Introduction: Contradictions in South Asia
Mostly discussions on South Asia start with a phrase that ‘South Asia is one of the least integrated regions of the world’. Although negative it is an appropriate characterisation of a region that despite having so much of socio-cultural and historical commonalities struggled to cooperate and integrate. Even from a purely economic perspective, South Asia showed some remarkable growth rate in the last two decades but failed to improve the intra-regional trade. These are some notable contradictions of the region. Several other contradictions define South Asia as economic growth has not sufficiently translated into economic development. South Asia in demographic terms is one of the youngest regions of the world. Economically it is one of the biggest and booming markets. Still, South Asians do not afford to have a balanced nutritious diet. South Asia is close to Sub-Saharan Africa in the Global Hunger Index (Global Hunger Index 2019 ). Similarly, except for Sri Lanka (71), all other South Asian countries are out of the top 100 rankings in the Human Development Index (HDI). The region has two nuclear powers who disagree on most issues and unwilling to resolve their differences. These realities of South Asia makes it a region full of contradictions.
The ultimate question is how to deal with these contradictions and use regional potential to the fullest for the welfare of the people. As per a World Bank report, regional integration in South Asia is important for the future economic growth of the region (Ahmed and Ghani 2007). Better connectivity, resolution of border disputes, and promotion of cross-border regional trade can change the economic fate of South Asia. Needless to emphasise how regionalism helped in the economic revival of post-war Europe. Even Southeast Asia is an example to show that regional integration positively contributed to the development of the region. There are several merits of regionalism but it is a voluntary process. It cannot be entrusted from the top although could be pushed from below. Regionalism theoretically stands for sharing/pooling of sovereignty. The post-colonial states of South Asia remained sensitive to issues related to sovereignty and politically stand for non-interference in domestic affairs. Such a position on sovereignty by South Asian countries reflects the general anxiety of developing countries. The point here is that things have changed in the region over the last couple of decades. South Asian countries linked themselves with global economies, opened their markets and moved far away for old days of protectionism. Despite this openness, the regional mistrust continues, and in some cases, it has grown over the years.
The India Question
Due to its geographic size, demography, economic power and strategic depth India is perceived by many as a regional hegemon. Any such analysis requires critical engagement. Let us objectively evaluate India’s role in South Asian integration. New Delhi initially ignored the region. The biggest architect of the post-independent foreign policy of India, the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was internationalist. He had a different approach for the region and favoured Asian regionalism. South Asia doesn’t draw his attention that much. Jawaharlal Nehru’s faith in Asian regionalism was shattered after the Chinese invasion (1962). Not only China, India twice faced aggression from Pakistan in 1965 and 1971. In 1962 India got a setback, in 1965 and 1971 wars it decisively defeated Pakistan. Afterwards, Pakistan avoided any direct military confrontation (except in Kargil 1999) but waged a proxy war against India. The Chinese invasion, aggression from Pakistan and continued proxy war supported by Pakistan shaped a part of the Indian imagination of South Asia. The recent events at Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC) only keep adding to India’s security concerns. No wonders, successive Indian governments remain cautious in their approach to South Asian regionalism, one of the factors remains Pakistan. At the same time, India has fairly good neighbourly ties with other South Asian countries. While one can take several other factors into consideration, except for Pakistan, there is no major deadlock on issues between India and other South Asian countries. Even recent controversies like India-Nepal border issue can be resolved through dialogue.
Prospects of South Asian Regionalism
On South Asian regionalism there are also a couple of necessary facts that require our attention. Firstly, we are late comer, started the regional integration process in 1985. In Europe, it started in the 1950s and in Southeast Asia, it started in the 1960s. Secondly, we were largely regarded as closed economies and therefore hesitant to endorse any idea of economic regionalism. Both of these are our past. We are in 2020 and the regionalisation process started some three and a half decades back. At the same time, South Asian economies are in a race with each other to attract foreign capital. The only point that remained unchanged in the security apprehensions of India and Pakistan’s rigid position on Kashmir.
We are also in an interesting phase where experts are not sure about the post-COVID world order. Many have already written an obituary of globalisation and showed a preference for regionalism. While globalisation was under stress in the last few years, COVID – 19 may expedite its complications. Regionalism is a solution and likely to give respite to post-pandemic ailing economies of the world. South Asia doesn’t have a good track record on the human development front, made some advances in the last few decades but presently reeling under uncertainty. Every South Asian country needs to grow to support its citizens. There have been big Chinese investment in the region, and in all likelihood, it will continue but with stringent conditions. Even in countries like Pakistan, there are voices on rising Chinese debt. Overdependence on China is not a good idea and some of the South Asian countries are already realising it.
The easy solution for South Asian countries is to regionalise. Going by experience a suggestion of regional cooperation in South Asia is easier said than done, but the timing for taking some bold decisions is most opportune. Indian Prime Minister already gave a call for South Asian countries to join hands to face the socio-economic challenges arising due to massive disruption caused by COVID -19 pandemic. The COVID -19 emergency fund is a step in the right direction. Although Pakistan raised some objections to the procedures of COVID-19 emergency fund, the rest of South Asia is united on this issue. Rome is not built in a day, and the prospects of South Asian regionalism will not change in the next few years. There is a need for a very sensitive as well as an active approach and in this India has to take the lead.
India has the economic capability to undertake some relevant initiatives in the region as already reflected in the COVID-19 emergency fund. India, over the years, also acquired a development role in the region, helping in the rebuilding of Afghanistan and financing several relevant projects in other South Asian countries. New Delhi showed a willingness to promote regional cooperation as underlined in non-reciprocity of the Gujral doctrine and the neighbourhood first policy of the present government. While these policies are appreciated by many, there is also criticism about the delivery deficit of Indian projects. At times solely depending on bureaucracy for South Asian policy also makes things rigid. New Delhi must improve on these fronts and should also reach out to different sections in South Asia. There is a need for a wider engagement with academia, media persons, activists, and artists. Unfortunately, this is absent in India’s regional approach. New Delhi must learn something from the European example where informal activities are equally endorsed and supported by the European Union institutions. We cannot ignore that South Asia is also a region of identity contestations and partitions. We have to prosper but at the same time need to celebrate our commonalities. Only such an effort can truly integrate South Asia.
Other South Asian countries must also change their outlook towards India. We need to move away from these contradictions that had obstructed South Asian regionalism. Time and again, international agencies reposed faith in the potential of this region. Let us start the process of reforming the region forever.
References
Ahmed, Sadiq , and Ejaz Ghani. 2007. "South Asia's Growth and Regional Integration: An Overview." In South Asia Growth and Regional Integration, by Sadiq Ahmed and Ejaz Ghani, 3-42. New Delhi: Macmillan Publisher.
Global Hunger Index . 2019 . "Global Hunger Index ." Accessed August 20 , 2020. https://www.globalhungerindex.org/results.html.
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