The Challenge of Regionalism in South Asia

Abstract

Once a regional cooperation scheme has been launched, what forces drive the process further and determine the chance of sustained success? The literature suggests that the more successful regional groupings satisfy three facilitating conditions: the existence of a benevolent hegemon, member states with strong governments, and deep commitment among ruling elites to economic liberalization. This article examines whether regional cooperation in South Asia since 1980 is characterized by these three conditions. The conclusion is that these facilitating conditions have produced three different dynamics in South Asia, contributing to a stop-and-go pattern of regional cooperation.