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South Asia's Weak States Understanding the Regional Insecurity Predicament
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South Asia's Weak States
Understanding the Regional Insecurity Predicament
South Asia, which consists of eight states of different sizes and capabilities, is characterized by high levels of insecurity at the inter-state, intra-state, and human level: insecurity that is manifest in both traditional and non-traditional security problems—especially transnational terrorism fuelled by militant religious ideologies.
To explain what has caused and contributed to the perpetual insecurity and human suffering in the region, this book engages scholars of international relations, comparative politics, historical sociology, and economic development, among others, to reveal and analyze the key underlying and proximate drivers. It argues that the problems are driven largely by two critical variables: the presence of weak states and weak cooperative interstate norms.
Based on this analysis and the conclusions drawn, the book recommends specific policies for making the region secure and for developing the long lasting inter- and intra-state cooperative mechanisms necessary for the perpetuation of that security.
"After being preoccupied with great powers for centuries, we are now attempting to come to grips with weak and failed states and their significance to regional politics. By providing a number of perspectives on weaker states in South Asia, this volume contributes to our improved understanding."—William R. Thompson, Donald A. Rogers Professor of Political Science, Indiana University
"Most discussions of South Asia focus on the region's growing strength and promise. This volume performs a valuable service in tempering that optimism. It reminds us that, despite important advances, South Asia remains plagued by insecurity, from the state to the human level. In doing so, the volume makes a useful contribution to regional as well as to broader literatures, drawing lessons that can apply to weak states elsewhere in the world."—S. Paul Kapur, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School
T. V. Paul is Director of the McGill University/Université de Montreal Centre for International Peace and Security Studies (CIPSS) and James McGill Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political Science at McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
For more information to order this book:
http://www.sup.org/book.cgi?id=17538
http://www.amazon.com/South-Asias-Weak-States-Understanding/dp/0804762201
More Prof. T. V Paul's Publication: http://www.amazon.com/T.V.-Paul/e/B002DP5CZ8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0/190-3483323-5524141
South Asia 2010

South Asia 2010
- ISBN: 978-1-85743-534-4
- Binding: Hardback
- Published by: Routledge
- Publication Date: 23rd October 2009
- Pages: 808
- About the Book
Now in its seventh edition, South Asia 2010 provides an in-depth library of information on the countries and territories of the region. Exhaustively researched by Europa's experienced editorial team, this title includes a vast range of up-to-date economic, political and statistical data. Combining impartial analysis with facts and figures, South Asia 2010 provides a unique overall perspective on this increasingly important region.
The book is divided into three sections:
General Survey
- containing introductory essays by key specialists providing impartial coverage of issues of regional importance including security and religion. Essays include: Globalization and Human Development in South Asia; Corruption and Governance in South Asia; Current Security Issues in South Asia; Forced Migration in South Asia; India as a Superpower; Gender Issues in South Asia; the Religions of South Asia; The Rise of Islamic Extremism in South Asia and Population and Environmental Issues in South Asia.
Country Surveys
- detailed coverage of the eight countries of South Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
- up-to-date statistical surveys including the latest available figures on population and area, agriculture, industry, trade, transport, communications, media and education
- a directory section of essential contact names, postal addresses and e-mail and internet addresses.
Regional Information
- a biographical section profiling prominent figures in the South Asian region
- directory details of research institutes studying the area and a select book and periodicals bibliography.
Religion and Politics in South Asia

Religion and Politics in South Asia
- ISBN: 978-0-415-77801-5
- Binding: Paperback (also available in Hardback)
- Published by: Routledge
- Publication Date: 22nd February 2010
- Pages: 224
About the Book
Religion and religio-political forces have become potent influences in the domestic politics of many countries irrespective of geographical location, stages of economic growth, and systems of governance. The growing importance of religion as a marker of identity and a tool of political mobilization is reshaping the political landscape in an unprecedented manner, and South Asia, which contains the world’s largest populations of Muslims and Hindus with significant number of Buddhists, is no exception to this fact.
