Undergraduate Program (BSS)

Bachelor of Social Science (Honors) – Part III

(Sessions: 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022)
Course Outline

GP-301: Oriental Political Thought: Modern

Learning Objectives
  • This course offers to capture the current trends in modern oriental thoughts and personalities. It aims to generate the distinctive nature of oriental political thought and practice. It encourages students to think about the new theoretical paradigm in oriental countries.
Learning Outcomes
  • After attending the classes of this course students are expected to differentiate between theory and practice in oriental countries. Through presentation student will able to demonstrate the contextual constrain of political leadership in these countries. It is also expected that the students would also able make comparison between political leaderships in oriental countries.
Course Content

Political Thinkers and Political Personalities of the Sub-continent – Renaissance, Liberalism, Conservatism, Radicalism and Humanism:

Ram Mohan Roy, Syed Ahmad Khan, Rabindranath Tagore, M. K. Gandhi, Aurobindo Ghose, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Mohammad Iqbal, M. N. Roy, Jawaharlal Nehru, B. R. Ambedkar and Subhas Chandra Bose.

Contemporary Political Thinkers and Political Personalities of the Sub-continent – Nationalism, Secularism and Religious Conservatism:

Sher-e-Bangla Abul Kasem Fazlul Huq, Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Professor Abdur Razzaq, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Amartya Sen and Edward Said.

Modern Chinese Political Thoughts and Personality– Idealism and Pragmatism:

Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Xi Jinping.

Political Thinkers and Political Personalities of the Middle-East – Modernity and Resurgence of Islam:

Kemal Ataturk, Nasser, Ayatullah Khomeni and Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Selected Readings

Azizur Rahman Mallick, British Policy and the Muslims in Bengal: 1757-1856, Dacca: Bangla Academy, 1977.

B. R. Ambedkar, Annihilation of Caste with a Reply to Mahatma Gandhi, Punjab: Bheem Patrika Publications, 1968.

Edward Said, Orientalism, New York: Vintage Books, 1978.

Fazlur Rahman, Islam and Modernity, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982.

H. G. Greel, Confucius and the Chinese Way, New York: Peter Smith Pub, 2000.

H. K. Sherwani, Muslim Political Thought and Administration, New Delhi: Idarah-i-Adaliyati, 1976.

Hafiz Malik, Muslim Nationalism in India and Pakistan, Washington, DC: Public Affairs Press, 1963.

Jawaharlal Nehru, The Discovery of India, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1994.

Karl A. Wittfogel, Oriental Despotism: A Comparative Study of Total Power, New York: Vintage, 1981.

Lahiri, Ramtanu, Ramtanu Lahiri O Tatkalin Bangasamaj, Dhaka: Bishwo Shahitto Kendro, 2006.

Latifa Akanda, Social History of Muslim Bengal, Dacca: Islamic Cultural Centre, 1981.

Samuel Huntington, Clash of Civilization, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1996.

U. A. B. Razia Akter Banu, Islam in Bangladesh, The Netherlands: E J Brill, Leiden, 1992.

UN Ghosal, A History of Indian Political Ideas, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1966.

Virender Grover, Political Thinkers of Modern India, New Delhi: Deep & Deep Publications, 1990.

বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমান, অসমাপ্ত আত্মজীবনী, ঢাকাঃ দি ইউনিভার্সিটি প্রেস লিমিটেড, ২০১২ ।

GP- 302: Geo-Politics: Bangladesh and Neighbours

Learning Objectives
  • In many cases students learn the strategy of big power when they deal with geopolitical of Bangladesh. This course offers the opposite. It aims to learn Bangladeshi strategy in dealing with China and India. The aim of the course is to understand despite a small country how Bangladesh can achieve stability seating in the middle of China and India?
Learning Outcomes
  • This class will be interactive in nature and student will present their own thought as presentation and class participation. Students would able to connect geopolitical theories and strategies in the context of Bangladesh.
Course Content

