REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN SOUTH ASIA: UTOPIA OR REALITY?

Abstract

South Asia comprises almost one-quarter of the world’s population. It faces a host of disputes of varying natures, including armed conflicts, proxy wars, and religious and ethnic strife. Despite its deplorable state of human security and impoverished people, South Asia is considered the least integrated region globally. Approximately 1.99 billion people suffer in terms of energy, food, water and health security due to conflicts and hostile interstate relationships. This paper analyses the socio-political and security environment of the region and explores the impediments to regional integration. Focusing on the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, it highlights that the idea of regional integration cannot be realized without resolving core issues. Economic cooperation between regional countries can only be achieved if integration models like the European Union and Association of South East Asian Nations are considered with necessary deviations.

Bibliography Entry

Niaz, Muhammad Tariq. 2022. "Regional Integration in South Asia: Utopia or Reality?" Margalla Papers 26 (1): 108-120.