Walter Andersen, Administrative Director
The South Asia Studies Program provides a foundation for understanding, through a historical perspective, the political, socioeconomic and international dynamics of this crucial region. An array of interdisciplinary courses addresses South Asia’s growing economic and strategic importance as well as its political history, its complex social structures and the
challenges of development. Stretching from Afghanistan in the west to Bangladesh in the east, South Asia is the most populous and diverse region of the globe. The central dilemmas of modern politics, economic development and social change are all dramatized across this landscape. The growing interaction of the world community with South Asia requires international affairs practitioners with expertise in the region. India, arguably the world’s most remarkable democracy, is also one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Afghanistan and Pakistan, currently incubators of international terrorism, are enmeshed in efforts to deal with religious extremism. Urgent problems of conflict resolution exist throughout South Asia, including the civil war in Sri Lanka, the Baluchistan insurgency in Pakistan and the Maoist social movement in Nepal. Rapid economic growth is raising serious environmental issues and has challenged the capacity of administrative structures throughout the region. In terms of U.S. foreign policy, Pakistan is a key state in the global “war on terrorism,” and India is rapidly becoming a strategic partner in the Indian Ocean and its littoral. Meanwhile, the aspirations of people living in the region are increasingly impinging on the international domain. Course work on critical South Asia issues is supplemented by guest lectures and brown-bag lunches that integrate students with the broader policymaking community and scholars. The program prepares those interested in international business, diplomacy, development and security policy, and strives to provide networking opportunities to enhance students’ professional development.
Academic Requirements
Students concentrating in South Asia Studies take four South Asia Studies courses and two courses from any of the other Asian Studies programs, including Asia Regional course offerings, and must pass the Hindi-Urdu language proficiency examination.
Internships
The program strongly encourages students to complete internships in the region or with relevant organizations in the United States. Most students use the summer between their first and second years to intern or complete research in their field of interest, and a majority do this work in South Asia. The program recognizes that the internship choice is critical to the student’s academic studies and career prospects and maintains a databank of internships and research options. Faculty members work closely with students to identify and pursue opportunities appropriate to their interests.
Students have had internship placements in private sector firms, research institutions, NGOs, government agencies and international organizations in South Asia and the United States. The program also assists graduating students in fulfilling their career goals. For more information about internships, click here.
Research Opportunities
The South Asia Studies Program hosts a number of research projects that provide opportunities for student involvement. Current projects include “Comparative Constitutionalism in South Asia,” “India and China: Comparisons and Collaborations” and “Civic Literacy: Emerging Areas of Research Inquiry in Urban India.” Future projects will focus on India’s engagement with global economic institutions, the linkage between political representation and democracy in India and civic literacy in India’s cities.
SAIS also has partnerships with Lahore University of Management Studies (LUMS) in Pakistan and Bandaranaike Center for International Studies in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Both institutions have hosted and will continue to host SAIS students to undertake individual research projects. Students have the opportunity to work on their projects directly with full-time faculty members, who offer research, writing and editing assistance.
Co-curricular Activities
To complement students’ course work, the South Asia Studies Program hosts seminars and events on an array of issues featuring experts’ perspectives. At these events, students can network with academics, policymakers, journalists, businesspeople and NGO representatives. Seminar discussions bring to life the issues that are shaping policy and academic research and invite students to participate in the policy dialogue.
Simulations
Simulations run in cooperation with the Foreign Service Institute and other U.S. government agencies are designed to address situations in South Asia requiring policy decisions. Simulations are open only to South Asia Studies students and are not for academic credit.
Community Outreach
The program works closely with the South Asia Forum, a student group that seeks to educate the SAIS community about South Asia, particularly through cultural and social events. As one of the most active student groups on campus, the forum sponsors a speaker series, museum trips, cultural evenings and film screenings and hosts a table at the international dinner organized by the Student Government Association each year.
The program sees community outreach as an important arena where students can improve their knowledge of South Asia beyond their academic subjects and meet other SAIS students with an interest in the region.
Ph.D. Program
The South Asia Studies Program accepts Ph.D. students.
Typical South Asia Studies Courses
- Advanced Seminar on the International Politics of Asia
- Comparative Political and Economic Development in South Asia
- Democracy and Certainty
- Democracy and Its Discontents
- Gender and Development in South Asia
- India: Defense, Security and Weapons of Mass Destruction
- India’s Growth, Globalization and Institutional Development
- International Relations of South Asia
- Modern India I: 1857–1947
- Modern India II: 1947 to the Present
- Political Issues of Development in Pakistan
- Politics of International Economy
- The Politics of Religion in South Asia: Community and Communalism in Sociological Context
- South Asia, al Qaeda and the Rise of International Terrorism
- South Asia: Energy, Environment and Security
- India and China (Title TBD)
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