Contemporary southAsia
- Class: 12th
- Subject: Social Science (Political Science)
- Topic: Contemporary south Asia
- Resources: Notes, Important Questions
Class 12 Social Science (Political science ) es Get notes here, questions for class 12th. Those candidates who are ambitious to pass class 12 with good marks, can check this article for notes, by practicing this resource, the candidates get to know that their weak areas and good for the exam How to prepare
South Asia
South Asia is referred to as a group of seven countries namely :Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka which stand for diversity in every sense and constitutes geo-political space. The Himalayas in North and the vast Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal in South, West and East respectively provide a natural insularity (separation) to the region.
This region is largely responsible for the linguistic, social and cultural distinctiveness of the sub-continent. Afghanistan and Myanmar are often considered as the part of this region. China is not considered as the part of this region but it plays an important role.
Democratisation in South Asia
Despite the differing democratic experiences, the people of South Asian countries have a desire for democracy, ordinary citizen, rich and poor, of various religions, embrace the concept of democracy and support representative democracy's institutions.
- They prefer democracy to any other type of administration and believe that democracy is the most appropriate form of government for their country.
- These are significant findings, for it was earlier believed that democracy could flourish and find support only in prosperor's countries of the world.
The democratic experience in each of the regions four major countries, except India is discussed below
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| Pakistan |
The Military and Democracy in Pakistan
- After the framing of the Constitution of Pakistan, General Ayub Khan took over the administration and soon got himself elected.
- He renounced his office after the dissatisfaction from his rule and the military took over und General Yahya Khan.
- During Yahya Khan rule, Pakistan fac the Bangladesh crisis and a war with India in 1971. Bangladesh (East Pakistan) emerged as an independent country.
- After 1971, an elected government was formed under the leadership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Pakistan from 1971-19 The Bhutoo government was removed by General Zia-ul-H in 1977.
- Again in 1982, a pro-democracy protest was faced Pakistan. A democratic government was established in 19.
- under the leadership of Benazir Bhutto. She had to face competition between her party, Pakistan People's Party an the Muslim League.
conflict between India and Pakistan
India-Pakistan Conflicts
Both these countries represent very crucial conflicts of an international nature which are discussed below
- A Conflict over Kashmir is the major issue between both the countries. Pakistan Government always claimed Kashmir to be its part and same goes with Indian Government. Wars took place over this issue between India and Pakistan in 1947-48 and 1965 failed to settle the dispute.
- The 1947-48 war led to the division of the province into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the Indian province of Jammu and Kashmir divided by the Line of Control. In 1971, India won decisive war against Pakistan but the Kashmir issue remained unsettled.
- Strategic issues conflicts are also evident among these countries like the control of the Siachen Glacier and over acquisition of arms.
- Arm race between both countries want to acquire more nuclear weapons and missiles against each other in the 1990's. In 1998 India conducted its nuclear explosion in Pokharan. Within few days Pakistan responded by carrying out nuclear tests in the Chagai Hills.
- Since then India and Pakistan seem to have built a military relationship in which the possibility of a direct and full-scale war has declined.
- The Indian Government also believes that Pakistan had aided the pro-Khalistani militants with arms and ammunitions during the period 1985-1995.
- Similarly Pakistan's spy agency Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) is considered to be involved in various anti-India campaigns in North-East India. Indian security agencies are blamed too with similar blames by the Government of Pakistan.
- Both countries also have problems related to sharing of Indus river waters. With the help of World Bank in 1960, both countries negotiated over this issue.
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| Bangladesh |
Democracy in Bangladesh
- Bangladesh was a part of Pakistan from 1947 to 1971, which comprises of the partitioned areas of Bengal and Assam from British India.
- Western Pakistan domination such as in the form of imposition of Urdu was resented by the common people of Bangladesh.
- Protests were evident in the country since the partition against the unfair treatment towards the Bengali culture and language.
- A demand for fair representation and a fair share in political power was also demanded.
Emergence of Bangladesh
• Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman was a leader who led the popular struggle against the domination of West Pakistan and demanded independence for Eastern region.
• During the 1970's elections, the Awami League under
Sheikh Mujib-ur Rahman won all the seats in East
Pakistan and secured a majority in the Constituent
Assembly for the whole Pakistan.
• The people of East Pakistan were supported financially and militarily by the Indian Government for their independence.
• This led to a war between India and Pakistan in December 1971.
The war ended with the surrender of Pakistan forces in East Pakistan and Bangladesh was formed as an independent nation.
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| Bangladesh |
India and Bangladesh(conflict )
There are few differences prevailing between the Governments of India ar Bangladesh over sharing the waters of Ganga and Bral maputra. Further, the Governments of India has been unhappy with Bangladesh due to the following reasons
- Illegal immigration of Bangladeshi people.
- Bangladesh's support for anti-India Islamic fundamentalist groups.
- Bangladesh's refusal to allow Indian troops to move through its territory to North-Eastern India.
- Its decision not to export natural gas to India or allow Myanmar to do so through Bangladeshi territory.
- Bangladeshi Governments have felt that the Indian Government behaves like a regional bully over the sharing river waters, encouraging rebellion in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, trying to extract its natural gas and being unfair in trade.
- The two countries could not resolve their boundary disput for a long while.
Efforts Towards Peace and Cooperation
- Both the countries do cooperate on many issues despite their differences like the improving economic relation considerably.