Theories and Practices of geopolitics

Theoretical proposition of geopolitics

Advantages and disadvantages of geographical position of Bangladesh

National security of Bangladesh

Government with the influence and inclination to blue economy

China and Bangladesh

Reemergence of China in world stage

Chinese One Belt One Road initiative and Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar corridor

Looking East policy and Bangladeshi strategies to China

China as a biggest trading partner to Bangladesh

Growing cultural relation between China and Bangladesh

India and Bangladesh

Cultural relations between India and Bangladesh

Religious dimension between India and Bangladesh

Understanding Bangladeshi interest and strategy to India

Challenges and opportunities for Bangladesh having a big neighbor

Bengali speaking and Muslim population in West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya and their impact on Bangladesh.

India, China, Bangladesh and Beyond

China and India as hegemonic power to Bangladesh

Competition and cooperation of Bangladesh with China, India, and Bangladesh

Global capitalism and China, India, and Bangladesh

Rohingya humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh and global capital competition in Myanmar

Security of Bangladesh between China and India.

Selected Readings

Becker, Jasper, City of Heavenly Tranquility: Beijing in the History of China. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2008.

Bentley, Jerry, Old World Encounters: Cross-Cultural Contacts and Exchanges in Pre-Modern Times. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.

Heffernan, Michael, The Meaning of Europe: Geography and Geopolitics. London and New York: Arnold, 1998.

Joshi, Prateek, The Chinese Silk Road in South and Southeast Asia: Enter "Counter Geopolitics". Indra Stra Global (3): 4. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.3084253, 2016.

GP-303: Comparative Politics of Latin America

Learning Objectives
  • To give students knowledge and confidence to addresses major theoretical debates in the field of comparative politics of Latin America
  • To teach and guide students to look at the root causes of economic underdevelopment and political authoritarianism in Latin American politics
Learning Outcomes
  • To display understanding of comparative politics of Latin America
  • To recognize chronic problems associated with economic and political slowdown in Latin American countries.
Course Content

Comparative Politics: Meaning, Nature, Growth and Scope, Analytical and Empirical Method. Increasing Emphasis on the Study of developing Societies-Focus on Inter-disciplinary Approach.

Comparative Inquiry: System Theories-systems as Structure and Function. Theories of Development and Underdevelopment-Political-Development. Modernization-State Theory and Modernization. Under-Development-Capitalist Development in the Center and Underdevelopment in the Periphery-Unequal and Uneven Development.

Modernization Theory and the Dependency Perspective: Critiques of Modernization Theory. Dependency-definitions of Dependency-Major Concepts and Tools of Analysis-Internal Colonialism-poles of Development-Dependent Capitalist Development.

Politics and Dependency: State, Military and Revolution. Structuralism and Industrialization Strategy-Populism and Bureaucratic Authoritarianism, Corporatism and Economic growth. Underdevelopment and Revolution. Critique of dependency.

Recent trends: Dependency, Globalization and World-Systems Theory. Transition to Democracy: Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism, Delegative Democracy, Neopopulism and Electoral Authoritarianism.

Selected Readings

Andre Gunder Frank, Latin America: Underdevelopment or Revolution, Boston: Monthly Review Press, 1970.

Bill and Hard Grave, Comparative Politics: The Quest for a Theory. Ohio: Merrill, 1973.

Binder Coleman and Others, Crises and Sequences in Political Development, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1971.

Charless K. Wilber (ed.), The Political Economy of Development and Underdevelopment, New York: Random House, 1974.

David C. Pitt, Development from Below, Delhi: Macmillan, 1977.

David Easton, The Political System: An Inquiry into the State of Political Science, New York: Knopf, 1953.

G. A. Almond and J. S. Coleman, The Politics of the Developing Areas, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1960.

Geoffrey Kay, Development and Underdevelopment, Delhi: Macmillan Press, 1974.

