The seminar places particular emphasis on the conditions affecting the occurrence, conduct and aftermath of war in the region. Topics covered in the seminar include the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947 and the creation of political, ethnic, religious, and territorial disputes between the two countries; ethnic and religious sources of instability in the region; civil-military relations; South Asia during the Cold War; South Asia and the global war against terrorism; the foreign relations of India and Pakistan with the United States, Russia, China and neighboring countries; the origins and military conduct of the three India-Pakistan wars; and the acquisition of nuclear weapons by India and Pakistan and their impact on regional security and international stability. Depending on student interest, the course also will cover security dynamics of smaller South Asian states (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan)

This course covers a selected range of topics for understanding current South Asian political developments and towards answering the larger question of why South Asia is the way it is: What are the internal and external structures and institutions in South Asian countries that shape their political activities and stance? In this course we study contemporary issues in the context of regional, national, and local political developments in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. This will assist in thinking relationally and comparatively across nations of the region, as well as provide an understanding of different movements and events that shape this region.

This course focuses on the political and security dynamics of Pakistan and Afghanistan. In recent history the region has been a hotbed of instability and a focal point of terrorism. The course will explore the complex interplay of history, geography and ethno-religious politics of the two contagious countries, analyze its impact on regional stability, and examine the implications for global security.

This course will examine the sources of political and ethnic violence in the Southeast Asia region.

A research seminar on security issues in contemporary Latin America. Students focus on challenges to regional security, regime stability, and public safety. Students conduct and present original research on selected issues concerning Latin American security.