This chapter explores the origins of SAARC and explains the politics behind it. Three specific variables are engaged in explaining the politics of the origins of SAARC: the role of systemic forces, the dynamics of regional international relations, and the socio-economic profile of the region and the regional states. It also explores another interesting aspect of the origin of SAARC; the initiative for a regional grouping was taken by Bangladesh, a middle-sized state in the regional system, and not by India or Pakistan, the two most powerful states of the region. This chapter explains why Bangladesh took the initiative and how different regional states reacted to the Bangladeshi proposal.
{"title":"The Origins of SAARC","authors":"B. Chakma","doi":"10.2307/j.ctv1453kr3.7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1453kr3.7","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter explores the origins of SAARC and explains the politics behind it. Three specific variables are engaged in explaining the politics of the origins of SAARC: the role of systemic forces, the dynamics of regional international relations, and the socio-economic profile of the region and the regional states. It also explores another interesting aspect of the origin of SAARC; the initiative for a regional grouping was taken by Bangladesh, a middle-sized state in the regional system, and not by India or Pakistan, the two most powerful states of the region. This chapter explains why Bangladesh took the initiative and how different regional states reacted to the Bangladeshi proposal.","PeriodicalId":405087,"journal":{"name":"South Asian Regionalism","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130127420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This chapter evaluates the performance of SAARC and the limits of South Asian regionalism. It analyses its achievements and failures. SAARC is largely viewed as a dysfunctional organisation and its achievements mostly, as noted above, are ‘on paper’. However, it should be noted that SAARC has some achievements which will be explored in this chapter. But, as will be analysed, its failures are more visible than its achievements. This chapter provides a nuanced, in-depth analysis of the successes and failures of SAARC and their causes.
{"title":"SAARC and the Limits of Cooperation in South Asia","authors":"B. Chakma","doi":"10.2307/j.ctv1453kr3.11","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1453kr3.11","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter evaluates the performance of SAARC and the limits of South Asian regionalism. It analyses its achievements and failures. SAARC is largely viewed as a dysfunctional organisation and its achievements mostly, as noted above, are ‘on paper’. However, it should be noted that SAARC has some achievements which will be explored in this chapter. But, as will be analysed, its failures are more visible than its achievements. This chapter provides a nuanced, in-depth analysis of the successes and failures of SAARC and their causes.","PeriodicalId":405087,"journal":{"name":"South Asian Regionalism","volume":"86 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124360448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-07-01DOI: 10.46692/9781529205169.002
B. Chakma
This chapter provides an overview of South Asian international relations from 1947 to till date. It identifies its key trends and analyses the pattern of South Asian international relations. Arguably, the success or failure of a regional organisation is a function of the structure and patterns – amity or enmity - of regional international relations. This chapter, therefore, lays the foundation for analysing the politics of South Asian regionalism, specifically its origin, evolution, outcome and effects.
{"title":"South Asia’s International Relations: A Historical Overview","authors":"B. Chakma","doi":"10.46692/9781529205169.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46692/9781529205169.002","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter provides an overview of South Asian international relations from 1947 to till date. It identifies its key trends and analyses the pattern of South Asian international relations. Arguably, the success or failure of a regional organisation is a function of the structure and patterns – amity or enmity - of regional international relations. This chapter, therefore, lays the foundation for analysing the politics of South Asian regionalism, specifically its origin, evolution, outcome and effects.","PeriodicalId":405087,"journal":{"name":"South Asian Regionalism","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134091975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This chapter illustrates the theoretical implications of this study for International Relations theories and their assumptions about regionalism which have been presented at the outset of this book. It assesses whether the theoretical assumptions of the three mainstream theories about the rise, process, outcome and effects of regionalism can explain South Asian regionalism. As will be analysed, the assumptions of standard IR theories cannot be applied in the case of South Asian regionalism. So, what theoretical insight can we draw from this case? It also illustrates what the lessons of this study tell us about the state of IR theories in general. It is generally posited that the current IR theories are Western-oriented and have been built based on the experiences of the West, hence there are questions about their universal applicability. Given such a context, there has developed a debate about a ‘Global IR’. Can the analysis of this study contribute to this debate?