H. Alavi and J. Harris, Sociology of Developing Societies. London: Macmillan Press, 1989.

John H. Kautsky, The Political Consequences of Modernization, New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1972.

Magnus Blomstrom and Bjorn Hettne, Development Theory in Transition, London: Zed Books Ltd., 1985.

নাসরিন সুলতানা, বাংলাদেশঃ নির্ভরশীল পুঁজিতান্ত্রিক উন্নয়ন, ঢাকাঃ বাংলা প্রকাশ ২০১৩ ।

GP 304: Government and Politics of the Middle-East: Saudi Arab, Iran, Iraq and Egypt

Learning Objectives
  • Provide an introduction to the politics of the Middle- East in the 20th century.
  • To introduce students to the political systems, economic, social and political changes which have affected the region.
  • To develop students understanding of the major trends in the Middle-East politics and their skills of political analysis through critical reading, lectures and informed discussion and in the writing essays.
Learning Outcomes
  • To categorize major socio-political and administrative issues in the countries of the Middle-East.
  • Acquired an understanding of the Middle-East and the ability to process information and developed reasoned arguments.
Course Content

An Introduction to the Middle-East Politics: Socio-Cultural and Political Background.

The Forms of Government and Nature of Political Institutions.

Economic Development, Political Process, Leadership and Institutional Capacities of the Selected Middle Eastern States.

Relations with the West and the Current War Against Terrorism, the Rise of Arab Nationalism, the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Iraq War, Arab Spring and its Impact.

Selected Readings

Bill and Leiden, Politics in the Middle-East, NY: Little Brown, 1977.

G.W. Choudhury, Islam in the Contemporary World, Dhaka: Academic Publishers, 1995 (1991).

--------, Islam and the Modern World, Dhaka: Academic Publishers, 1995.

Gabriel A. Almond and G. Brigham Powell, Jr., Comparative Politics: Systems, Process, and Policy, Boston: Little, Prrown, 1978.

George Lemczowoki (ed.), Political Elites in the Middle-East, Washington, D.C.: America Evaluation Institute, 1975.

Hisham Sharabi, Nationalism and Revolution in the Arab World, Princeton, NJ.: Van Nostrand, 1966.

J. C. Hurwitz, Middle-East Politics: The Military Dimension, NY: Praeger, 1969.

John Duke Anthony (ed.), The Middle-East: Oil Politics and Development, Washington, D.C.: AEI, 1975.

John Waterbury and Ragaci E. L. Mallaseh, The Middle-Eastin the Coming Decade, NY: McGraw Hill, 1978.

Leonand Binder, James & Colewrn, Joseph Lapalombara, Lucian W. Lye, Sidney Verba, and Myron Weiner, Crisis and Sequences in Political Development, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1971.

Mark Gasiorowski, David E. Long, Bernard Reich (ed.), The Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa, Colorado, Westview press, 2013.

GP-305 Political Systems of South Asia: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal

Learning Objectives
  • To familiarize the students with fundamentals units or organs of the state and government in the South Asian sub regional system
  • To learn about social, political and economic issues of the region which are interrelated in between the South Asian states with particular focus on SAARC as regional platform for negotiation and co-operation
  • To be acquainted with the roots of the political crisis, intrusion of the big powers in the area, problems and prospective solutions
Learning Outcomes
  • To explore the ways how big share of world politics and market policy is influenced by the region
  • To identify the factors that have substantial influence in shaping the social, political and economic policies for South Asian countries
  • To explain the role of South Asia as a sub-regional system in the global politics
  • To clarify the bilateral and multilateral relations between the states in the area
Course Content

The Region: Social and Cultural Setting

Historical and Colonial Experiences- Nationalist Movements

Nation-building Processes, Ethnicity

Political Processes-groups.

Organs of Government.

Party System, Elections, Opposition.

Extra-constitutional Movements.

Bureaucracy, Military.