This book presents a comprehensive analysis of the interaction of religion and politics in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Although the specific circumstances of each country are different, in recent decades, religion, religio-political parties, and religious rhetoric have become dominant features of the political scenes in all six countries. The contributors offer a thorough examination of these developments by presenting each country's political system and the socio-economic environment within which the interactions are taking place. The analysis of the various factors influencing the process of the interactions between religion and politics, and their impact on the lives of the people of the region and global politics constitute the core of the chapters.
Table of Contents:
Introduction: Three Arguments about Religion-Politics Nexus Ali Riaz 1. The Strategic Use of Islam in Afghan Politics Abdulkader Sinno 2. The Politics of Islamization in Bangladesh Ali Riaz 3. Religion, Politics and Violence in India Amalendu Misra 4. Nepal: From Hindu Monarchy to Secular Democracy Subho Basu 5. Pakistan: A State for the Muslims or an Islamic State? Farhat Haq 6. Politicization of Buddhism and Electoral Politics in Sri Lanka A R M Imtiyaz. Appendix. Glossary
Ali Riaz is Professor and Chair of the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University, USA. Previously he has taught at universities in Bangladesh and England, and worked as a broadcast journalist at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in London. His recent publications include Faithful Education: Madrassahs in South Asia (2008); Islamist Militancy in Bangladesh, A Complex Web (2008).
Regional Security: The Capacity of International Organizations
- ISBN: 978-0-415-48341-4
- Binding: Paperback (also available in Hardback)
- Published by: Routledge
- Publication Date: 09/07/2009
- Pages: 232
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About the Book
Regional organizations are an inescapable feature of global politics. Virtually all countries in the world are members of at least one regional or other intergovernmental organization.
The involvement of international organizations in the realm of regional peace and security, and their cooperation in this domain with the United Nations, has reached an unprecedented level. Regional organizations have traditionally been formed around economic, political, or environmental objectives, however, over the last decades these organizations have gradually penetrated into the security sphere and developed their capacities in conflict prevention, peacekeeping, or post-war reconstruction.
In Europe, Africa, Asia, or the Americas, regional and other intergovernmental organizations have been concurrently empowered by the UN and their own member states to maintain peace and security. Despite suffering from important discrepancies in both their mandates and capacities, regional organizations have become indisputable actors that play a role from the outbreak of a crisis to the reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of a conflict
Presenting the most up-to-date critical and comparative analysis of the major regional security institutions, assessing a wide range of regional organizations and providing an accessible and comprehensive guide to 11 key organizations, this book is the first systematic study of the capacities of the most recognized intergovernmental organizations with a security mandate. Regional Security is essential reading for all students of international organizations, peace and security studies and global governance.
Table of Contents
1. International Organizations in Regional Security 2. African Union (AU) 3. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) 4. Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) 5. Southern African Development Community (SADC) 6. Organization of American States (OAS) 7. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 8. Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) 9. League of Arab States (LAS) 10. Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) 11. European Union (EU) 12. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 13. Conclusions.
Bio
Rodrigo Tavares is a Research Fellow at United Nations University (UNU-CRIS), Belgium and the School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. He also has served as a consultant to the UN and national governments.
Cooperation in South Asia: The Indian Prespective
About the Book
This work seeks to examine the development of regional cooperation in the South Asian region taking place under India’s initiative in recent period. The author proposes that global changes taking place since the end of the Cold War have led to considerable alteration in India’s regional policy since the 1990s, leading to an increasing initiative towards developing and broadening substantive functional regional cooperation even as such movements get contested by opposing forces determined by historical divides along with geopolitical and strategic concerns.
