South Asia

1
South Asia

• Government
• Economics

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• After gaining independence many countries in
  South Asia chose different forms of governments
• Republics, parliamentary, constitutional
  monarchies, etc.

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Afghanistan

• 1964 constitution Constitutional Monarchy
• 1973 Monarchy collapses
• 1979 Soviet Union invaded made them a
  communist government
• 1989- UN agreement Soviet troops withdraw but
  leave a communist government
• Communist government overturned becomes an
  Islamic republic
• Taliban (fundamentalist Muslims) take over

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Under the Taliban

• Women cannot go to school or hold jobs
• Women cannot go into public without a male
  relative
• Punishment for breaking rules is severe
• They have been at war with Muslim groups for
  years.
• 2001- accused of helping terrorists responsible
  for 9/11

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Afghanistan Economically

• One of the poorest countries in the world
• Ruined by Soviet invasion
• Only 12 arable land and only ½ of that is
  cultivated each year

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Bangladesh

• 1971 Independence from Pakistan
• 1972 Constitution adopted
• Parliamentary Government
• Prime Minister President
• Military has taken over the government several
  times

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Bangladesh Economically

• Agriculture
• 3/5s are farmers
• Cash crops Rice, jute, and tea
• Monsoons are an issue
• Almost no mineral resources

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Bhutan

• 300 years ruled by spiritual leader AND
  political leader
• Since 1907 only had king
• 1953 formed an assembly that meets twice a year
  to pass laws
• 1968 Council of Ministers created they advise
  the king

Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck was officially
crowned the king of Bhutan on November 06, 2008.
He is one of the youngest monarchs in the world.
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Nepal

• Was a monarchy for years
• 1962 Constitutional Monarchy
• All political parties banned
• 1990s King allowed political parties
• This brought about changes - new constitution
  and parliamentary system

Nepals President Ram Baran Yadav (C) inspects a
guard of honor during his ceremonial reception.
Nepal's President Ram Baran Yadav (R) shakes
hands with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
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Bhutan and Nepal - Economics

• Similar
• Until 1950s/60s isolated from the rest of the
  world
• No highways or cars.
• Bhutan did not have currency still used barter
  system
• Working on modernizing their economies

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Maldives

• 1965 Independence gained from Great Britain
• 1968 Became a republic
• Citizens Council 48 members 40 elected by the
  people and 8 appointed by the president
• President appoints judges who follow Islamic law
• Most money comes from tourism
• Almost all food is imported

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Pakistan

• 1958 martial law declared
• Military took control until 1988
• Today republic with a prime minister and
  president who both must be Muslim
• Benazir Bhutto 1st Woman Prime Minister, 1988
• -ousted in 1993 on corruption
• charges
• -Struggle between modernizers and
  fundamentalists.

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General Perez Musharaff

• Coup detat.
• Secular govt. against Islamic fundamentalists.
• U.S. ally in the War on Terror.

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MAJOR PROBLEMS AND ISSUES FACING PAKISTAN TODAY

• Economic development Richest country in South
  Asia
• Political instability/military dictatorship.
• Hindu-Muslim tensions.
• Gender issues ? honor killings.
• Terrorism.
• The Kashmir dispute and nuclear weapons.

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Sri Lanka
President Mahinda Rajapaksa

• 1948 Independence from Great Britain
• Democracy
• President
• 2 political parties
• Most similar to the US
• Economy depends on agriculture and tourism
• Have many mineral resources but have not
  benefitted from them yet

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Jawarlal Nehru

• Ally of Gandhi.
• 1st Prime Minister of India, 1947-1964.
• Advocated Industrialization
• Promoted Green Revolution
• Mixed Economy

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Indias Mixed Economy

• The mix refers to private and public
  ownership.
• Information Technology is largest growing
  industry since 1991 software exports have been
  doubling every year. Urban areas have high-tech
  companies.
• Three quarters of the population are farmers
  living
• in small villages. Rice Wheat most important
  crops
• India's "Green Revolution" allowed farmers to
• triple their crop by using modern science
  technology.

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Green Revolution

• Introducing higher-yielding varieties of seeds
  in 1965.
• Increased use of fertilizers irrigation.
• GOAL ? make India self-sufficient in food grains.

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India Worlds largest democracy

• 1999 370 million people voted
• Head of state president
• Prime minister actually runs government
• 1950 constitution went into effect
• Constitution gave dalits (untouchables) more
  political power
• Women granted the right to vote
• 1966 Indira Gandhi became Indias first female
  prime minister

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Indira Gandhi

• Nehrus daughter.
• Prime Minister of India, 1966-1984.
• Continues Nehrus policies.
• Faced corruption charges internal rebellion.
• Assassinated in 1984.

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Rajiv Gandhi

• Indiras son.
• Prime Minister of India, 1984-1989.
• Some reform of economy and government.
• Also faced rebellion.
• Assassinated in 1991 while campaigning.

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• Italian-born Sonia Maino married Rajiv in 1968.
• She moved into the house of mother-in-law, Prime
  Minister Indira Gandhi.
• 1983 ?Indian citizen.
• 1984 ?first lady when her husband, Rajiv
  Gandhi,succeeded his assassinated mother as P.M.

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• Sonia Gandhi remains Roman Catholic, butfollows
  Hindu and Indian traditions
• With her children, she scattered Rajivs ashes in
  the Ganges

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• After Rajiv's death Sonia shied away
  from the spotlight. In 1998, she agreed to
  start her own career as a Gandhi again and
  became an important political leader.

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The Jewel turns down the crown!

• When her party won in the elections, she was
  asked to be Prime Minister.
• She decided not to accept

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Manmohan Singh
May 2004 ? he held up a letter from India's
president authorizing him to form a new
government as prime minister.
He stood next to Sonia Gandhi,the candidate for
the post who stunned the country when she
declined the office.
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May 2004 India Swears in 13th Prime
Minister and the first Sikh in the job.
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Major Problems Issues in India today

• Overpopulation ? 1 billion climbing.
• Economic development.
• Hindu-Muslim tensions.
• Gender issues ? dowry killings.
• Caste bias ? discrimination against untouchables
  
• The Kashmir disputes.
• Political assassinations.

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Kashmir Dispute

• India/Pakistan split both nations claimed
  region of Kashmir
• Important region because of water resources
• Conflict over whether it should be part of India
  or Pakistan or become independent
• To add to this problem both nations tested
  nuclear weapons and then refused to sign a
  nuclear test-ban treaty.