Centre for West Asian and African Studies


Introduction

The Centre conducts teaching and research programmes covering countries of West Asia and the whole of Africa. It is organized into two divisions namely, West Asia and North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.

A. West Asian and North African Division:

This division specializes on the domestic politics, foreign policy and socio-economic issues pertaining to countries extending from Morocco on the West to Iran on the East. The division has a ‘Gulf Studies’ programme under UGC Area Studies scheme

B. Sub-Saharan Division:

The division specializes in Francophone, Anglophone and Lusophone countries of Africa. It has a thrust area programme “Francophone Sub-Saharan Studies” supported by UGC under Area Studies Programme. Besides this other thrust areas are SADC regional community, Francophone regions, governance and structural adjustments programmes and foreign policy of major African countries.

Faculty Profile

Centre's Faculty

Prof. Ajay Dubey, Ph.D Chairperson
Dr. Anwar Alam, Associate Professor
Prof. A. K. Pasha, Professor
Dr. A. K. Mohapatra, Associate Professor
Prof. Gulshan Dietl, Professor
Prof. Girijesh Pant, Professor
Dr. Prakash C. Jain, Associate Professor
Dr. P. R. Kumaraswamy, Associate Professor
Dr. Subodh Narayan Malakar, Associate Professor
Dr. Bansidhar Pradhan, Associate Professor
Ms. Sima Baidya, Assistant Professor

Teaching Programmes

The Centre conducts three levels of teaching programmes – M.A, M.Phil and Ph.D

The Centre participates in M.A. programmes of the School. The focus of the programme is to prepare the students for higher studies and research in West Asian and African Studies.

Courses at M.A. level

West Asian and North African Division

Gulf in World Politics (Gulshan Dietl)
Patterns of Economic Development in the third World (Girijesh Pant)
Government and Politics in West Asia (A.K.Mohapatra)
West Asia in World Affairs (A.K.Mahapatra)
Foreign Policy of Israel (P.R.Kumaraswamy)

Sub-Saharan Division

Political Economy of Sub-Saharan Africa (Ajay Dubey)
Africa and the World (Ajay Dubey)
Government and Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa (S.N.Malakar)

M.Phil Programme

Each division in the Centre offers M.Phil programme.

This consists of one-year taught courses followed by second year devoted to dissertation writing. Each year around 6-10 students are admitted in each stream.

Courses at M.Phil level:

West Asian Political System (A.K.Pasha)
India and West Asia and North Africa (A.K.Pasha)
Government and Politics in GCC States (A.K.Pasha)
Government and Politics in Turkey (A.K.Mahapatra)
Government and Politics in North Africa (Anwar Alam)
Political Economy of the Gulf (Girijesh Pant)
West Asian Economics: Issues in Developments (Girijest Pant)
Social Systems in the Arabian Peninsula (Prakash C.Jain)
Foreign Policy of Turkey (A.K.Mahapatra)
Politic s and Foreign Policy of Israel (P.R.Kumaraswamy)
Politics and Foreign Policy of Saudi Arabia (Gulshan Dietl)
Politics and Foreign Policy of Iran since the Revolution (Gulshan Dietl)
Wars in Gulf: Causes, Courses and Consequences (Gulshan Dietl)
Conflict l& Peace in West Asia & North Africa (A.K.Mahapatra)
Foreign Policy of Turkey (A.K.Mahapatra)

Sub-Sahara Division

Colonial Impact and African Nationalism (Ajay Dubey)
Africa in the World (Ajay Dubey)
Development Strategies in Africa (Ajay Dubey)
Economic Development and Social Change in Africa (Ajay Dubey)
Political System in Africa (S.N.Malakar)
Ideologies in Africa (S.N.Malakar)

Ph.D Programme

After completion of M.Phil degree students are admitted to Ph.D programmes.Some students, in special cases, are admitted directly to this programme also.

Student Profile

In last 5 years 91 students were admitted for M.Phil/Ph.D Programmes. During the same period the Centre awarded 36 M.Phil and 25 Ph.D degree. A large number of students from different schools opted for courses at M.A. and M.Phil level.

Research Activities

Currently the Centre has following major research focus:

West Asian and North African Division:

  • Development Economics

  • Foreign and Security Policies of Israel

  • Global and Regional Energy Affairs

  • Indian Diasporas

  • Minorities in the Middle East

  • Nuclear and missile proliferation

  • Political dynamics of North Africa

  • Political Economy of West Asia

  • Political theory

  • Terrorism and Political violence

Sub-Sahara Division

  • African Union

  • Government and Foreign Policies of South Africa

  • Regional Organization

  • Democratization and Economic Development

  • Conflict Resolutions

  • State and Civil Societies

  List of Research Projects

(a) Developments in Southwest Asia in the Post-Cold War Era: Implications for India, by Prof.K.R.Singh, (UGC Project)

(b) Research infrastructure: The Centre is equipped with latest computers and internet facilities for faculty members, students make use of centralized computer facilities.

(c) The Centre regularly organizes weekly seminars in each division devoted to contemporary issues and experts from outside the university are the principal speakers. While the Sub-Saharan African Seminars are held on Tuesday, West Asia Division conducts its seminars on Thursday. Beside the regular seminars, occasionally national and international seminars are organized.


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