DIRECTORATE OF DISTANCE EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF JAMMU JAMMU Self Learning Material M.A POLITICAL SCIENCE Semester : III Course No. POL-303 POLITICS IN SOUTH ASIA Prof. Baljit Singh Dr. Mamta Sharma Course Co-ordinator In-Charge PG Pol. Science HOD, Political Science DDE, University of Jammu University of Jammu http:/www.distanceeducationju.in Printed and Published on behalf of the Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, Jammu by the Director, DDE, University of Jammu, Jammu. POLITICAL SCIENCE Editing & Proof Reading : COURSE WRITERS : DR. MAMTA SHARMA - DR. BALJIT SINGH Professor Department of Political Science University of Jammu JAMMU – 180006 - DR. SUNEEL KUMAR Assistant Professor Deptt. of Strategic and Regional Studies University of Jammu JAMMU – 180006 - DR. GURVEL SINGH MALHI Assistant Professor P.G. Deptt. of Political Science Khalsa College AMRITSAR – 143002 © Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, Jammu 2020 • All rights reserved. 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K Printers, Moti Bazar, Jammu / 2020 / 1000 TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Lesson Writer Page No. UNIT I APPROACHES, STRUCTURES, PROCESSES AND STATE 2-80 1.1 Approaches: Historical, Structural-Functional Baljit Singh 2 and Political Economy 1.2 Impact of Colonialism on the Politics of South Baljit Singh Asian States 17 1.3 Constitutions and Constitutionalism in South Baljit Singh Asia: Theory and Practice 34 1.4 Structures and Processes of Politics in South Baljit Singh Asia 65 UNIT II NATION-BUILDING, STATE AND POLITICAL ELITES 81-125 2.1 Nation-building in South Asia: Gurvel Singh Malhi 81 Religion, Ethnicity and Language 2.2 Democracy, Praetorianism and Authoritarianism Gurvel Singh Malhi in South Asia 92 2.3 Nature of Post-Colonial State in South Asia: Gurvel Singh Malhi India, Pakistan and Nepa. 104 2.4 Political Elites in South Asia with Special Gurvel Singh Malhi Reference to India and Bangladesh 116 UNIT III HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, SECURITY AND GOVERNANCE 126-186 3.1 Human Development Scenario in South Asia : Baljit Singh Emerging Trends 126 3.2 State Security and Human Security in Suneel Kumar South Asia 145 3.3 Globalization and Politics of Baljit Singh South Asian States 157 3.4 Governance in South Asia: Issues and Suneel Kumar Challenges 172 UNIT IV SEPARATISM, HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL SOCIETY AND GENDER 187-256 4.1 Separatism and Terrorism in South Asia Suneel Kumar 187 4.2 Human Rights in South Asia : Suneel Kumar 201 Trends and Challenges 4.3 Women Participation in the Politics Mamta Sharma 216 of South Asian States 4.4 Civil Society & Politics in South Asian States : Suneel Kumar Role and Emerging Trends 233 Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, Semester III, Politics in South Asia 1 M.A. Political Science, Semester III, Course No. 303, Politics in South Asia UNIT – I: APPROACHES, STRUCTURES, PROCESSES AND STATE 1.1 APPROACHES: HISTORICAL, STRUCTURAL- FUNCTIONAL AND POLITICAL ECONOMY - Baljit Singh STRUCTURE 1.1.0 Objectives 1.1.1 Introduction 1.1.2 Historical Approach 1.1.3 Structural-Functional Approach 1.1.4 Political Economy Approach 1.1.5 Let us Sum Up 1.1.6 Exercise 1.1.0 OBJECTIVES After going through this lesson, you should be able to: x understand the historical background to present day South Asian politics; x know how various structures and process derived from these structures influencing politics of South Asian States; x the importance of political economy approach to understand South Asian politics, 2 Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, Semester III, Politics in South Asia particularly with reference to elites, social classes and patronage networks; 1.1.1 INTRODUCTION Domestic politics of South Asian States has witnessed various trends ranging from the construction of Post-Colonial States to reinventing governance, economy and democracy apart from making transition from absolute to constitutional monarchy in the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal and Bhutan. The former has abolished the Monarchy in 2008 whereas the latter has retained it in the modified form that is constitutional monarchy. Pakistan has been shuttling from democracy to praetorian rule, whereas, Bangladesh has succeeded to overcome the phenomenon of praetorian rule but it has been struggling to sustain functional democracy since 1990. However, all the South Asian states are having democracy at present but the texture and tenor of democracy varies from one state to another state of this region. The confrontational politics, political violence, criminalization of politics, crisis of