Sociology of Development in South Asia

This textbook specifically focuses on sociology of development in the South Asian context. Its exclusive focus on the intricate relationship between key theories and the developmental context of South Asia makes this textbook an invaluable source for graduate students in sociology, development studies, Asian studies, and related fields. Topics such as urban and rural development, the environment, and gross national happiness are explored alongside a critical examination of relevant policies and programmes such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Innovatively, the authors propose a Normative-Composite Model as an alternative, practical and context-specific approach tailored to the specific needs of low- and middle-income countries in South Asia.

Ashek Mahmud is Associate Professor of Sociology at the Department of Sociology, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. His teaching experience covers courses in sociology of development, sociology of mass communication, urban sociology, modern sociological theories, and risk and society. Farhana Zaman is Professor in the Department of Sociology at Jagannath University, Bangladesh. Her research interests encompass climate change, disaster, vulnerability, coping, adaptation, and building resilience in risk-prone coastal regions. M. Rezaul Islam is Professor at the Department of Public Health, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Actively involved in social science and public health education, research and professional development in Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, his research spans public health, health inequality, climate change, and migration.

Understanding Development.- Development from the Sociological Perspective.- Development Policies, Plans, and Programs in South Asia.- Rural Development in South Asia.- Urbanization and Development in South Asia.- Alternative Approach to Development.- Development as an Environmental Concern.- Discourses of Development in South Asia.- A Composite Model of Development: Limitations of SDGs, Challenges, and Way Forward.