Comparison to EU and ASEAN
  8. Role of China
  9. Control of Afghanistan by the Pakistan-backed Taliban
  10. Hurdles in Progress
  11. How to Make SAARC More Effective
  12. Relevance

15 Dynamics of South Asian Security

  1. Charter and its Principles
  2. Areas of Cooperation
  3. Summits and Important Outcomes
  4. Regional Centres
  5. Role of Observers
  6. SAPTA to SAFTA
  7. In Comparison to EU and ASEAN
  8. Role of China
  9. Control of Afghanistan by the Pakistan-backed Taliban
  10. Hurdles in Progress
  11. How to Make SAARC More Effective
  12. Relevance