Constitutionalism

Selected Readings

Ali Riaz and Subho Basu, Paradise Lost? State Failure in Nepal, Lanham: Lexington Books, 2007.

Atul Kohli (ed.), The Success of India’s Democracy, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2001.

B. C. Upreti, Nepal: Transition to Democratic Republican State, New Delhi: Kalpaz Publications, 2010.

C. A. Bayly, G. P. Hawthorn, Gordon Johnson and others (eds.), Electoral Allegiance In Sri Lanka, Cambridge South Asian Studies, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1992.

Farzana Shaikh, Making Sense of Pakistan, New York: Columbia University Press, 2009.

Harihar Bhattacharyya et al, The Politics of Exclusion in India; Democracy at the Crossroad, London: Routhledge, 2010.

Jonathan Spencer (ed.), Sri Lanka: History and the Roots of Conflict, New York and London: Routledge, 1990.

Mushahid Hussain and Akmal Hossain, Problems of Governance in Pakistan, New Delhi: Konark Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 1993.

Parmanand, Political Development in South Asia, Dhaka: Academic Publishers, 1988.

R. L. Park (ed.), South Asian Political Systems, 1970.

R. Ulyanovsky, and V. Pavlov, Asian Dilemma: Theories and Critical Studies, Moscow: Progress Publishers, 1973.

Robart Jackson, South Asia Crisis: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, London: Chatto & Windus, 1975.

Rostis Lav Ulyanovsky, Present Day Problems in Asia and Africa, Georgia: Progress Publishers, 1980.

Singh M. P. & Rekha Saxena, Indian Politics Contemporary issues and Concern, New Delhi: Prentice-Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., 2008.

Subrata K. Mitra, The Puzzle of Indian Governance: Culture, Context and Comparative Theory, London:Routledge, 2008.

Sundeep Waslekar, South Asian Drama: Travails of Misgovernance, New Delhi: Konark Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 1995.

Sundeep Waslekar, South Asian Drama: Travails of Misgovernance, New Delhi: Konark Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 1995.

W. H. Morris Jones, The Government and Politics of India, London: Hutchinson University Library, 1964.

William F. Kuracina, The State and Governance in India, London: Routhledge, 2010.

GP-306: Politics in Bangladesh

Learning Objectives
  • To confer students basic knowledge on political institutions in the context of Bangladesh
  • To explicate students about the political and governmental policies, processes and procedures relating to Bangladesh polity and society
Learning Outcomes
  • To demonstrate, in both oral and written forms, knowledge and understanding of sociological principles to make sense of current world events and to contribute to social debates
  • To apply the gained knowledge in explanation and illustration of the issues related to the Bangladesh politics
Course Content

Society, Culture and Religion.

Political Process and Constitution-making. 1972 Constitution: Preamble to the Constitution and Main Features, Directive Principles of State Policy; Fundamental Rights and Duties, Parliamentary Democracy; Elections of 1973; Opposition and Dissent; Mujib Regime and Evaluation of its Performance; Intervention of Military and Military Rule; Processes of Civilianization of Military Regimes; Zia Regime; Elections of 1978 and 1979; Performance and Evaluation of the Regime. 1982 Military Coup and Ershad Regime; Crisis of Legitimacy and Development Dynamics; Mass Upsurge of 1990; 1991 Elections and Transition to Democratic Process; Movement for Neutral Care-taker Government; Elections of June 1996, 2001; Emergency of 2007, Election of 2008 and Politics Till Date.

The Structure of Government Under the Present form of Constitution: The Executive: The President – Qualification for the Office and the System of Election, Powers and Functions of the President. Methods to Remove the President. The Prime Minister- Power and Function, Cabinet, Council of Ministers, Caretaker Government.

The Legislature: Jatiya Sangsad-composition, Elections, Powers and Functions.

The Judiciary: Structure, Powers and Functions of the Supreme Court; Appointment, Tenure and Removal of Judges. Structure of Subordinate Courts. The Office of the Attorney-General.

