Politics in South Asia

4.0 credits · Undergraduate

This course provides an introduction to politics in South Asia, a diverse region that is home to a quarter of the world’s population, by exploring select topics: modern political institutions, colonial legacies, gender, religion and caste politics, and subnational conflicts. It primarily draws on evidence from Pakistan and India, and secondarily from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. This is not a history course or a complete survey of politics across South Asia. Rather, by the end of the course, students will be able to identify empirical patterns of politics in modern South Asia and interpret current events within broader political science frameworks. Students will also have unique opportunities to engage with policymakers based in South Asia.