ISAS Special Reports

The state in South Asia is a fluid and historically complex entity, with its postcolonial forms engaging differently with individuals and communities. As the state is experienced in diverse and everyday ways, it is important to critically explore its institutions, power structures and the socio-economic tensions that shape its function.

The 2023 International Conference on South Asia, hosted by ISAS, explored these everyday encounters with the state, resulting in this special report. Through six thematic chapters, the report examines how authority is perceived, the challenges of governance, the uneven delivery of services and the impact of identity politics. It also addresses state control over data, surveillance and the regulation of bodies and behaviours, highlighting the ongoing tensions between state power and individual rights.