Politics

Stay informed on the latest political developments in South Asia with in-depth analysis, news, and stories from across the region at Himal Southasian

Three terrible exclusions

The World Bank’s report on the progress of poverty-reduction in Bangladesh ignores issues of disability, labour safety and violence against women.

By Aruna Kashyap

/ 2 Aug 2012

The man who would not die

Humayun Ahmed's storytelling power could draw astounding emotions out of otherwise worn-out middle-class Bangladeshis.

By Iffat Nawaz

/ 1 Aug 2012

Coffee with Bakuree

A Maldivian opposition activist speaks of hope, humour, and the non-violent path back to democracy.

By Daniel Bosley

/ 27 Jul 2012

A coup by other means?

Behind the new methods and names, could Pakistan’s judicial soap opera be a re-run of the same old thing?

By Mehreen Zahra-Malik

/ 24 Jul 2012

Death by drone

Despite stubborn US efforts to defend armed drone strikes, in the targeted areas they are rightly seen as a travesty and a tragedy.

By Mehreen Kasana

/ 17 Jul 2012

The stagnation hypothesis

Unpacking claims of a ‘crisis’ in the Indian economy.

By Deepankar Basu

/ 13 Jul 2012

A victor’s peace

The total defeat of the LTTE has allowed the Sri Lankan government to ignore the political rights of the country’s ethnic minorities.

By Jayadeva Uyangoda

/ 6 Jul 2012

Lady liberty and the ethnic cauldron

Aung San Suu Kyi will have to tackle the challenge of defining a viable nation-state while responding to the multiple assertions of identity and autonomy within Burma.

By Kanak Mani Dixit

/ 29 Jun 2012

A tool for the atolls

While Islamisation of the Maldives is currently making news, the nation's history shows that Islam has often been used as a means to gain political power.

By Yameen Rasheed

/ 20 Jun 2012

Drawing conclusions

The row over a cartoon featuring Dalit leader Ambedkar shows a lack of critical thinking in the Indian polity.

By Rohini Hensman

/ 17 May 2012

Rajapaksa’s bad gamble

After India’s vote against Sri Lanka at the UNHCR, Southasian states can no longer count on New Delhi’s neutrality while formulating foreign policy.

By Ajaz Ashraf

/ 3 May 2012

Long way home

Without extensive reforms to India’s Kafkaesque immigration laws, ‘goodwill’ pardons only hide the plight of illegal immigrants languishing in prisons.

By Aarthi Rajan

/ 27 Apr 2012