The Election Commission, the Comptroller and Auditor-General, the Public Service Commission.

Procedure for the Amendment of the Constitution. Major Constitutional Amendments.

Selected Readings

Ali Riaz, Inconvenient Truths about Bangladeshi Politics, Dhaka: Prothoma Prokashan, 2012.

Al Masud Hasanuzzaman and Shamsul Alam (eds.), Political Management in Bangladesh, Dhaka: AH Development Public House, 2010.

Al Masud Hasanuzzaman, Role of Opposition in Bangladesh Politics, Dhaka: University Press Limited, 1998.

---------, Crisis of Political Development, Savar: Government and Politics, June, 1988.

Bangladesh: Crisis of Political Development, Dhaka, Department of Government and Politics, J.U., 1988.

Dilara Choudhury, Constitutional Development in Bangladesh, Karachi: Oxford Univ. Press, 1994.

GOB, The Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. National Legislative Bodies, 1972.

Emajuddin Ahmed (ed.), Society and Politics in Bangladesh, Dhaka: Academic Publishers, 1989.

K. M. Mahiuddin, The Parliamentary Committees in Bangladesh: An Analysis of its Functioning, Sarrbrücken(Germany): VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, 2009.

Nazma Ahmed, Non-Party Caretaker Government in Bangladesh, Dhaka: UPL, 2004.

Nizam Ahmed, The Parliament of Bangladesh, Aldershot: Ashgate, 2002.

James J. Novak, Bangladesh: Reflections on the Water, Dhaka: University Press Ltd., 1991.

Lawrence Ziring, Bangladesh from Mujib to Ershad: An interpretive Study, Dhaka: UPL, 1994.

M. Salimullah Khan (ed.), Politics and Stability in Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects, Department of Government and Politics, Savar: Jahangirnagar University, 1985.

Md. Abdul Mannan, Elections and Democracy in Bangladesh, Dhaka: Academic Press, 2005.

M. E. Mulk Mushrafi and Hassibur Rahman (ed.), Bangladesh Politics and Governance, Dhaka: Mowla Brothers, 2009.

Muhammad Yeahia Akhtar, Electoral Corruption in Bangladesh, England: Ashgate Publishing Limited, 1991.

Mustafa Chowdhury, Pakistan: Its Politics and Bureaucracy, New Delhi: Associated Publishing House, 1988.

Mahfuzul H. Chowdhury, Democratization in South Asia: Lessons for America Institution, England: Aldershot, 2003.

Rounaq Jahan, Bangladesh Politics: Problems and Issues, Dhaka: UPL, 1980.

S. R. Chakravarty (ed.), Bangladesh Under Mujib, Zia and Ershad, New Delhi: Har-Anand, 1995.

Shamsul Huda Harun, Parliamentary Behavior in a Multi-National State, 1947-58: Bangladesh Experience, Dhaka: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, 1984.

Talukdar Maniruzzaman, The Bangladesh Revolution and Its Aftermath, Dhaka: UPL, 1988.

--------, Military Withdrawal from Politics: A Comparative Study, Cambridge: Ballinger Publishers, 1987.

--------, Radical Politics and the Emergence of Bangladesh, Dhaka: Bangladesh Books International, 1975.

--------, Group Interests and Political Changes, New Delhi: 1982.

আজিজুল হক, বাংলাদেশ সমাজ রাজনীতি গণতন্ত্র, ঢাকাঃ কম্পিউটার্স, ১৯৯২ ।

আল মাসুদ হাসানউজ্জামান, বাংলাদেশে সংসদীয় গণতন্ত্র রাজনীতি ও গভর্ন্যান্স, ১৯৯১ - ২০০৭, ঢাকাঃ দি ইউনিভার্সিটি প্রেস লিমিটেড, ২০০৯ ।

মোঃ আব্দুল মান্নান, বাংলাদেশে গনতন্ত্রঃ সমস্যা ও সম্ভাবনা, ঢাকাঃ দি আফসার্স ব্রাদার্স, ২০০৩ ।