{"title":"International Relations Theory and South Asian Regionalism","authors":"B. Chakma","doi":"10.2307/j.ctv1453kr3.12","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1453kr3.12","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter illustrates the theoretical implications of this study for International Relations theories and their assumptions about regionalism which have been presented at the outset of this book. It assesses whether the theoretical assumptions of the three mainstream theories about the rise, process, outcome and effects of regionalism can explain South Asian regionalism. As will be analysed, the assumptions of standard IR theories cannot be applied in the case of South Asian regionalism. So, what theoretical insight can we draw from this case? It also illustrates what the lessons of this study tell us about the state of IR theories in general. It is generally posited that the current IR theories are Western-oriented and have been built based on the experiences of the West, hence there are questions about their universal applicability. Given such a context, there has developed a debate about a ‘Global IR’. Can the analysis of this study contribute to this debate?","PeriodicalId":405087,"journal":{"name":"South Asian Regionalism","volume":"43 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133840155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-07-01DOI: 10.46692/9781529205169.006
B. Chakma
This chapter explains the evolution of the organisation and its politics beyond the formative phase. The most important dimension of the evolution of the organisation in this phase was the decision to begin cooperation in core economic areas such as trade in goods and services, investment, finance etc. The most important initiatives in this context were the conclusion of the South Asian Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) and the SAARC Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreements. This chapter illustrates the political and economic impetus for moving toward that direction and the constraints to implement the two flagship agreements of this phase of SAARC’s evolution. By explaining the constraints to implement the two agreements, it indeed explains the rise of differences and disagreements which culminated into the current stalemate in the organisation.
{"title":"SAARC After 1992: Disagreements and Differences","authors":"B. Chakma","doi":"10.46692/9781529205169.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46692/9781529205169.006","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter explains the evolution of the organisation and its politics beyond the formative phase. The most important dimension of the evolution of the organisation in this phase was the decision to begin cooperation in core economic areas such as trade in goods and services, investment, finance etc. The most important initiatives in this context were the conclusion of the South Asian Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) and the SAARC Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreements. This chapter illustrates the political and economic impetus for moving toward that direction and the constraints to implement the two flagship agreements of this phase of SAARC’s evolution. By explaining the constraints to implement the two agreements, it indeed explains the rise of differences and disagreements which culminated into the current stalemate in the organisation.","PeriodicalId":405087,"journal":{"name":"South Asian Regionalism","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115772243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-07-01DOI: 10.46692/9781529205169.005
B. Chakma
This chapter analyses the evolution of SAARC and the process of regionalism in its formative phase from 1980 to 1992. SAARC strived to consolidate regionalism by adopting the ‘spillover’ idea of neo-functionalism which it borrowed from the early days of European regionalism. The SAARC states started the process of regionalism by focusing cooperation on non-controversial, functional areas. The objective was to incrementally deepen regional cooperation and build a peaceful regional environment. Evidently, SAARC added many new areas of regional cooperation during this phase. A noteworthy aspect of South Asian regionalism during this phase was that the SAARC states did not start cooperation in core economic areas, rather they based regional cooperation only on functional areas.
{"title":"The Formative Years: 1980–92","authors":"B. Chakma","doi":"10.46692/9781529205169.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46692/9781529205169.005","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter analyses the evolution of SAARC and the process of regionalism in its formative phase from 1980 to 1992. SAARC strived to consolidate regionalism by adopting the ‘spillover’ idea of neo-functionalism which it borrowed from the early days of European regionalism. The SAARC states started the process of regionalism by focusing cooperation on non-controversial, functional areas. The objective was to incrementally deepen regional cooperation and build a peaceful regional environment. Evidently, SAARC added many new areas of regional cooperation during this phase. A noteworthy aspect of South Asian regionalism during this phase was that the SAARC states did not start cooperation in core economic areas, rather they based regional cooperation only on functional areas.","PeriodicalId":405087,"journal":{"name":"South Asian Regionalism","volume":"313 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124443653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-07-01DOI: 10.46692/9781529205169.007
B. Chakma
This chapter analyses sub-regional and trans-regional cooperation that has developed within the framework of SAARC and beyond and their implications for South Asian regionalism. Within the framework of SAARC, the South Asian Growth Quadrangle (SAGQ) which came to be known as ‘Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal’ (BBIN) initiative was approved in the 1997 Male summit. To support the sub-regional initiative, the Asian Development Bank initiated the ‘South Asian Sub-regional Cooperation’ (SASEC). Beyond SAARC, the ‘Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar Economic Corridor’ (BCIM-EC) and the ‘Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation’ (BIMSTEC) have emerged which are trans-national in character. These initiatives have got implications for SAARC-led regionalism which are analysed in this chapter.
{"title":"Beyond SAARC: Sub-Regional and Trans-Regional Cooperation","authors":"B. Chakma","doi":"10.46692/9781529205169.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.46692/9781529205169.007","url":null,"abstract":"This chapter analyses sub-regional and trans-regional cooperation that has developed within the framework of SAARC and beyond and their implications for South Asian regionalism. Within the framework of SAARC, the South Asian Growth Quadrangle (SAGQ) which came to be known as ‘Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal’ (BBIN) initiative was approved in the 1997 Male summit. To support the sub-regional initiative, the Asian Development Bank initiated the ‘South Asian Sub-regional Cooperation’ (SASEC). Beyond SAARC, the ‘Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar Economic Corridor’ (BCIM-EC) and the ‘Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation’ (BIMSTEC) have emerged which are trans-national in character. These initiatives have got implications for SAARC-led regionalism which are analysed in this chapter.","PeriodicalId":405087,"journal":{"name":"South Asian Regionalism","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130532683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：