SAS4510 – India as a Regional and Global Actor: The Making of Indian Foreign Affairs
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course is held in collaboration with the universities of Copenhagen, Aarhus, Göteborg and Uppsala.
India is an aspiring global superpower. Her international importance is rising fast in a number of areas, from global economy and international relations to environmental issues and security concerns.
Thus, to understand India's conception of her security policy and how international affairs of India are shaped and handled is increasingly important.
This course seeks to create an understanding of how global, regional and domestic factors shape India's politics of security and foreign affairs in the region, as well as globally.
Important issues include:
• Changing foreign affairs' priorities of India from the time of Independence
• The supposed lack of a strategic culture and a grand strategy
• The impact of the deepening of democracy, regionalisation on foreign affairs
• The federal structure and security concerns
• The Indian army and the nuclear capabilities as a strategic tool
• Regional conflicts and global aspirations
• The making of India's foreign affairs
Learning outcome
After completing this course you should be able to:
• Have knowledge on the making of India's foreign affairs from Independence until today, with an emphasis on security issues
• Analyze contemporary and historical policy stances
• Acquire relevant literature/data through the use of e.g. electronic sources
• Present academic knowledge in written form, through teacher-guided writing (blog, wiki, essay)
• Debate using academic knowledge, through online discussions
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
UiO students must be accepted to the Master's program in South Asia Studies within the Asian and African Studies Program.
Students from Nordic partner universities must be accepted to their respective South Asia Studies Master's program, as well as meet the minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway. Students from the universities of Copenhagen, Aarhus, Göteborg and Uppsala must follow their own course registration procedures.
Prerequisites
Recommended previous knowledge
Good knowledge of English. It is recommended that students have some general knowledge about Indian history from the colonial period until today.
Teaching
The course will be offered as a combination of 10 lectures as well as contributions to both a course blog and wiki, and online supervision.
The lectures will be held on campus at the University of Oslo and streamed live using the video conference program Adobe Connect, to students that are not in Oslo.
Those who will be following lectures via live-streaming simply need access to a computer with a broadband connection.
Examination
The exam consists of an essay developed during the course, to be handed in at the end of the semester.
The essay must be 10 pages in length, written in English, and the topic must be approved by the teacher.
Due dates for the essay drafts will be published in the detailed course plan. Students are responsible for obtaining information regarding the approval of their drafts.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.
Other
Resource page for Masters students at IKOS (in Norwegian)