Neil DeVotta is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Wake Forest University. His research interests include South Asian security and politics, ethnicity and nationalism, and democratic transition and consolidation. He is the author of Blowback: Linguistic Nationalism, Institutional Decay, and Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka (2004) and the editor of Understanding Contemporary India, Second Edition (2010).

"This engaging and nuanced volume provides a comprehensive and balanced survey of the region and countries of South Asia. The well-researched and written ‘state of the art’ chapters make this an indispensable resource for students, researchers, and laypersons." Shalendra D. Sharma, Professor in the Department of Politics, University of San Francisco, USA"An Introduction to South Asian Politics provides a timely assessment of democratic development in the region. Neil DeVotta has assembled a group of experts who each provide an excellent account of their case. As well as providing comprehensive background coverage the chapters are leavened by perceptive insights based on the authors’ specialist research. Readers will get a solid understanding of how the states of South Asia are changing and how they are integrated at the regional level." Andrew Wyatt, Senior Lecturer, University of Bristol, UK

• 1. Overview 2. India 3. Pakistan 4. Bangladesh 5. Sri Lanka 6. Nepal 7. Afghanistan 8. Trends and Prospects

Neil DeVotta is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Wake Forest University. His research interests include South Asian security and politics, ethnicity and nationalism, and democratic transition and consolidation. He is the author of Blowback: Linguistic Nationalism, Institutional Decay, and Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka (2004) and the editor of Understanding Contemporary India, Second Edition (2010).

"This engaging and nuanced volume provides a comprehensive and balanced survey of the region and countries of South Asia. The well-researched and written ‘state of the art’ chapters make this an indispensable resource for students, researchers, and laypersons." Shalendra D. Sharma, Professor in the Department of Politics, University of San Francisco, USA"An Introduction to South Asian Politics provides a timely assessment of democratic development in the region. Neil DeVotta has assembled a group of experts who each provide an excellent account of their case. As well as providing comprehensive background coverage the chapters are leavened by perceptive insights based on the authors’ specialist research. Readers will get a solid understanding of how the states of South Asia are changing and how they are integrated at the regional level." Andrew Wyatt, Senior Lecturer, University of Bristol, UK

• 1. Overview 2. India 3. Pakistan 4. Bangladesh 5. Sri Lanka 6. Nepal 7. Afghanistan 8. Trends and Prospects

Neil DeVotta is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Wake Forest University. His research interests include South Asian security and politics, ethnicity and nationalism, and democratic transition and consolidation. He is the author of Blowback: Linguistic Nationalism, Institutional Decay, and Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka (2004) and the editor of Understanding Contemporary India, Second Edition (2010).

"This engaging and nuanced volume provides a comprehensive and balanced survey of the region and countries of South Asia. The well-researched and written ‘state of the art’ chapters make this an indispensable resource for students, researchers, and laypersons." Shalendra D. Sharma, Professor in the Department of Politics, University of San Francisco, USA"An Introduction to South Asian Politics provides a timely assessment of democratic development in the region. Neil DeVotta has assembled a group of experts who each provide an excellent account of their case. As well as providing comprehensive background coverage the chapters are leavened by perceptive insights based on the authors’ specialist research. Readers will get a solid understanding of how the states of South Asia are changing and how they are integrated at the regional level." Andrew Wyatt, Senior Lecturer, University of Bristol, UK

• 1. Overview 2. India 3. Pakistan 4. Bangladesh 5. Sri Lanka 6. Nepal 7. Afghanistan 8. Trends and Prospects