CUN213 | Understanding Nationalism, Ethnicity, Culture and Regionalism in South Asia

The aim of this course is to map the ways in which nationalism, ethnicity, culture and regionalism have become dominant discourses in South Asia and how to understand these developments. The course will discuss the times and influences of British colonialism in South Asia up to the current era of global integration. In order to do understand the key concepts and theories the course will look at the global discourses on ‘nationalism’ and then examine what meaning this has taken in the South Asian context. Particular emphasis will be given to the intersectionalities of ethnicity, religion, language and caste, which define nationalism in specific contexts. Through this course students will familiarize themselves with the modern history of nationalism, ethnicity, culture and regionalism in South Asia, which is linked to the rise of several nation states and various conflicts during the colonial and postcolonial times. Comparative perspectives from geographies outside South Asia will be drawn in as relevant.