GV526-7-AU-CO:
Politics of South Asia
2023/24
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
ReassessmentOnly
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
15
07 March 2022
Requisites for this module
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Almost a quarter of the world's population resides in South Asia, making it a region that is both densely populated and extremely diverse in ethno-linguistic, social and political terms, on the one hand. On the other hand, a majority of its eight countries share a colonial past and many political institutions, on paper. This module will focus on the politics of this complex region, drawing on scholarship on most of its countries with a particular focus on the larger ones.
In particular, our emphasis will be on themes related to political institutions, democratic and autocratic tendencies, civil-military relations, and the role of various social identities in shaping and influencing the political outcomes we see in the region. The module highlights a comparative approach to studying the countries in South Asia, drawing on both theoretical and empirical literature, and on both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
1. To provide students with fundamental knowledge about South Asia, both as a region and in terms of the countries that define the region.
2. To engage with a wide range of applied empirical material relating to the politics and political challenges of South Asian countries.
3. To focus on both the commonalities and differences in political institutions and political outcomes among the countries that make up the region.
4. To present a range of contemporary political, societal and policy challenges that South Asian countries face, discussing them from both theoretical and empirical perspectives.
5. To use the study of South Asian politics to develop comparative analytical skills.
By the end of the module, students should be able to do the following:
1. Identify and employ appropriate material that contains required information and data.
2. Synthesize the obtained information to use it for relevant purposes (e.g., essays and discussion).
3. Formulate arguments clearly and coherently in both written and oral forms.
4. Explore complex social, economic and political challenges, particularly within the South Asian region, and analyse their main characteristics, determinants and consequences.
5. Compare, contrast and critique the political institutions and outcomes in different South Asian countries.
Weekly Topics:
1. Introduction & Decolonization of South Asia
2. Democracy and Authoritarianism
3. Political Parties
4. Candidate Selection & Dynastic Politics
5. Clientelism
6. Political Participation & Barriers to Participation
7. Political Ideology
8. Electoral Quotas and Representation
9. Elections & Political Accountability
10. Gender and Politics
This module will be taught in the form of a 2-hour seminar. The general structure of the seminar will be that the instructor will start each class with some introductory remarks on that week’s readings and a brief summary on the important themes to open the discussion. Students are expected to have done the readings before coming to class and should be prepared to ask questions on aspects they didn’t understand, discuss the material and engage with that week’s readings.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Rabia Malik, email: rabia.malik@essex.ac.uk.
Module Director Dr Rabia Malik rabia.malik@essex.ac.uk Module Administrator Jamie Seakens govpgquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
Dr Damien Bol
King's College London
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
Government
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