Middle East Studies

This course examines the Asian Subcontinent, including the countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, from an interdisciplinary perspective. The region’s modern history, geography, politics, economies, religions, cultures and social issues are each discussed in an integrative manner. Regional popular culture, including modern music, literature and cinema, are also analyzed in order to help students understand the rapidly changing nature of this region today.

Required texts –

A New History of India, by Stanley Wolpert. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 7^th edition, 2004. (W)

Everyday Life in South Asia by Diane P. Mines & Sarah Lamb (Eds.) Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2002. (ML)

Eres readings: The professor has chosen several readings from other texts, as well as American and regional media, that should also be read along with the required text readings. The Eres password for this course is SASIA.

Note: Additional readings, assigned throughout the course, TBA

Course Requirements and Grade Content

Reading the assigned readings, attending class, and participating in discussions are crucial to success in this course. You are responsible on the marked date for all reading assigned for that class.

In addition to a midterm and final exam, students are required to produce a research project in 3 parts (see below for details). All parts of the project are graded.

The final course grade will be determined as follows:

Research project (35%, divided as follows)

Part 1 5%

Part 2 10%

Part 3 20%

First Exam (In-class, Midterms week, essay) 20%

Final Exam (Finals week, essay) 30%

Class attendance (12 ten-point in-class writing assignments),

and S. Asia regional map quiz 15%

____

TOTAL 100%

Research Project Grading Policies

A paper which is missing a bibliography or in-text citations on any part of the project will receive a failing grade for that part. An F is worth 0 points towards your Final Grade.

Late papers will not be accepted, and will receive an “F” (also equal to 0 points).

Papers with spelling errors will be deducted one-half of a letter grade for each error (i.e. an A- paper which has 2 errors will receive a B).

Email submissions of the paper will not be accepted!

Philadelphia University Academic Honesty Statement

Students are expected to follow the Philadelphia University Academic Integrity Policy, as adopted by the faculty December 18, 2001. The University’s complete academic integrity policy is available in the University’s Student Handbook and on the Learning and Advising Center’s website, www.philau.edu/learning. Academic resources, including information on citation and documentation for all written work and presentations, are also available on the Learning and Advising Center’s website.

Gutman Library (www.philau.edu/library)

The home page of the Gutman Library provides students with a variety of information resources, including databases and research guides. Librarians are available online and in person at the information desk to help students with research.

The Learning and Advising Center ( www.philau.edu/learning)

The Learning and Advising Center provides one-on-one tutoring assistance for writing, study strategies, test taking, and specific Philadelphia University courses*. To make a tutoring appointment, students should stop by the Learning and Advising Center in Haggar Hall or call (215) 951-2799. Academic resources, including information on citation and documentation, note taking, and study strategies are available on the Center’s website.

Technology assistance (http://www.philau.edu/OIT/)

For assistance with technology issues, students should contact the Technology Help Desk at (215) 951-4648 or send an email to helpdesk@philau.edu. General purpose computing facilities are available in Search Hall and Gutman Library.

Class schedule

Weeks 1-4: Course introduction – Regional geography and historical perspective

Countries, cities, Indian states, regions, topography

W- 3-12

Colonialism by sea trade, especially the early role played by the Portuguese/Dutch in the region (ie Ceylon, Goa)

ML – 303-307; W – 135-147

The Raj, its purpose, design, structure

W – 174-236

The British colonial rule of India

W – 237-246

Map Quiz

Indian Nationalism and the decolonization process

W – 247-285

Eres: Judd

Weeks 5-7: Regional political issues and concerns

Role/impact/relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in past and present Indian discourse

W – 286-353

The Partition of the Subcontinent into India and East/West Pakistan

W – 354-373 Eres “60 Years”, “Internal”

Movie – 1947 : Earth

The creation of the Kashmir problem – what are its roots?

W – 447-50

Eres: India and Pakistan

The development of the Tamil/Sinhalese conflict in Sri Lanka

ML – 357-380;

Eres: “SL Intro,” “Sri Lanka Village View”

Guest Speaker: Prof. Natalie Weathers, SET

India/Pakistan relations, and the creation of Bangladesh

W – 374-406

Paper Part 1 due

Eres: Pakistan-Bangladesh; Prelude to War; War India

Week 8: Midterm

Cumulative in-class essay exam covering material Weeks 1-7

Weeks 9-12: Regional social/economic issues

The role, extent and significance of Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism in the Subcontinent today

W – 451-70; ML – 229-35, 236-48

Minority Issues: The Muslims of India

W – 105-134; ML – 261-74, 337-56; Eres “Muslim/Hindu Marriage”

Women and power in South Asian society

ML – 23-36, 86-99, 100-115; Eres “Unequal and Powerless”

Movie: Water

The Indian caste system – does it still have relevance today?

