Diplomacy and Statecraft in South Asia

This course examines the history and practice of diplomacy and statecraft in and across South Asia. It is intended to provide students with both conceptual and historical frames of analysis, allowing them to develop an informed understanding of the regional and international politics of South Asian (including Afghanistan) states. The course will introduce students to primary archival sources with a view to analyse and re-visit the stated and largely accepted diplomatic and international histories of India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. It also situates other states in the subcontinent within larger thematic arguments around civil-military relations, intelligence, maritime security and the ‘Commons’. Further, whilst Dr Rudra Chaudhuri leads the course, it will also introduce students to practitioners (such as journalists, former Foreign Service Officers and intelligence chiefs) for a well-versed understanding of how policy works in practice. Other parts of the course will be taught using eclectic pedagogic methods – through workshops, and with the help of audio (podcasts) and visual (movies and documentaries) aids.