মুহাম্মদ ইয়াহইয়া আখতার, দুর্নীতির স্বরূপ অন্বেষণঃ বাংলাদেশ, ঢাকা, নিবেদন পাবলিকেশন্স, ১৯৯১ ।

মুহাম্মদ ইয়াহইয়া আখতার, অভিনব সরকার ব্যাতিক্রমি নির্বাচন, এ এইচ ডেভেলপমেন্ট পাবলিশিং হাউস, ঢাকাঃ ২০০৯

GP-307: Political Economy of Bangladesh

Learning Objectives
  • introduce student with study of political economy in terms of production and trade, and their relation with law, custom and government, as well as with the distribution of national income and wealth
  • highlight the overall economic performance of the country and contemporary economic issues/problems in Bangladesh
Learning Outcomes
  • To use the learning of political economy in academic debate and deliberation and in the analysis where needed
  • To employ analytical skills to comprehend different factors involved in economic performance of the country with particular focus on Bangladesh
Course Content

State and Economy; Capitalism; Socialism; Mixed Economy; Intermediate Regime; Development Models and Strategy; Bangladesh Agriculture: Peasant Economy, Resource Base and in Heritance Infrastructure; Agricultural Policies and Agricultural Credit; Land Ownership and Tenancy Relationships; Land reforms Population and Employment; Bangladesh Industry: Public Enterprise; Government Control of Public Enterprises; Nationalization Policies; In Search of a Policy for The Private Sector-Private Sector Investment Policy; The Performance of Nationalized Industries; The First, The Second and The Third Five Year Plans. Millennium Development Goal (MDG), SDG, Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). Mass Participation in Rural Development; Social Security Poverty Alleviation Strategies; Public Finance: Public Expenditure, Revenue System; Principles of Taxation; Role of Foreign Aid in Development. Role of International Financial Institutions, WB, IMF, and ADB.

Selected Readings

A. M. A Rahim, Current Issues of Bangladesh Economy.

A. R Khan, The Economy of Bangladesh.

Azizur Rahman , Avijit Poddar , Shafique uz Zaman , Abul Barakat, Political Economy of the Vested Property Act in Rural Bangladesh, Dhaka, Pathak Shamabesh

Dalton, Principles of Public Finance.

K. L Seth, Economic Aspects of Bangladesh.

K. M Matin, Bangladesh and the IMF; An Exploratory Study, Dhaka BIDS, 1986.

Michacl Albert, Capitalism against Capitalism, London; Whurr 1993.

Rehman Sobhan, The Political Economy of Malgovernance in Bangladesh (Volume 3), Dhaka, Centre For Policy Dialogue (CPD), 2017

Shekh Baten, The Political Economy Of Development Experience of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Jatiya Sahitya Prakash, 2018

UNCTAD, World Investment Report, 1994.

W. A Robson, Nationalized Industry and public Ownership.

W.W Rostow, Stages of Economic Growth.

আমর্ত্য সেন, ৺জ দ্রেজ, ভারত উন্নয়ন ও বঞ্চনা, ভারত, আনন্দ পাবলিশার্স, ২০১৫ ।

আতিউর রহমান, উন্নয়ন আলাপঃ অর্থনীতি, পরিবেশ ও উন্নয়ন বিতর্ক, ঢাকা, পাঠক সমাবেশ

আকবর আলি খান, পরার্থপরতার অর্থনীতি, ঢাকাঃ দি ইউনিভার্সিটি প্রেস লিমিটেড, ২০১৭

আকবর আলি খান, আজব ও জবর-আজব অর্থনীতি, ঢাকাঃ প্রথমা প্রকাশন

আব্দুল আউয়াল মিন্টু, বাংলাদেশঃ রাজনীতি ও রাজনৈতিক অর্থনীতি, ঢাকাঃ অনুপম প্রকাশনী, ২০১৩ ।

