South Asia in the Post-Cold War Era

About this unit

This unit looks at South Asia, the region made up of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, with Afghanistan often included in wider discussions. It studies the experience of democracy in these countries, the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, the tensions and cooperation among the states of the region, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and India's relations with its neighbours. Since these countries share history, geography and rivers, their relations affect the lives of a very large population.

Key ideas

• South Asia as a region of diversity with a shared history and geography.
• Mixed records of democracy: periods of elected rule alternating with military or monarchical rule.
• Ethnic conflict, especially in Sri Lanka.
• Disputes over territory and river waters, and the effort to settle them through treaties.
• SAARC (1985) and the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).
• The role of outside powers in the region.

How to prepare

Make a country-by-country note on democracy: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives. Learn key agreements such as the Indus Waters Treaty (1960), the Simla Agreement (1972) and SAFTA. Expect questions matching a country to an event or a treaty.