Lecture 1- Introducing South Asia
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Ambrish Dhaka
Introducing South Asia
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» Introducing South Asia
Summary:
Topics and post-lecture discussion
In todays lecture I have presented before you the following elements that help us understand South Asia.
South Asia- An Introduction
As they speak of South Asia
Geography and history
South Asia as a 'region'
Modern South Asia
South Asia as Indian Heartland
South Asia as a focus of great powers
South Asia as a conflict zone
South Asia as a demographic maverick
South Asia as human security challenge
South Asia as economic focus
Students are encouraged to write about at least 3 of the elements that they find most suitable for describing South Asia as a region, in their own assessment.
Today we learn in this class a brief introduction about South Asian countries. And, how they are interconnected with each other. Here is a link for chapter as a part of your reading that would enable you to know more. The chapter is from the book The Geography of South Asia by Prof A Ahmed.
Here is a news item on a very relevant commercial crop of South Asia, the cotton farming. Just read the news and try to figure out how South Asian agriculture in important for international trade. The link is given below.
India Decides to End Cotton-Export Ban March 12, 2012.
Origins of Agriculture in South Asia
South Asian countries - Agriculture scenario
Physical basis of Agriculture - the agro-ecological zones
Agriculture, Globalisation and South Asia
Above sections would be taken up for discussion in class on 15 March 2012.
Today's lecture we would like to focus on the growth of the second tier of economy, namely, industry- manufacturing in South Asian countries. The focus shall begin with Pakistan and Bangladesh. A political Map of Bangladesh is given here in order to better understand the location of the industries and the names associated with districts.
(22/03/2012)
Main topics that we discussed in class
A) Pakistan
- Ayub era of 'authoritarian capitalism' and its successive emulations
- Bhutto's nationalisation programme and the 2nd Five Year Plan
- Pakistan's economy during ZIa's rule
- Era of Elected Governments and World Bank, IMF led structural reforms
B) Bangladesh
- Geo-cultural uniqueness of East Pakistan
- Political economy of religion in the formation of Muslim League
- Colonialism and its imprints in Bangladesh's socio-economic milieu
- Path to independence and Mujibism
C) Afghanistan
- Nation-building and Abdur Rahaman Khan
- Pastoral nomadism as formative element of Afghan historiography
- State in making- Habibullah, Amanullah Khan's regime
- Daoud's nationalism and Great Power involvement
- Geoconomics of post-9/11
As we continue our discussion on the second tier of the economy, namely, industry; it invariably brings into focus the agenda of development. Most of the South Asian economies faced this as their first immediate challenge after independence. We continue our discussion for the rest of South Asian economies. Here is a Map of Nepal to help you understand the regions.
The sixth lecture is focussing on the regionalism and its instrumentalisation by trade agreements, notably, SAPTA and SAFTA. What are incentives to create a regional trading blocks? How to South Asian economies figure in present scenario and what are the prospects.
Here a link to chapter on SAFTA that would help you understand the basic precincts of regional trade.
(05/4/2012)
Here is a news link that tells about the growing trade ties between India and Pakistan.
Regional Planning in India
Priorities of First Plan
Industrialisation picks up from Second Plan
Third Plan to Seventh Plan - Import Substitution and Balanced Regional Development
Opening up - Eighth Plan onwards
India's Service Sector Boom
Indian Economy and economic regionalism in South Asia
SAFTA - opportunities and challenges
Here is a piece of news that tells you about the concerns among member countries about the nature of challenges in realizing FTA.
/forum/t-447942/introducing-south-asia#post-