REGIONAL PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS FOR COOPERATION IN SOUTH ASIA

This comprehensive analysis examines the persistent regional problems and emerging prospects for cooperation in South Asia during the late 1980s. The article explores the complex interplay of political tensions, security concerns, economic disparities, and historical legacies that have shaped regional dynamics in the post-colonial period. The research investigates the performance of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) since its establishment and analyzes the factors that have constrained deeper regional integration. The study assesses specific regional challenges including interstate conflicts, ethnic tensions, economic competition, and environmental security issues. The article examines recent developments that offer potential for enhanced cooperation, including economic liberalization trends, confidence-building measures, and changing great power relations. The research also evaluates alternative frameworks for regional cooperation and identifies strategic priorities for strengthening South Asian regionalism. Furthermore, the analysis considers the implications of regional dynamics for individual member states and for South Asia's position in the global system.

South Asian regional cooperation faced both persistent challenges and emerging opportunities during the late 1980s, with this article providing a comprehensive analysis of regional problems and cooperation prospects. The research begins by examining the historical context of regional relations in South Asia, analyzing how colonial legacies, partition traumas, and subsequent conflicts have shaped contemporary regional dynamics. The analysis explores the establishment and early performance of SAARC, assessing how the organization has navigated the complex balance between regional cooperation and bilateral tensions among member states. The article investigates specific regional problems including the India-Pakistan rivalry, ethnic conflicts with cross-border dimensions, water sharing disputes, and economic competition in global markets. The study examines security concerns that affect regional cooperation, including nuclear proliferation risks, conventional military balances, and internal conflicts with regional implications. The research assesses economic dimensions of regional relations, analyzing trade patterns, investment flows, and development disparities that both constrain and motivate cooperation initiatives. Based on the comprehensive assessment, the article identifies emerging opportunities for enhanced regional cooperation, including economic complementarities, environmental challenges requiring collective action, and changing international context that creates new incentives for regional collaboration. The findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of regional cooperation in complex geopolitical environments and contribute to understanding how historical conflicts and contemporary opportunities interact in shaping regional relations.