The seven nations of South Asia today face the challenges of nation-building, state-building and political and economic development. They also share a common political heritage of relations with Great Britain. This edition establishes an interdisciplinary setting for understanding the political framework of the seven nations in the context of the history, social structure and cultural heritage of the region. Taking the opportunity to make the comparisons afforded with the subcontinent, the authors examine cases of political development that range from the relatively open, democratic systems of India and Sri Lanka, to the occasionally authoritarian governments of Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as the changing traditional policies of Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. This third edition reflects the impact of a wide range of recent events on the region, including the changes in India and Pakistan in 1990 and 1991 and the collapse of the Soviet Union.