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 elective course surveys the cultural, political, social, economic and military situations in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh with a focus on United States national interests in the region. The United States appears to pay serious attention to the region only in times of crises—as evidenced by past wars, India’s and Pakistan’s nuclear tests in May 1998, and the Tsunami in 2004. Until recently its policies in the region have focused on single narrowly-defined issues such as the proliferation or terrorism and its regional responses clouded by cold-war perceptions. Seminar participants will explore broader emerging opportunities and risks in the region. Among other topics, it will look at the dynamics of demographic change, the impact of the green revolution, rapid industrialization and urbanization, the role of foreign trade and investments, and the internal insurgencies and terrorism and their implication for internal political stability and change. The course will emphasize the motivations and perceptions of the leaderships and elite in these countries and the recent shifts in US interests and policies in the region, especially in Pakistan and India. A short paper is required to be written co-jointly with 6500.

Secretary Gates calls for a “dramatic increase in spending on the civilian instruments of national security.” Retired Marine Corps General Anthony Zinni testifies that “we know that the ‘enemies’ in the world today are actually conditions— poverty, infectious disease, political turmoil and corruption, environmental and energy challenges.” Secretary Clinton talks about the three “Ds” of national security—Defense, Diplomacy and Development. But what exactly does this mean on the ground? How does whole-of-government play out in the field and how might we best marshal the three “Ds” to meet our objectives? This course examines the fundamentals of whole-of-government approaches in field operations and uses Pakistan and Afghanistan for its case studies. The push for the three “Ds” comes from growing concern that fragile and failed states threaten regional security, aggravate transnational crime, and provide ungoverned space for potential terrorists. This concern has increased attention on state-building as part of security operations. This course examines the challenges posed by fragile and failed states and the theory behind their weakness. It examines the assistance tools we have to work with, looking particularly at civilian agencies and institutions, and past efforts to incorporate civilian efforts with military in non-permissive environments. It explores current efforts to beef up civilian capacity, engage in “expeditionary” approaches to whole-of-government and, specifically, to address challenges in Afghanistan and Pakistan.