আবুল মাল আবদুল মুহিত, বাংলাদেশের অর্থনৈ্তিক বাস্তবতা ও সম্ভাবনা, ঢাকাঃ সময় প্রকাশন, ২০১৬ ।

মোঃ শামসুর কবীর খান, বাংলাদেশের অর্থনীতি, ঢাকাঃ বাংলাদেশ বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় মঞ্জুরী কমিশন ।

শামসুল আলম, রাজনৈতিক ডামাডোলে স্বপ্নযাত্রার অর্থনীতি, পার্ল পাবলিকেশন্স, ২০১৫

GP-308: Conflict Studies

Learning Objectives
  • To understand the key theoretical concepts and issues of conflict. Define and scrutinize the causes and consequences of small and large- scale conflicts. Explain theoretical and practical components of conflicts and apply consultations, management skills in matters of determining conflicts and get rid of those by means of appropriate approaches.
Learning Outcomes
  • After completing the course, the students will be able to categorize and construe the nexus between the situations and conflicts, apply the existing theoretical propositions to find out the roots of conflicts in different socio-political settings and reveal conflict transformation skills.
Course Content

Introduction of the Course: Concepts and Major Issues, Social Dynamics of Conflict, Multidimensional Faces of Conflict and Conflict Escalation

Conflicts, Social Conflict, Political Conflict, Ethnic Conflict, Violence, Political Violence, Nonviolence Approach, State Sponsored Violence, Culture of Fear and State Hegemony, Gender and Conflict

Conflict as Positive Force, Revolution, Counter-revolution, Conflicts and Social Change

Major Theories of Conflict, Nature & Dynamics of Conflicts, Types of Conflicts, Causes and Manifestation of Conflicts, Conflict Analysis, Levels of Conflict Escalation, Ripeness of Conflict, Intervention in a Conflict.

War, New War, Civil War, Proxy War, War against Terrorism, Terrorism, Genocide, Public Lynching, Crime Against Humanity and Geneva Convention

Conflict Resolutions, Conflict Settlement Versus Resolution, Techniques of Conflict Resolution, Conflict Transformation, Negotiation, Mediation and Reconciliation

Peace and Democratic Peace, Reconciliation and Peace building, Peace Keeping

Selected Readings

Arendt, Hannah, On Violence, New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, Inc., 1970.

Barash, David P. Approaches to Peace: A Reader in Peace Studies, Third Edition. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2014.

Bercovitch, Jacob, et.al. The Sage Handbook of Conflict Resolution, New Delhi: Sage Publication, 2009.

Coser, Lewis, The Functions of Social Conflict, New York: Free Press, 1956.

Galtung, Johan. Peace by Peaceful Means: Peace, Conflict, Development and Civilization, New Delhi: Sage Publication, 1996.

Johan Galtung, “Violence, Peace and Peace Research”, Journal of Peace Research, Vol.6, No.3, pp. 167-191, 1969.

John A. Vasquez, The War Puzzle, Cambridge, Mass: Cambridge University Press, 1993.

Joseph S Nye Jr, Understanding International Conflict: An Introduction to Theory and History, New York: Longman, 2003.

Lederach, John Paul. The Little Book of Conflict Transformation, Intercourse, PA: Good Books, 2003.

Paul Collier and Anke Hoeffler, “Greed and Grievance in Civil War,” Oxford Economic Papers, pp. 563-595, 2004.

