The book introduces central themes that have preoccupied the field of South Asian politics over the last few decades and identifies new, emerging areas of research. Presenting both general political theory and context-specific case studies, the collection draws attention to the methodological challenges of working on an area-specific theme and the importance of generating generalizable insights linked to theory. Hence it will be of interest for political scientists working on South Asian politics as well as on other non-Western societies. The collection represents an unusually broad survey of scholarship emerging from a range of leading academic centres in the field.

Dr. Siegfried O. Wolf was educated at the Institute of Political Science and South Asia Institute (SAI), both Heidelberg University. Currently he is lecturer in International Relations and Comparative Politics at SAI as well as Director of Research, South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF), a Brussels based think tank.

Dr. Jivanta Schöttli did her studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science and her PhD in political science at the South Asia Institute (SAI), Heidelberg University. Her research and teaching at the SAI, where she is lecturer, focuses on Indias foreign policy and South Asias international politics.

Dominik Frommherz studied Political Science at the South Asia Institute (SAI), University of Heidelberg and the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). His master thesis at the SAI was concerned with party system analysis in a non-western context.

Kai Fürstenberg studied Political Science and History at Uppsala University and Heidelberg University. His PhD research is about the analysis of legitimacy of political institutions from an evolutionary point of view, with a focus on Indian local government institutions.

Marian Gallenkamp holds a masters degree in Political Science and Politics of South Asia from Heidelberg University. He is currently pursuing his PhD and working as a lecturer and research assistant at the South Asia Institute.

Lion König studied Political Science of South Asia and English Literature and Linguistics at Heidelberg University and the University of Edinburgh. He has been a fellow at the Cluster of Excellence 'Asia and Europe in a Global Context' at Heidelberg University and is currently completing his doctoral dissertation on cultural citizenship in India.

Markus Pauli studied Political Science at the Free University in Berlin and the London School of Economics andPolitical Science (LSE). His doctoral thesis at Heidelberg University within the Cluster of Excellence 'Asia and Europe in a Global Context' explores the impact and perception of microfinance in South India.