module specification

This module seeks to provide an understanding of contemporary South Asia by highlighting the region’s broad connections to other parts of Asia and the rest of the world. South Asia is a traditional regional division of Area Studies, but area studies approaches tend to consider regions as geographical spatial containers rather than as open zones characterised by constant exchange.

This module considers South Asia as a space which can be studied through the exploration of its connections to other places and regions. Apart from providing students with a knowledge of the main political developments in this region, this module attempts to contribute to a critical reflection on space and spatial configurations in international politics. The latter will be carried out by providing centrality to the study of socio-political developments from a South-South perspective with an emphasis on issues migration, borders and citizenship, and with a focus on ongoing political transformations.
This module aims at:

1. Provide students with a good understanding of main historical and political developments of the South Asian region since independence
2. To identify key regional issues and challenges that have consequences for global politics
3. To critically reflect on the nation state as a main actor in international politics by highlighting the political dimension of transnational linkages and relations
4. To widen students’ knowledge about politics of the Global South
Students who wish to graduate with BA International Relations with the Global South must take this module

None; The module can be taken by Study Abroad students.

The syllabus will include:

I
1. Introduction: South Asia as a concept (LO 1,2)
2. The partition of the subcontinent and emerging political configurations (LO 1,2, 3)
3. Political systems in South Asia and nation building issues (LO 1,2, 3)
4. Migration and diaspora groups (LO 1, 2,3,4)

II
5. India as an emerging power (LO 1,3)
6. China’s role in South Asia (LO 1,3)
7. The Pakistani Gulf (LO 1,2,3,4)
8. Kashmir: Critical borderlands (LO 1,2,4)

III
9. East as ‘West’: South Asia and Southeast Asia relations (LO1,3, 4)
10. Borders, citizenship and belonging (LO 1,2,5)
11. South Asian global diasporas (LO 1,2, 4,5)
12. Final considerations (LO 4,5)

This module is taught over 12 weeks. Sessions can be arranged differently to facilitate the learning process and incorporate class assessments.  Normally, sessions will be made up of one hour and a half lecture and a class activity followed by discussion.

Class activity will involve tasks such as reading and commenting a text or watching a short documentary/film/news and group work. One three-hour session will be devoted to discuss a topic proposed by students. Students are expected to attend the lecture and take part in the different activities developed in the classroom. 

Students are expected to engage with the Virtual Learning Environment; be able to retrieve ‘posts’ from the lectures and supplementary teaching materials, and handle information from Internet sources, journals and books (enhancing academic literacy).

In this module students will:

1. deepen their knowledge of regional analysis and this shapes international politics

2. critically reflect on issues of scale and geographical knowledge

3. deepen skills for comparative analysis

4. strengthen writing and communicating skills

5. develop basic research skills

There will be three methods of assessment:

1. Submission of a diary and other artifact that reflects the student’s engagement with the module content.

2. Workshop (participation and preparation of a class workshop)

3. Active participation in the class.

Full details will be provided to students via the module handbook and during the module.

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/029CE40A-9847-8280-61C0-E617AA427D1B.html