Table of Contents
1. Preface 2. Introduction 3. Regional Cooperation in the 90s: Relevance for South Asia 4. Institutionalised Cooperation in South Asia: Role of SAARC(1990-1999) 5. Indo-Bangladesh Cooperation in Present Times: Constraints and Prospects 6. Indo-Sri Lanka Relations: Development in the 90s 7. Indo-Pakistan Relations: Constraints and Prospects 8. Cooperation in South Asia: Track II Approach 9. Conclusion. Appendices. Bibliography. Index
About the Author(s)
Shantanu Chakrabarti is currently Reader in the Department of History in University of Calcutta, Kolkata. He is also a member of the Peace Studies Group, the Centre for Pakistan and West Asia Studies, and the Centre for the Study of China and its Neighbourhood, affiliated to the University of Calcutta. His current research interests include: Peace and Conflict resolution in South Asia; South Asian regional dynamics and privatisation of security. He has been a participant in the RCSS Summer Workshop Programme(2006) and has served as a Research Fellow in the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses(IDSA), New Delhi(November 2007-June 2008). He has contributed numerous chapters and articles in edited volumes and peer reviewed journals.
· ISBN: 81-7074-305-2
· Binding: Hardback
· Published by: KP Bagchi & Company
· Publication Date: 2008
· Pages: 252
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Regional Security and Regional Cooperation : A Comparative Study of ASEAN and SAARC
Regional security and regional cooperation have become increasingly important in international relations. Much is said of global interdependence but regional interdependence of the economic, environmental, political or military kind is equally significant. Regional cooperation is looked upon as pooling of resources to cope with interdependence, to increase the significance of the region and to lessen external dependence. This book describes and examines issues in regional security and regional cooperation, and their interrelationships both in theory and practice, through a comparative study of ASEAN and SAARC. Taking a comprehensive view of security, it analyses how ASEAN and SAARC have contributed to regional security in Southeast Asia and South Asia. Intra-regional relationships among the member countries have been examined within the broader parameters of the changing international scenario. This work will be of particular interest to those who are interested and involved in international relations, area studies, security and regional cooperation.
Regionalism in South Asia: Negotiating Cooperation, Institutional Structures
Regionalism in South Asia: Negotiating Cooperation, Institutional Structures
The dramatic surge in regional integration schemes over the past two decades has been one of the most important developments in world politics. Virtually all countries are now members of at least one regional grouping. South Asia is no exception to this trend. In December 1985, seven South Asian countries came together to establish South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to address issues of peace and development in the region. This book examines regionalism in South Asia, exploring the linkages between institutional structures, government capabilities, and domestic actors’ preferences to explain the dynamics of regional cooperation. It considers the formation and evolution of SAARC, explaining why its growth in terms of institutional developments and program implementation has remained modest and slow over the past two decades. It also addresses the impact of important issues such as the acquisition of nuclear capabilities by India and Pakistan, the unending conflicts in Kashmir, the war against global terror in Afghanistan, and India’s growing economy. Drawing on a wealth of empirical research, including elite interviews and trade transaction data, this book sheds new light on the main cooperation issues in South Asia today and provides important information on the trends and prospects for regional cooperation in future years.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction 2. Explaining Regional Cooperation in South Asia 3. Regional Dynamics 4. Origin and Evolution of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) 5. The Challenge of Regionalism in South Asia 6. Domestic Politics and Regional Economic Cooperation in South Asia 7. Domestic Preferences for Regional Cooperation: Cross-National Comparisons 8. Conclusion
About the Author(s)
Kishore C. Dash is Associate Professor of Global Studies at Thunderbird School of Global Management. His research interests are in the areas of international political economy, Asian studies, and political economy of contemporary South Asia. He has published in international journals, and he is the co-editor of International Political Economy: State-Market Relations in a Changing Global Order.
