Rowman & Littlefield Publishers South Asia in World Politics

Product Description South Asia in World Politics offers a comprehensive introduction to the politics and international relations of South Asia, a key area encompassing the states of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. While U.S. interest has long been sporadic and reactive, 9/11 alerted Washington that paying only fitful attention to one of the world's most volatile and populous regions was a recipe for everyday instability, repeated international crises, major and minor wars, and conditions so chronically unsettled that they continue to provide a fertile breeding ground for transnational Islamic terrorism. Exploring the many facets of this dynamic region, the book also assesses U.S. policy toward Afghanistan and explains the importance of Bangladesh and Pakistan, two of only a handful of Islamic states with significant track records as democracies. Review South Asia's new relevance to the twin scourges of nuclear proliferation and terrorism are comprehensively addressed in this remarkable new text, but so are the region's positive features: the expansion of democracy, the management of incredible ethnic diversity, and the rapid economic growth of its most important state, India. This volume will be of enormous value to students and academics seeking an introduction to this hitherto ignored region--senior policymakers would benefit as well from the wisdom to be found in these pages.--Stephen P. Cohen, The Brookings Institution This text addresses a vitally important lacuna in the literature on the international relations of South Asia, a critical but oft-neglected region. An excellent set of scholars offers cogent, timely, and well-drafted chapters on every aspect of regional relations.--Sumit Ganguly, Indiana University The initial chapters begin by surveying the foreign policies of individual states and are followed by examinations of specific issue areas, including nuclear developments, ethnic conflicts, religion and politics, democratization, and the effects of globalization and economic liberalization. The book also contains an excellent chronology, running from 1858 and the start of direct British rule to the complex developments of the 1990's. About the Author Devin T. Hagerty is assistant professor of political science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.