Module code: PES7069-B
South Asia's importance is multifaceted, ranging from its demographic significance and economic potential to its strategic location and geopolitical influence. In the recent past, the region has gained significant attention in academic and policy debates on how the world addresses the problem of a rising China, democratic decline and the worsening of religious violence Therefore, developments in the region have far-reaching implications for contemporary global politics and security, making nuanced analysis vitally important for understanding the wider rule-based international system more broadly. At the same time, academic scholarship has shown how universal concepts such as democracy, nationalism, and secularism have experienced unique trajectories in the region, underlining the importance of studying this distinct and challenging region on its own rather than in universal terms. By examining historical, geopolitical, and socio-political dimensions, the course aims to provide students with a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted challenges and opportunities that characterize the South Asian politics, security and development landscape. The module focuses on themes that speak to contemporary issues across South Asian countries to facilitate a research-led comparative perspective. This approach aims to move away from an overtly India-focused depiction of South Asia in academia, which tends to dominate current understandings of the region. underlining the importance of studying this distinct and challenging region on its own rather than in universal terms. Download the PDF for PES7069-B_2024_5.pdf