governability, separatism, and sectarianism have become dominant trends in the politics of South Asian States. The politics of identities has replaced the politics of ideas and the public space has become more angular, volatile and polarized between the religious majority and minorities across the South Asian Societies. Further their political scenario has been projecting the paradoxical because on the one hand they are marching on the road of democracy and on the other hand their reliance on the coercive apparatus has increased manifolds as the army and paramilitary forces are managing the internal conflict in South Asia ranging from India to Maldives. In order to understand why this has been happening in the domestic politics of South Asian states, it is pertinent to look at the politics of these states from different angles. There are different methods to understand these political trends in the politics of South Asian states like Legal & Institutional, Comparative, System, Historical, Structural-Functional and Political Economy. In this lesson, an attempt has been made to apply Historical, Structural-Functional and Political economy approaches to understand the politics of South Asian States. These approaches are vital tools to develop an understanding on the domestic politics of South Asian States –as they are providing the three different perspectives to look at politics of these states. Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, Semester III, Politics in South Asia 3 1.1.2 HISTORICAL APPROACH The origin of political institutions and discourses in South Asian states can be traced back to the history of this region. In order to understand the contemporary political phenomenon in the politics of South Asian States, it is required to revisit their history because the present cannot be understood without referring back to the history. Whatever has been happening in their politics, it always has a historical context as the political developments are taking place in continuity instead of vacuum. Further history provides clue about the present. Therefore, in order to understand the politics of South Asian States in the Post-Colonial period, it is pertinent to take into account their colonial past. For instance the modern state that the South Asian societies are having at present, its foundations was laid down during the colonial period. Hence the nature, working and functioning of Post-colonial state in India can be better understood by locating it in the historical context. The roots of Parliamentary democracy in South Asian Societies can be traced back to the colonial history. In order to understand the working of democracy in India, it is essential to know how and why the colonial rulers initiated the process of Parliamentary Democracy in India and Sri Lanka. The element of election and the representative bodies were introduced during the colonial period. Electoral system introduced during the colonial past has become the bed-rock of representative democracy in South Asian societies. Now the South Asian States are having the written constitutions to establish rule of law in particular and constitutionalism in general. The process of development of their constitution was set in motion during the colonial period. For instance the 2/3 part of Indian Constitution was borrowed from the Government of India Act-1935. In addition to it, this act worked as an Interim Constitution for Pakistan till it formulated and enacted its first constitution in 1956. This act was passed by the British Parliament for governance in undivided India in 1935. Sri Lanka’s political system has been shaped by its history as a British colonial possession dating back to 1801. The British attempted to develop a representative government on the Island through an 1833 Constitution that created a legislative council. Although the British formulated many constitutions like in 1910, 1920 and 1924 to appease the people but they could not provide governance by the natives. The constitution of 1931 gave more authority to native elected representatives over the internal matters. On February 4 Directorate of Distance Education, University of Jammu, Semester III, Politics in South Asia 4, 1948, the Island declared its independence from Britain but remained initially a part of British Commonwealth and subsequently Modern Commonwealth till May 16, 1972 when it was officially proclaimed an Independent Republic. Under the British rule, the Tamils from northern areas gained influence through their disproportionate access to education. 1.1.3 STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL APPROACH In South Asian States, the politics revolve around various structures and functions performed by them. For instance the