The study of the political systems, government structures, electoral politics, regional and international relations and social policies that shape countries and cities in the South Asian region.
Political History of South Asia: This topic covers the history of political systems, institutions, and movements in South Asian countries.
State and Society in South Asia: This topic explores the interactions between the state and various social groups, including religious, ethnic, and linguistic communities.
South Asian Political Economy: This topic examines the economic policies and systems of South Asian states and their impact on society.
Political Parties in South Asia: This topic covers the political parties in South Asian countries, their ideologies, and their modes of organization.
Democracy and Governance in South Asia: This topic focuses on the practice and theory of democracy and governance in South Asian countries.
Constitutionalism and Legal Systems in South Asia: This topic explores the constitutional law and legal systems in South Asian states, including the role of the judiciary.
Nationalism and Ethnicity in South Asia: This topic covers the contentious issues of nationalism and ethnicity in South Asian countries and their impact on politics.
Gender and Politics in South Asia: This topic examines the role of gender in politics and society in South Asian states.
International Relations in South Asia: This topic looks at the relationships between South Asian states and other countries in the region and beyond.
Security and Conflict Resolution in South Asia: This topic explores the security issues facing South Asian countries, including internal and external threats, and methods of conflict resolution.
Democracy: The system of governance, where the power lies in the hands of the people, who elect representatives to take decisions on their behalf. South Asia consists of some of the largest democracies in the world, including India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
Monarchy: A form of governance where power lies with a monarch, who is the head of the state. Although, most South Asian countries adopted democratic rule after gaining independence from colonial powers, Bhutan and Nepal, are two Himalayan countries that still practice a form of a monarchy.
Military Rule: A system of governance in which military figures assume power and authority over the governance of a nation. It has been observed in South Asian nations such as Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Authoritarianism: A form of governance where there is limited, or no room for public participation in decision-making, and power is usually concentrated with an individual or a group of people. Dictatorships, one-party regimes, and military junta are some examples of this type of governance.
Federalism: A system of governance where power is shared between the national and state or provincial governments. India and Pakistan are two major examples of a federal form of governance in South Asia.
Presidential System: A representative form of governance where a president is directly elected by the people for a set term of office, separately from the legislative branch of government. Sri Lanka is one country that has adopted a presidential system of governance.
Parliamentary System: A representative form of governance in which the executive branch is accountable to the legislative branch. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal follow a parliamentary system of governance.
Communist Governance: A system of governance based on socialist principles, with the government controlling most aspects of the economy and society. The People's Republic of China, though not technically part of South Asia, has influenced the governance structures of countries like Nepal, which briefly underwent communist rule.
Tribal Governance: A form of governance in which power lies in the hands of tribal leaders, and the governance structure varries from place to place. The northeast region of India, Bhutan, and parts of Pakistan are some examples of where this form of governance is prevalent.
Islamic Governance: A form of governance adopted by Muslim-majority countries in South Asia like Pakistan and Bangladesh, where Islamic laws and principles guide the decision-making process.