Admission requirements
None
Description
The countries of South and Southeast Asia are experiencing a period of rapid economic growth and democratization. But they also face numerous problems and challenges, ranging from gross socioeconomic inequality to religious extremism. This course examines the social, political and economic landscapes of the southern rim of Asia.
We will pay particular attention to the paradoxes of democratization, asking what has made democracy resilient over more than 60 years of independence in the largest country of the region, India, but fragile in others – for instance, Indonesia, Thailand, and Pakistan. A related theme covered will be the politics of underprivileged, minority and ethnic groups, whether pursued through democratic institutions, or by means of armed rebellions such as the Naxalite insurgency in India or the separatist movements in parts of Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Attention will be given to the dynamics of economic development, in particular the preconditions for pro-poor growth and the reasons for the divergent economic performances of the countries in the region. Interactions between religion and politics, such as Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) in India, political Buddhism in Sri Lanka, and the Islamization of the public sphere in Indonesia and Malaysia, will be addressed in comparative perspective. The evolution of civil society and non-government organizations in the various countries will be outlined, and its political implications assessed. Finally, likely scenarios for the social, political and economic future of South and Southeast Asia will be considered.
Course objectives
To equip students with a basic knowledge of the political and economic challenges faced by countries in South and Southeast Asia in the last half century.
To enable students to think and write critically about practices of democracy, development, and social justice in a variety of settings.
Timetable
Mode of instruction
- Lectures
Course Load
140 hours in total for 5 ECs, of which 24 hours of lectures and the remainder to be spent on reading (average of 4 hours per week), preparing two assignments, and preparing for the final examination.
Assessment method
Written assignments: 40% (wp)
Final examination: 60% (we)
In order to pass the course, students must obtain an an overall mark of 6 or higher. A resit of the final examination is possible for students who have participated in the main final examination and received an overall mark for the course of 5 or lower.
The course is an integrated whole. The final examination and the assignments must be completed in the same academic year. No partial marks can be carried over into following years.
Blackboard
This course makes full use of Blackboard for making available course materials, readings, announcements and grades.
Students are requested to register on Blackboard for this course.
Reading list
To be announced.
Registration
Students are requested to register through uSis, the registration system of Leiden University for this course. General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch.
Registration Contractonderwijs