Empire and Decolonization in South Asia

Undergraduate

How has the history of empire and decolonization shaped the making of modern South Asia—and the world? Moving from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century, this course charts South Asia’s transformation from imperial colonies to postcolonial nation-states. Situating the region in transnational perspective, we will examine the economic and ideological foundations of colonial rule, the rise of anticolonial nationalisms, partition and nation-state formation, and the politics of postcolonial state-building. Throughout, we will examine how race, caste, religion, gender, sexuality, and class have shaped, and been shaped by, these processes. And we will consider how historical analysis helps us understand present-day realities across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.