GP-309: Gender and Politics

Learning Objectives
  • To learn about the gender and politics with a particular emphasis on questions of power, equality, oppression, gender division of labor and autonomy
  • To guide students exploring the ways in which the social and cultural constructions of gender influence the nature and practice of political life
  • To focus on the engagement of women’s movements with formal and informal politics in historical and contemporary contexts
Learning Outcomes
  • To be able to describe key concepts of gender politics and be able to explain how these concepts apply to specific problems that women encounter
  • To demonstrate knowledge of major historical and contemporary debates on gender and politics within women’s movements in the global North and the South
  • To be able to critically assess the arguments for and against greater gender equality in different political institutions, and the mechanisms for achieving this
Course Content

Gender Ideology: Sex and Gender, Nature-culture, Private Woman-Public Man, Honour-Shame, Male dominance, Female subordination, Images of Wifehood-motherhood, Parda, Gender Inequality

School of Thought: Liberal Feminism, Marxist Feminism, Eco-feminism, Radical Feminism.

Social Construction of Gender: Patriarchy, Capitalism, Gender socialization, Religion, Representation in the Media, Violence Against Women, Trafficking in Women and Children, Pornography, Control of Women’s Sexuality, Control of Women in the Family-society-state.

Political Economy of Gender: Forms of Exploitation in Patriarchy and Capitalism, Gender Division of Labour in the Private and Public Space, Women’s Contribution in the Hidden Economy and Informal Economy, Development of Women’s Work, Discrimination at Work and Low Wages, Sexual Harassment at Work, Discrimination Regarding Access to Resources, Dowry, Impact of Globalization on Women, Migration of Female Labour.

Women and Politics: Legal Status of Women, Constitutional Rights, Religious Personal Law, Industrial labour law, Penal law, Property law, Salish, Fatwa, Anti sexual Harassment law, Legal aid, Participation in Legislature-executive-judiciary, Participation in Local Government, Political parties, Gender Planning, Gender budget, Public Policy Issues and Women’s Agenda.

Gender and Development: WID-WAD-GAD, Women and Human Rights, UNO Initiatives, Women’s International Conferences, NGO Approach and Women’s Empowerment, Micro Credit and Women as a Target Group.

Women and Resistance: Women’s Organizations, Movements, Women’s Participation in Nationalist Struggles-Peasant Movements-labour Movements-Environmental Movements.

(Field study is required for observation of Gender Development Programs)

Selected Readings

Barbara A. Marshall, Engendering Modernity: Feminism Social Theory and Social Change, UK: Polity Press, 1988.

Barbara J. Nelson and Najma Choudhury (eds), Women and Politics Worldwide, New Haven and London:Yale University Press, 1994.

Carol Gould (ed) Gender: Key Concepts in Critical Theory, WJ: Humanities Press, 1997.

F. E. Stiftung, Women in Politics, New Delhi: Har Anand Publications, 1993.

J. Claves Mosse, Half the World, Half the Chance: An Introduction to Gender and Development, London: Oxfam, 1993.

L. McDowell and JP Sharp (ed) Space, Gender, Knowledge: Feminist Readings, London: Arnold, 1997.

M Rosaldo and Lamphire (ed), Women Culture and Society: A Theoretical Overview, California: Stamford University Press, 1947.

Prasenjit Saha, Women, Society and Politics: A Study of South Asia, Calcutta: Avenel Press, 2018.

S. Rowbotham, Women in Movement: Feminism and Social Action, London: Routledge, 1992.

Shamsun Naher Khanom, Political Rights and the Rural Women: A Study of Bangladesh Village, Dhaka: Afser Brothers, 2005.

মোঃ আবদুল মাননান ও সামসুন্নাহার খানম, নারী ও রাজনীতি, ঢাকাঃ অবসর প্রকাশনা, ২০০৬ ।

মোঃ আবদুল মাননান, গ্রামীণ নারী, ঢাকাঃ অবসর প্রকাশনা, ২০১১ ।

আনু মোহাম্মদ, নারী পুরুষ সমাজ, ঢাকাঃ সন্দেশ, ১৯৯৭ ।

আল মাসুদ হাসানউজ্জামান সম্পাদিত বাংলাদেশের নারীঃ বর্তমান অবস্থা ও উন্নয়ন প্রসঙ্গ, ঢাকাঃ ইউপিএল, ২০০২ ।