Epilogue: The merits of regionalisation and emerging prospects in South Asia

Abstract

The fact that South Asia and its vehicle for regional integration South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are on the edge of improvement has been evident for quite some time. For most analysts of the subcontinent, this did not come as a surprise. Compared with other regional organisations it had a very difficult ‘starting position’ (Delinic 2011, 8). South Asia was not able to fully recover from the traumatic partition that followed the end of the European presence. The prevalence of intraregional diplomatic conflicts and fully fledged wars became rampant and prevailed over the logic and rational of effective and cohesive regional co-operation. Nevertheless, the challenge for SAARC exists in a connectivity problem because almost all of the SAARC member states share a border with India, but practically none share a common border, except for the troubled Durand Line between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Furthermore, besides some individual success stories, the region has to contend with endemic poverty, tremendous inequalities, mega-urbanisation, and extra-ordinary challenges when it comes to infrastructure, environmental issues, food and energy security. The most worrying concern is the persistent growth of religious extremism and militant fundamentalism finding its most visible expression in dramatic terrorist attacks and violence against religious and ethnic minorities in South Asia. The numerous domestic and intra-regional conflicts are worsening the situation as well. Addressing these difficulties has always been a great challenge and either suffered from inadequate political will or insufficient capacities or resources to carry out a sustainable integration and cooperation process (cf. Rahman 2004, 140).