Saarc
SAARC: Origin, Growth, Potential and Achievements
Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal∗ Introduction
The world today is at a turning point. The changes that we are undergoing are global in scope, revolutionary, fundamental and structural in content. As we have entered the 21st century a sense of optimism prevails for attaining peace and prosperity through effective role-play of regional as well as global organizations. Many view Asia as having a variety of characteristics in common with Europe of the nineteenth century: underdeveloped international institutions, mixed domestic orders, rising nationalism, high but differential growth rates, and bitter, emotional rivalries between insecure neighbours. The success of states in today’s world is not so much measured in terms of capacity for defending borders or creating uniquely national institutions, but in terms of ability to adapt to regional and global trends, promote exports, attract investments, and skilled labour, provide a beneficial environment for transnational companies, build attractive institutions of research and higher learning, wield political influence on the regional and global scene, and also brand the nation culturally in the international market-place.1 Consequently, regional associations are fast becoming an important and effective new scene for political and economic interaction in the world. In this new environment the importance of regional community and functional groupings has been heightened. Regional, political and religious
∗ 1
Govt. Post-Graduate College, Asghar Mall, Rawalpindi. Stein Tonnesson, “Globalising National States”, Nations and Nationalism, No.10, 2004, p.180.
128 http://www.nihcr.edu.pk
Pakistan Journal of History & Culture, Vol.XXVII/2 (2006)
blocs of nations now provide platforms for a number of countries to exercise influence in global affairs. Interest in greater regional economic integration, fuelled partly by the achievement of an economic union and a single currency
Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal∗ Introduction
The world today is at a turning point. The changes that we are undergoing are global in scope, revolutionary, fundamental and structural in content. As we have entered the 21st century a sense of optimism prevails for attaining peace and prosperity through effective role-play of regional as well as global organizations. Many view Asia as having a variety of characteristics in common with Europe of the nineteenth century: underdeveloped international institutions, mixed domestic orders, rising nationalism, high but differential growth rates, and bitter, emotional rivalries between insecure neighbours. The success of states in today’s world is not so much measured in terms of capacity for defending borders or creating uniquely national institutions, but in terms of ability to adapt to regional and global trends, promote exports, attract investments, and skilled labour, provide a beneficial environment for transnational companies, build attractive institutions of research and higher learning, wield political influence on the regional and global scene, and also brand the nation culturally in the international market-place.1 Consequently, regional associations are fast becoming an important and effective new scene for political and economic interaction in the world. In this new environment the importance of regional community and functional groupings has been heightened. Regional, political and religious
∗ 1
Govt. Post-Graduate College, Asghar Mall, Rawalpindi. Stein Tonnesson, “Globalising National States”, Nations and Nationalism, No.10, 2004, p.180.
128 http://www.nihcr.edu.pk
Pakistan Journal of History & Culture, Vol.XXVII/2 (2006)
blocs of nations now provide platforms for a number of countries to exercise influence in global affairs. Interest in greater regional economic integration, fuelled partly by the achievement of an economic union and a single currency