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Contemporary India (POLS30031)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Semester 1
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This subject will seek to introduce undergraduate students to contemporary India. It will primarily focus on developments since 1947, the year of India's independence from British rule. The subject will cover three main areas: India's constitution and democratic structure; Indian society and social movements; and Indian foreign policy. Students will be introduced to the Indian constitution, the process of its drafting and its working since 1950, including the main amendments and the principal debates over its functioning. The main contemporary issues in Indian politics including those related to caste, secularism and development will be covered. The structure of Indian society and the nature of social movements will also be studied. The continuity and changes in India's foreign policy, starting with the era of Non-Alignment, will also be introduced in this subject. In summary, the subject will not just explore the critical dimensions of contemporary Indian politics and society but also introduce students to the intellectual debates on key issues.

 

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject students should:


  • Have an understanding of India's democratic system and its internal politics;

  • Understand the forces at play in contemporary Indian social and political life;

  • Have an appreciation of the political history of India;

  • Be attuned to the political nuances of various standard accounts of Indian politics;

  • Develop an understanding of India's role in world affairs and the underlying foreign policy principles and priorities;

  • Gain an insight into how the empirical can shed light on the theoretical;

  • Demonstrate an ability to research through the competent use of the library and other information sources, and be able to define areas of inquiry and methods of research in the preparation of essays;

  • Be able to conceptualise theoretical problems, form judgements and arguments and communicate critically, creatively and theoretically through essay writing, tutorial discussion and presentations;

  • Be able to manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, the completion of essays and assignments and examination revision;

Last updated: 3 November 2022