Since World War II, while nation-states have been emerging with greater differentiation in terms of political and cultural identities, there is a growing tendency among them for cooperation and integration. There is also a growing realization among states that their interests are convergent with each other’s. Regionalism has become a viable policy alternative for the survival of the new states of Asia, Africa and Latin America. Indeed the growing interdependence of the developing states has popularized the regional approach. Until the 1980s, South Asia was the only region of the world that did not have a collective forum where the various nations could get together as a group to discuss mutual concerns. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is one of the latest demonstrations of the growing interdependence among developing nations. At various stages of its growth, however, SAARC has faced recurrent crises 11that have posed a serious threat to its very existence. The multifarious crises of regional cooperation in South Asia are, however, very different from those of other regions.
Haider, Zaglul (2001) Crises of Regional Cooperation in South Asia, Security Dialogue 32 (4): 423–437.
