Political Geography

Paper Code: 
GEO-144 D
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

To study and understand the concepts of Political Geography in India and the World.

12.00
Unit I: 
Political geography
  • Political geography: definition and scope.
  • Global strategic views-Mahan, Mackinder, spykman and Cohen
  • Role of sea and ocean influencing the national characteristics,
  • The concept and the measurement of the territorial sea,
  • Geopolitics, Definitions and classifications of Frontiers and Boundaries, State ,Nation and Nation state-the idea of the state, Special factors of the state. India and its neighborhood relationship.
12.00
Unit II: 
• Geographical Factors in India’s Political History
  • Geographical Factors in India’s Political History : Role of Terrain, Rivers and Sea Coasts,
  • Independence and State’s Re-Organisation, Demand for more States, Geographical Basis of India Federalism,
  • Indian Federalism : Retrospect and Prospect,
  • Nature of Indian state.
12.00
Unit III: 
India as a democratic state
  • India as a democratic state,
  • Challenges to Indian democracy,
  • World Systems Theory and the Case of India, Social Cleavage
  • Theory and the Indian Party System,
  • Women as marginalized group in Indian Parliament, Constituencies and their evolution.
12.00
Unit IV: 
Nationalism and Indian state
  • Nationalism and Indian state,
  • India’s secularity and the politics of communalism,
  • National v/s Regional Political Parties,
  • Emergence of Regionalism (case studies from Maharashtra and Assam), Naxalism, Inter-State Water Disputes (case of SYL canal)
12.00
Unit V: 
India as a regional power in South Asia
  • India as a regional power in South Asia,
  • India and Geopolitics of the Indian Ocean, India as a Nuclear Power, Geogaphical Factors in India’s Foreign Policy, Uni- polar world and Indian Foreign Policy
Essential Readings: 

1. Adhikari, Sudeepta (2008), Political Geography of India,
    Allahabad, Sharda Pustak Bhawan.
2. Bose, Sugata and Ayesha Jalal (eds.) (1998), Nationalism,
    Democracy and Development, Delhi : Oxford University
     Press.
3. Brass, Paul (1992), Politics of India Since Independence,
    Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.
4. Dikshit, R.D. (1975), Political Geography of Federalism :
    An Inquiry into Origins and Stability, Delhi : Macmillan.
5. Kohli, Atul (ed.) (1988), India’s Democracy, New Delhi :
    Orient Longman.
6. Jayal, Niraja Gopal (ed.) (2001), Democracy in India, New
    Delhi : Oxford University Press.
7. Panikkar, K.M. (1955), Geographical Factors in Indian
    History, Bombay : Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan.
8. Singh, Chandra Pal (1994), Readings in Political
    Geography, New Delhi : Heritage Publishers.
9. Taylor, Peter and Collin Flint (2000), Political Geography:
    World Economy, Nation-State and Locality, New York :
     Prentice Hall.
10. Vohra, Ranbir (1997), The Making of India, London : M.E.
     Sharpe.

References: 

1. Adhikari, Sudeepta (2008), Political Geography of India,
    Allahabad, Sharda Pustak Bhawan.
2. Bose, Sugata and Ayesha Jalal (eds.) (1998), Nationalism,
    Democracy and Development, Delhi : Oxford University
     Press.
3. Brass, Paul (1992), Politics of India Since Independence,
    Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.
4. Dikshit, R.D. (1975), Political Geography of Federalism :
    An Inquiry into Origins and Stability, Delhi : Macmillan.
5. Kohli, Atul (ed.) (1988), India’s Democracy, New Delhi :
    Orient Longman.
6. Jayal, Niraja Gopal (ed.) (2001), Democracy in India, New
    Delhi : Oxford University Press.
7. Panikkar, K.M. (1955), Geographical Factors in Indian
    History, Bombay : Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan.
8. Singh, Chandra Pal (1994), Readings in Political
    Geography, New Delhi : Heritage Publishers.
9. Taylor, Peter and Collin Flint (2000), Political Geography:
    World Economy, Nation-State and Locality, New York :
     Prentice Hall.
10. Vohra, Ranbir (1997), The Making of India, London : M.E.
     Sharpe.

Academic Year: 
2016-2017