South Asia in the World

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? Credit Level: 8 Year taken: Year 1 Undergraduate