Area Studies: Nature and Scope

Abstract

The paper briefly describes the nature and scope of the Area Studies. It highlights the relationship between Area Studies and other traditional disciplines of social sciences, humanities and arts. The “multidisciplinary lens” is essential for Area Studies because no single academic discipline is capable of capturing and conveying a full understanding of another nation, or society or culture’s Social Mechanisms. The Social Mechanisms comprising Structure and Super-structure can be political, legal, economic, educational, religious and anthropological etc., are study objects of various disciplines/sciences. These are interrelated systems and therefore are interdisciplinary. As these Social Mechanisms involve human beings/societies which in turn are objects of Area Studies and therefore Area Studies are multidisciplinary as well interdisciplinary. Various academic theories have been developed by human beings for the welfare of human beings. Area Studies own all academic theories because it provides the study object i.e. human beings/society, for the application of theories and therefore could not have its own specific theory or theories.

The paper also argues that the research approach and angle of study in Area Studies varies from country to country as per their national interests and bilateral relations. Area Studies need to build bridges between the disciplines of Area Studies and other departments or traditional disciplines in order to strengthen their disciplinary basis as well as interdependence. It is imperative because Area Studies are needed for disciplines as much as disciplines are needed for Area Studies.