State Nation And Ethnicity In Contemporary South Asia

Preface

First published in 1989, this widely hailed core text of the dynamics of ethnic identities and movements in the South Asian region is perhaps even more relevant today, as the region faces a resurgence of ethno-nationalist sentiments and the outbreak of new ethnic conflict. Among the features of this thoroughly revised edition are: /-/ - it provides a critical appraisal of various theoretical approaches to the study of ethnicity and nation-building /-/ - delineates the ethnic composition of the South Asian Region/-/ - examines the specific state structures of the countries studied: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives/-/ - discusses various ethnic movements in these countries/-/ - covers the most recent developments in the region

What makes a national community out of a state? Addressing this fundamental question. Rajagopalan studies national integration from the perspective of three South Asian communities - Tamilians in India, Sindhis in Pakistan, and Tamils in Sri Lanka - that have a history of secessionism in common, but with vastly different outcomes Rajagopalan investigates why integration is relatively successful in some cases (Tamil Nadu), less so in others (Sindh), and disastrous in some (Sri Lanka). Broadly comparative and drawing together multiple aspects of political development and nation building, her imaginative exploration of the tension between state and nation gives voice to relatively disenfranchised sections of society.

'This is probably the only work that deals with the entire spectrum of South Asian ethnicity and its dynamic role in regional politics. A decade and a half later after the first edition was published, the work has become even more relevant because ethnic divisions have become sharper all across the region. This updated second edition is thus welcome' "- Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Contemporary South Asia " The new, revised edition of Ethnicity and Nation-building in South Asia has been rewritten and updated by Rajat Ganguly following the untimely death of the original author Urmila Phadnis.

This Book Brings Together Papers By Leading Sociologists On The Problem Of Nation And National Identity In South Asia. The Book Makes Important Conceptual Distinctions Between Nation , State , Territory And Region . It Also Attempts To Understand The Rise Of The State And Civil Society Over Time. It Includes Papers On Gender And Caste In The Nation-State And Also Includes Papers On National Identity In Sri Lanka And Pakistan.

This book provides a micro-historical analysis of the emergence and contemporary dynamics of recent ethnic sub-nationalist insurgencies in South Asia. Using comparative case studies, it discusses the causes of each insurgency, analyses the trajectory and dynamics of each including attempts at resolution, and highlights the wider theories of ethno-nationalist insurgency and mobilization. Bringing together an international group of contributors, the book covers insurgencies in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. It questions why ethnic sub-nationalist insurgencies occurred at particular points in time and not at others, and explores the comparative trajectories of these movements. The book goes on to discern reappearing patterns of conflict escalation/de-escalation through the method of comparative process-tracing. It argues that while identity is a necessary factor for insurgency, it is not a sufficient one. Instead, ethnic mobilization and insurgency only emerge when it is activated by tension emerging from political competition between ethnic and central state elites. These elite-led dynamics, when combined with favourable socio-economic and political conditions, make the ethnic masses primed to accept the often symbolically-rich appeals from their leaders to mobilize against the central state. Providing an important study on ethno-nationalist insurgencies in South Asia, the book will be of interest to those working in the fields of South Asian Politics, Security Studies and Ethnic Conflict.

The widespread notion and pursuit of a post-independence development strategy in South Asia centred around the state, and essentially following the model of the industrialised countries, has obviously come to end. Similarly, the belief that economic growth together with a socially biased interventionist government would cement national cohesion, contribute to nation-building and, by the same token, strengthen democratic institutions, has been belied. Social inequality has everywhere been aggravated, as has social conflict. While a general process of political mobilisation has set in, not least traditionally rather marginalised groups have become empowered. At the same time, the signs of crises multiply as exemplified in the Maoist movement in Nepal, the civil war in Sri Lanka, the struggle for self-determination in North-eastern India, or the corruption, violence and alienation in government and politics. While they manifest themselves first of all in the political sphere concerning the representatively and functioning of democracy, and not least the roll of political parties, they may go deeper indicating a systemic crisis touching upon the foundations of the socio-political order itself, as most evident in the case of Pakistan. Far from offering solutions, neoliberalism and Western-style democracy appear to be rather part of the problem. As a result, concepts of a modified Nehruvian state or Gandhian visions have gained hew currency. With crisis of nation and state as principal common focus, the present volume unites thematic regional overviews with case studies on India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Nepal. The thirteen contributions by specialists on South Asia from Europe, and Australia, Japan and the region itself approach the common topic from the specific angle of their discipline, namely political science, sociology, ethnology, history and economics. This pluridisciplinarity combined with case studies opens up new insights as well as new perspectives for further research.

With its systematic coverage of different groups, this book demonstrates how similar trends of ethnic formation are affecting all parts of Nepal. Yet, within the boundaries of a single culturally diverse state, very different forms of ethnicity have emerged. " This is a truly thematic collection with a well-defined focus on the important contemporary topics of ethnic identity and nationalism. The importance of the theme is self-evident in a world attempting to come to grips with such problems in virtually all modern states. Anyone with an interest in contemporary Nepal should study this volume." Nepal is the only officially Hindu kingdom in the world and remains so in spite of a revolution, or people's movement, in 1990 which overthrew the partyless Panchayat regime and instituted a multiparty constitutional monarchy. Since November 1994, it has also had an elected Communist government, the first of its kind in South Asia. This volume takes a long-term view of the various processes of ethnic and national development that have been displayed, both before and after 1990. It brings together twelve carefully chosen ethnographic and historical chapters covering all of the major ethnic groups and regions of Nepal.