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ISBN: 978-0-415-43117-0
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Binding: Hardback
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Published by: Routledge
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Publication Date: 12th February 2008
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Pages: 272
Partition and the South Asian Diaspora:Extending the Subcontinent
Table of Contents
Introduction 1. Negotiating Nations 2. Claiming Pakistan 3. Resisting Hindutva 4. Redoing South Asia 5. Conclusion
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ISBN: 978-0-415-42409-7
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Binding: Hardback
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Published by: Routledge India
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Publication Date: 7th March 2007
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Pages: 308
The Politics of Personal Law in South Asia: Identity, Nationalism and the Uniform Civil Code
About the Book
It is a political study of the controversy surrounding the issue of the uniform civil code vis-à-vis personal laws from a South Asian perspective.
At the centre of the debate is whether there should be a centralized view of the legal system in a given society or a decentralized view, both horizontally and vertically.
This issue is entangled within the threads of identity politics, minority rights, women’s rights, national integration, global Islamic politics and universal human rights. Champions of each category view it through their own prisms, making the debate extremely complex, especially in politically and socially plural South Asia.
So, this book attempts to harmonize the threads of the debate to provide a holistic political analysis.
Table of Contents
Contents 1. Introduction: Issues and Concepts 2. The Evolution of the Indian Discourse 3. It is Politics, Stupid! 4. On the Fringe: The Tribal Laws 5. The South Asian Mosaic 6. The Wider Context 7. Conclusion. Appendices. Glossary
About the Author(s)
Partha S. Ghosh is currently Professor of South Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has been associated with New Delhi-based Indian Council of Social Science Research for the last two decades where he has held positions of Assistant Director (January 1978–April 1981, August 1983–December 1984)); Deputy Director ( January 1987–August 1990) and Director ( September 1990–August 1992; September 1993– December 1995). He has previously published seven books, and has contributed numerous articles to professional journals in India and abroad.
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ISBN: 978-0-415-44544-3
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Binding: Hardback
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Published by: Routledge India
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Publication Date: 1st May 2007
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Pages: 352
Sport in South Asian Society
About the Book
A detailed study of sports' arrival, spread and advance in colonial and post-colonial South Asia. A selection of articles addresses critical issues of nationalism, communalism, commercialism and gender through the lens of sport.
This book makes the point that the social histories of South Asian sport cannot be understood by simply looking at the history of the game in one province or region. Furthermore, it demonstrates that it would be wrong to understand sport in terms of the exigencies of the colonial state.
Drawing inspiration from C.L.R. James' well-known epigram, 'What do they know of cricket who only cricket know?' the findings suggest that South Asian sport makes sense only when it is placed within the broader colonial and post-colonial context. The book demonstrates that sport not only influences politics and vice versa, but that the two are inseparable. Sport is not only political, it is politics, intrigue, culture and art. To deny this is to denigrate the position of sport in modern South Asian society.
This volume was previously published as a special issue of The International Journal of the History of Sport.
Table of Contents
Part 1. Raj and Post Raj Identities: Sport and South Asia Part 2. Narrative Histories: Sport in Colonial and Post Colonial South Asia Part 3. Marginal Voices: Women's Sport in Colonial and Post Colonial South Asia Part 4. Lagaan - Undertones and Overtones: South Asian Sport, Culture, Society Part 5. Cementing Ties: Sport in South Asian Diplomacy Part 6. Cross Cutting Identities: Sport and the South Asian Diaspora
About the Author(s)
Boria Majumdar is a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Study at La Trobe University, Australia. He is also Deputy Executive Academic Editor of The International Journal of the History of Sport, Executive Academic Editor of Sport in Society and Co-Editor of the Sport in the Global Society series.
Professor J.A. Mangan is former Director of the International Research Centre for Sport, Socialisation and Society at the University of Strathclyde, UK. He was founding Chairman of the British Society of Sports History and founding editor of The International Journal of the History of Sport. He is author of the acclaimed Athleticism and the Victorian and Edwardian Public School and has written and lectured extensively on sport, culture and society.
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ISBN: 978-0-415-35953-5
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Binding: Hardback
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Published by: Routledge
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Publication Date: 18th April 2005
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Pages: 356
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Illustrations: 9 tables