- Bangladesh is a part of India's Look East Policy that wants to link up with South-East Asia through Myanmar.
- Both India and Bangladesh have cooperated regularly for issues like disaster management and environmental issues
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| Nepal |
Monarchy and Democracy in Nepal
- Nepal was a Hindu Kingdom and became a constitutional monarchy in modern period.
- People of Nepal and the political parties wanted a more open and responsive system of government. The King of Nepal retained control over the government and restricted expansion of democracy with the help of army.
- The political parties demanded more transparent and accountable government time to time.
- Due to strong pro-democracy movements, the King accepted the demand for new democratic constitution in 1990.
- However, democratic government had a short and troubled career.
- The Maoists of Nepal were successful in spreading their influence during 90's in many parts of Nepal.
- A non-violent movement was initiated by the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), the Maoists and social activists.
India and Nepal(conflict )
• India and Nepal has developed a cordial and special relationship. The treaty between the countries allows the citizens of the two countries to travel and work in other country without visas and passports.
• Despite this special relationship, the government of the both countries had trade-related disputes in the past.
• The Indian Government expressed displeasure at the relationship between China and at the Nepal Government's for not taking action against anti-Indian Ir elements.
• Indian security agencies have shown deep concerns over
the Maoist movement in Nepal which however give rise to Naxalism in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
• The Nepal Government and its citizens are in the notion
that the Indian Government interferes in the internal
affairs of Nepal and has designs on its river waters and
hydro-electricity and prevents the landlocked country
from getting access to the sea through Indian territory.
Efforts towards Peace and Cooperation
- Despite differences, trade, scientific, cooperation, common natural resources, electricity generation and interlocking water management grids hold the two countries together. India and Nepal relations are fairly stable and peaceful.
- South Asia's first cross-border petroleum products pipeline, constructed and funded by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., connecting Motihari in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal was remotely inaugurated by the two Prime Ministers .
Ethnic conflict and democracy in Sri lanka
- Sri Lanka got its independence in 1948 and since then it has retained its democracy. But it faced a serious challenge, not from the military or monarchy but rather from ethnic conflict leading to the demand for secession by one of the regions.
- After its independence, Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon and it was dominated by forces that represented the interest of the majority Sinhala community.
- Sinhalese people were the largest ethnic group of Sri Lanka and after the independence this group dominated the politics of the state.
- Tamils were the people who had migrated from India to Sri Lanka and settled there. According to Sinhala nationalists, Sri Lanka should not give concessions to Tamils as this state belongs only to Sinhala's.
- The neglect of Tamils concerns and interests resulted in militant Tamil nationalism. The militant organisation Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was working since 1983 onwards with the army of Sri Lanka for a separate country belongs to Tamil people. The North-Eastern parts of Sri Lanka were controlled by LTTE.
- Indian Government has from time-to-time tried to negotiate with the Sri Lankan Government to protect interests of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Further, in 1987 an accord was signed between both the countries to stabilise relations between Sri Lankan Government and Tamils.
- In 1989, Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was pulled out of Sri Lanka without attaining its objective.
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| Sir lanka |
India and Sri Lanka(conflict )
- The Government of India and Sri Lanka are mostly indulged in dispute over ethnic conflict in the island nation. The Indian leaders find it difficult to remain neutral when the Tamils are politically unhappy and being killed.
- After the military intervention of 1987, the Indian Government has developed a policy of disengagemen lam with Sri Lanka's internal troubles.
Efforts towards Peace and Cooperation
- There are steps and policies which have further strengthened ties between the two countries like the Free Trade Agreement and post-tsunami reconstruction in Sri Lanka.
- Sri Lanka is one of India's largest trading partners among the SAARC countries. India in turn is Sri Lanka's largest trade partner globally.
- Political relations between India and Sri Lanka have been marked by high-level exchanges of visits at regular intervals.
- In June 2019, the first overseas visit of Indian Prime Minister to Sri Lanka, in his second term, is an important symbolic gesture reflective of the special relationship between the countries.
- In April 2019, India and Sri Lanka also concluded agreement on countering Drug and Human Trafficking.
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| Maldives |
Maldives
- Maldives, an island country attained full political independence from the British in 1965 and in 1968 a new republic was inaugrated and the Sultanate abolished.
- Ibrahim Nasr the country's first President was succeeded in 1978 by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who was re-elected to his sixth consecutive term in 2003. Maldives became a member of the Commonwealth in 1982.
- In the first years of the 21st century, Gayoom's government embarked on a long term plan to modernise and democratise the Maldives, particularly its economy and political system.
- Begining in 2003, wide-ranging reforms were instituted to improve human rights and the system of governance.
- In 2008 a new constitution was adopted that established greater governmental checks and balances strengthened the powers of the legislature and judiciary and allowed women to run for presidency.
India and Maldives(conflict )
India has a cordial relationship with the island nation of Maldives. India supported Maldives on its request, when some Tamil Sri Lankan soldiers attacked Maldives, the Indian Air Force and Navy quickly reacted against the invasion. India also contributed towards the island's economic development, tourism and fisheries.
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| Peace between India and Maldives |
Efforts Towards Peace and Cooperation
• A Comprehensive Action Plan for Defence was also signed in April 2016 to consolidate defence partnership between India and Maldives.
• $800 million Line of Credit Agreement in March 2019 was signed between India and Maldives, for assisting Maldives to achieve sustainable social and economic development.