ML – 190-98, 214-26, 227-28; Eres “Holy Cows”

“Boomgalore” (Bangalore) and “Cyberabad” (Hyderabad) –

The rise of an information economy in the Subcontinent

Eres: “Beyond Prosperity” “1999”

Guest Speaker: Professor DK Malhotra, SBA

The population/overpopulation issue: urbanization and the South Asian mega-city

Eres: “Bombay and Mumbai,” “Aspects of Poverty,” “Roy”

Paper Part 2 due

Interactions/intersections between S. Asians and their Diasporas

ML – 381-86, 412-24, 425-39

Eres: US Diaspora; Indian Diaspora; S. Asian Migration

Weeks 13-14: 21^st Century Popular Culture and Society

Hindi and Urdu music videos as vehicles of cultural expression

“Eres: “Sex”

Showing of Indian and Pakistani music videos

The role/significance of Indian cinema/Bollywood today

Eres: “Cinema and Society”, “Amitabh,” “Khan”

Movie: Bride and Prejudice

Guest Speaker: Dean Vini Nathan, SAD

Week 15: Course conclusion; Dinner

Course conclusion

Paper Part 3 presented; due

Final Exam TBA

Dinner in W. Philadelphia
AREAST-227 Area Studies: South Asia Research Project

Research Assignment

This assignment is to be carried out in 3 parts, each of which are graded (adding up to 35% of your final grade). Choose one of the topics below, or propose your own topic (which must be oked by the instructor). All papers must be double-spaced, with appropriate in-text citations, and must include a bibliography of sources used. Sources should include at least 2-3 academic/peer reviewed journal articles or books; and 2-3 popular media sources, especially media from the region which is readily available on the Internet. Only use books which have recent publication dates. (We will discuss how to conduct research and choose appropriate sources for the assignment throughout the course).

Part 1 (50 pts) – Write a 3-5 page introductory primer on your research topic. What issues does one need to know to understand your research topic? Where is the issue you are researching particularly relevant? Why is your topic significant? What specific elements of your topic will you discuss in your longer paper?

Part 2 (100 pts) – Write a 6-8 page complete paper about your research topic. Be sure that your paper has a thesis or an argument, i.e. that it is analytical and does not simply describe issues, but tries to answer the question “why?”, not just “what?”

Part 3 (200 pts: paper=100 pts., design =50 pts., presentation=50 pts.) – Create a poster, flyer, website or other visual or audio form of media related to your research topic and, if possible, related to your major. You will be required to formally present your revised paper (Part 2) and your creative design (Part 3) orally before the class at the end of the semester.

Research topics to choose from:

A.Economy, Culture and Civil War in Sri Lanka. By Deborah Winslow & Michael D. Woost, (Eds.) Bloomington: Indiana University Press. 2004.

B. The Idea of Pakistan by Stephen P. Cohen, Washington: Brookings Institution Press, 2004.

C. India Unbound : The Social and Economic Revolution from Independence to the Global Information Age by Gurcharan Das. New York: Anchor Books. 2002.

D. India: Emerging Power by Stephen P. Cohen. Washington: Brookings Institution Press, 2002

E. India Untouched. By Abraham George. Cranston, RI: Writers Collective. 2005.

F. War and Secession: Pakistan, India, and the Creation of Bangladesh. By Richard Sisson & Leo Rose. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1991.

G. The Lion and the Tiger : The Rise and Fall of the British Raj, 1600-1947. By Denis Judd. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.

H. Bombay and Mumbai: The City in Transition. By Suhata Patel and Jim Masselos (Eds.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2003.

I. “Welcome to Bollywood,” in National Geographic, By Suketu Mehta. Vol. 207, February 2005.

J. Indian Popular Cinema” A Narrative of Cultural Change. By K. Moti Gokulsing and Wimal Dissanayake. Stoke on Trent (UK): Trentham Books. 2004.

K. No Woman’s Land: Women from Pakistan, India & Bangladesh Write on the Partition of India. By Ritu Menon (ed.) New Delhi: Woman Unlimited. 2004.

L. “Sex Appeal and Cultural Liberty: A Feminist Inquiry into MTV India,” in Frontiers. By Jocelyn Cullity & Prakash Younger. vol. 25(2): 96-123, 2004.