Introduction to Modern South Asia: The Politics of States, Society, and Development in South…

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India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are collectively home to over 1.5 billion people, with rapidly growing economies. Yet, all three states continue to grapple with high levels of poverty, ethnic, religious, gender, and caste-based discrimination, and threats to deepening democracy. Despite a shared history of colonial rule and similar bureaucratic structures, these states have developed important differences in political regimes, systems of governance, and state-citizen linkages. This seminar is an introduction to States, Society, and Development in South Asia, drawing on academic literature primarily from political science, as well as sociology, and history. Over the semester, we will comparatively address themes such as the origins and consolidation of political regimes, the role of the state in economic growth and poverty alleviation, and the evolution of political parties, civil society, and social movements in organizing and making demands for rights.