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Centre for Canadian, US and Latin American Studies |
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Established in 1971, the Centre for Canadian, US and Latin American Studies comprises three streams: 1. American Studies 2. Latin American Studies 3. Canadian Studies Faculty
Introduction American Studies, a programme in existence for over four decades, has developed over the years, Indian perspectives on American domestic political process, race and ethnic relations and policies, foreign and defence policy-making, and instruments of global influence. Special attention is focused on understanding the continuity and changes in Indo-US relations. The programme offers courses at M.A., M.Phil and Ph.D levels leading to a Doctoral degree. So far 76 Ph.D degrees and 92 M.Phil degrees have been awarded in American Studies. The programme has evolved courses of inter-disciplinary nature to train Indian mind to analyse American world-view, governance and development. A balanced approach comprising theoretical, empirical and deductive methods, is pursued in student and faculty research programmes. The programme, through its workshops, seminars and conferences addresses emerging trends and areas such as: issues related to globalization, human rights, traditional and non-traditional security, comprehensive security, Trans-national terrorism, management of international trade system, gender issues, non-governmental organizations, civil society and Indian Diaspora. There are four full-time faculty members in the programme. Prof. M.S. Venkataramani, Founder and Doyen of American Studies in India is Professor Emeritus at the Centre. Teaching Programmes
M.Phil Courses AW 628 American National Security Policy & Process: Christopher Raj AW 619 American &West European Security Relations: Christopher Raj AW 617 The Executive Congress and Foreign Policy: K.P.Vijayalakshmi AW 602 Themes in Contemporary American History: K.P.Vijayalakshmi AW 652 US Policy towards the Asia-Pacific Region: C.Mahapatra AW 623 Research Methodology M.A. Courses IS 572N Foreign Policy of the United States since the Second World War: Christopher Raj IS 513N Government and Politics of the U.S.A.: K.P.Vijayalakshmi
Introduction Latin American Studies as a full-fledged programme was introduced in 1971 in the Centre for American & West European Studies, School of International Studies. However, academic interest in the area and preparatory work towards this end had begun as far back as 1955 when the Department of American History and Institutions was established in the then Indian School of International Studies. The study of 'special' historic relations between the US and the Latin American & Caribbean region had prompted some forward-looking faculty members of the Department to underline the special need for training in Latin American Studies too. Development of academic curricula including training in Spanish language for the faculty members and building of library resources took place. Under the Fulbright Exchange Programme of Scholars, eminent Latin American historian, late Harold Eugene Davis from the American University, Washington, D.C was invited to offer courses and seminars for one academic year during 1965-66. R. Narayanan who had carried out his studies and teaching in the Latin American Studies programmes of Columbia and Texas universities got the programme moving. He began by offering two courses--A Survey of Latin American History; and Government & Politics of Major Latin American Countries to students in the Department of American History and Institutions. The programme soon evolved beyond studying the 'special' relationship. Developmental processes and political experiences of Latin American countries and their international outlook, which in many respects had a relevance to India's own developmental experiences and foreign policy perceptions, began drawing the larger attention of the faculty and the scholars of Latin American Studies. Continental-sized countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Mexico were the particular focus of attention in the initial stages. Soon, the Andean countries, Cuba and the Commonwealth Caribbean countries for a variety of reasons including the presence of populations of ethnic Indian background in several of the Caribbean countries began drawing together an ever-increasing number of scholars to the Latin American & Caribbean Studies Programme. With the active cooperation of two Brazilian scholars—Dr. Jose Leal Ferreira, Jr. and Dr. Cautz, efforts were made to promote studies on Brazil focussing attention especially on contemporary political and economic developments as well as on the foreign policy of Brazil. With the setting up of a Brazilian Studies Chair, language training and building up of resources on contemporary Brazil has since progressed quite satisfactorily. Prof. R. Narayanan set up and served the programme with distinction for more than three decades. The doyen of Latin American & Caribbean Studies has trained an entire generation of Indian scholars on Latin America and the Caribbean. During his long teaching/research stint, he has been visiting fellow/professor at several universities both in Latin America and the US—University of Chile, Santiago; University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; University of Havana, Cuba, Central University of Peru, Lima; Guyana University, Georgetown; El Colegio de Mexico, Mexico; and Institute of Latin American Studies, University of Texas at Austin, US. On completion of his tenure in 1999, he is the Distinguished Scholar of Jawaharlal Nehru University. He remains actively associated with the teaching/research activities of the Latin American Studies programme. Currently, he is also UGC Visiting Professor Emeritus at the Centre for Latin American Studies, Goa University, and Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of La Plata, Argentina. M.Phil/Ph.D Programme The course work for M.Phil/ Ph.D in Latin American Studies, besides the core course in Research Methodology and intensive training in language--Spanish or Portuguese--includes four core courses from the following: AW 614 Brazil Since 1930: J.L.Ferreira AW 605 Contemporary Economics Problems of Latin America: R.L.Chawla AW 646 The Process of Political and Economic Restructuring in Latin America: Abdul