Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies
From SAARC Rhetoric to Executable Projects
Revisiting the promise and pitfalls of South Asian regionalism, this collection argues that cooperation advances when objectives are specific, measurable and visibly beneficial to citizens. Contributors map the “new dimensions” that were gaining traction at the time—subregional corridors, cross-border power trade, standards convergence, higher-education partnerships, and disaster management—contrasting them with legacy agendas stalled by politics. The book details institutional design lessons from other regions while cautioning against copy-paste solutions: South Asia’s diversity and trust deficits demand incremental, verifiable steps and strong domestic coalitions. Case chapters evaluate pilots in customs modernization, transport facilitation, health surveillance and cultural exchange, drawing out what succeeded, what failed and why. The political economy lens remains central: winners and losers must be offset by compensation, clear timelines and transparency. By centering deliverables over declarations, the volume reframes cooperation as a method of problem solving rather than an episodic summit ritual.
