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

Between despair and hope: interrogating ‘terrorism’

"The practice of violence, like all action, changes the world, but the most probable change is a more violent world." – Hannah Arendt The words 'terror' (meaning

By Dilip Simeon

/ 1 Sep 2005

Understanding India

If there is one word that has been used endlessly to describe India's foreign policy, it is 'continuity'. For almost four decades during the Cold War,

By The Editors

/ 31 Jul 2005

Citizens and denizens

India needs a Northeast policy. The Northeast needs a Northeast policy.

By Samir Kumar Das

/ 9 Jul 2005

Compromise and cohabitation

George W Bush and General Pervez Musharraf are reportedly good friends. They are also both, at least apparently, on the hot-seat. George Bush is dealing with the rapidly deteriorating situation

By Aasim Sajjad Akhtar

/ 31 May 2004

‘Monolith India’ and the vote bank

Democracy has sharpened the popular diversity by transforming the masses into vote banks.

By Syed Ali Mujtaba

/ 7 May 2004

Between Jhatka and Halal: Gujarat after two years of “normalcy”

For the Muslim victims of communal violence in Gujarat the violence has not ended — it is the difference between immediate hacking (jhatka) and slow death (halal).

By Satish Deshpande

/ 28 Mar 2004

Feeling good? Feeling terrible!

´India shining´ and ´feel good factor´ are the slogans of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), as they prepare for the Lok Sabha (lower house of

By Syed Ali Mujtaba

/ 27 Mar 2004

Nukes, sovereignty, and empire

There has been an incredible outpouring of public and private emotion in Pakistan over the "detention" of the country's most prominent nuclear scientists, including the best-known

By Aasim Sajjad Akhtar

/ 1 Feb 2004

Women and the Maobaadi: Ideology and Agency in Nepal’s Maoist Movement

Two anthropologists examine the Maoists' claims of radical social transformation in the light of women's experiences on the ground. Based on fieldwork in several areas, they consider

By Judith Pettigrew and Sara Shneiderman

/ 1 Jan 2004

PRESIDENT+PRIME MINISTER = PEACE

According to President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the reason she took over the key ministries of defence, interior and media on 3 November was the deterioration of the security situation in the

By Jehan Perera

/ 1 Dec 2003

Playing to the Sinhala gallery

A mistaken political judgement has lead the Sri Lankan President endanger the peace process. Sagacity is now required from both Ranil Wickremesinghe as well as Vellupillai Prabhakaran while this mess

By Jehan Perera

/ 1 Nov 2003

Crisis beyond legality

Will constitutional amendment provide for the social and political needs of the Nepali people and polity? Or a new constitution? And by what procedure?

By Hari Roka

/ 1 Nov 2003