Nafey AW 604 Government and Politics in Latin America: Abdul Nafey AW 606 Major Themes in Latin American History: J.L. Ferreira AW 630 Mexico Since 1910: Abdul Nafey AW United States Policy towards Latin America: Abdul Nafey AW 623 Research Methodology Under academic exchange programme and through collaborative efforts of the Division, Latin American Studies welcome the visiting scholars/ faculty from universities/research institutions from the Latin American and other countries. The visiting faculty can as well design special courses administered at the M.Phil/Ph.D level. For instance, the Programme has had, so far, courses such as Political Process in Chile; Contemporary History of Argentina; and Seminar Course on Latin America administered by the visiting faculty from Latin America and the US. Masters Level Courses Two elective courses are offered at the two-year Masters programme of the School of International Studies. The courses are available to Masters level students of other Schools of the University. Following are the two the courses: IS 507N Political Economy of Latin America: R.L. Chawla IS 524N Foreign Policies of Major Latin American Countries: Abdul Nafey Objectives of the Programme Areas/Themes of Research Interest The special interest of the faculty and research scholars admitted to the programme so far has been in areas such as:
The above themes/subjects have been the focus of study and research by the faculty and the research students of the Division. The thrust of the programme is to develop an independent Indian/Third World perspective on political, economic and foreign policy aspects of contemporary Latin America and the Caribbean. Student Profile Scholars who have completed their doctoral and Masters level studies in Latin American Studies are mainly in the teaching/research profession. Some of them are located in institutions such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Delhi and at the Centre for Latin American Studies, Goa University besides at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses and other policy research institutes located in New Delhi. Some of the scholars are teaching in various universities in the Caribbean region, US and Canada. Others have gone into media--print and electronic--both in India and abroad as analysts of current affairs of Latin American and Caribbean countries. Periodically, M.Phil scholars do secure admission to Ph.D programmes in overseas universities particularly in some of the leading programmes of Latin American Studies in US. Every year, the programme admits four scholars for the M.Phil/Ph.D programme and, sometime, one for the direct Ph.D. However, it must be stated that employment opportunities for specialists in Latin American and Caribbean affairs are limited, both in the public and private sector. Introduction Beginning academic year, 2001-2002, Canadian Studies Programme is the new programme in the Centre. Only one of its kind in India, it is a taught-cum-research programme in Canadian Studies at the M.Phil/Ph.D level, besides offering an elective course at the Masters level. Preparatory work towards the introduction of the Canadian Studies had begun around mid-1990s, when some of the faculty members begun studying and analysing the Canadian initiatives and its changing role in international affairs. They undertook field study in Canada on specific areas under grants from the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute during 1998-99; began offering an elective course on ‘Canada in World Affairs’ from the academic year 1998-99; and enrolled a Ph.D scholar to work on Canada. Teaching Programme M.Phil/Ph.D AW Government and Politics in Canada: Abdul Nafey & Christopher S. Raj AW Foreign Policy of Canada: Christopher S. Raj & Abdul Nafey AW Political Economy of Canada: Abdul Nafey, R.L.Chawla & Christopher S. Raj AW Multiculturalism, Regionalism and Diasporic Aspects of Canadian Society: Christopher S. Raj & Abdul Nafey AW 623 Research Methodology M.A. IS 585 N Canada in World Affairs: Abdul Nafey & Christopher.S. Raj Objectives of the Programme In consonance with the goals of School of International Studies, it aims at developing an inter-disciplinary expertise on the foreign policy dynamics and international relations of Canada, and to the extent necessary and relevant in the history, society, politics and economy of contemporary Canada. The programme aims at developing an Indian, and broadly a Third World, perspective on Canada’s foreign policy and international relations; developmental strategies and experiences; and the functioning of the multicultural, federal parliamentary democracy. Areas / Themes of Research Interest The broadly identified areas of research interest of the faculty and the students are Canada’s ‘new diplomacy’ including human security and the concept of ‘soft’ power in foreign policy; non-proliferation diplomacy; alliance relationships; aid and assistance programme; multilateralism in Canadian foreign policy—UN and WTO; regionalism and NAFTA; Canada-US relations; Canada and Latin America & the Caribbean; and Canada-Asia Pacific; and Canada-India Relations. Policies of multiculturalism; Quebec question; Federal Structure and Processes, new innovations and their relevance for India; collective rights and governance of ‘first nations’; parliamentary democracy and party system; civil society and social movements—old and new; Developmental strategies—role of FDI, resource sector, welfare state and economic restructuring; and Canada and the international political economy. Student Profile A doctoral level candidate, currently in Canada on a doctoral fellowship from the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, is engaged in research on aspects of governance of the indigenous communities in Canada. The Masters level course on ‘Canada in World Affairs’, offered since 1998 has been attracting a good number of students not only from the School of International Studies but also from the School of Social Sciences and the School of Languages, Literature and Culture. From the year 2001-2002, as many as four scholars are admitted for the M.Phil/Ph.D programme every year. As with other programmes, scholars with an M.Phil degree or sufficient teaching/research experience can also be admitted to direct-Ph.D in Canadian Studies. |
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