Contemporary South Asia

South Asia has gained a lot of prominence worldwide along with the Indian subcontinent due to its geopolitical importance and strategic location, flourishing Democracy, etc.As soon as two nations in this region, i.e., India and Pakistan became Nuclear states, this region suddenly became the focus of global geopolitics.This makes the region very turbulent. Owing to the widespread conflicts in various dimensions such as border disputes, water sharing disputes, insurgency, ethnic strife, and resource sharing, among various states of the region, turbulence of all kinds is observed in this region.  Moreover, differences in the region’s political systems are defining South Asia. This brings this region under the geopolitical lens quite often.However, due to the availability of natural resources and huge market potential, it’s a well-known fact that this region can develop and prosper given the states cordially cooperate and coexist with each other.

Defining South Asia:

1. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are the states that are usually recognized as part of South Asia.
2. Various physical features like the Himalayas, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal provide a natural advantage as well as protection to this region.
3. Due to these natural features shielding this region, a distinct linguistic, social, and cultural identity has developed, which is particular and characteristic to South Asia.
4. Although, the boundaries of these regions are not demarcated in any of the directions. Where Afghanistan and Myanmar are often discussed as part of the region, China despite its geographic isolation of this region is considered an important geopolitical player.
5. Despite the diverse cultures and identities of various forms coexisting in the South Asian region, it represents a single geopolitical unit from a global geopolitical standpoint. It is interesting to note the differences in the region’s political systems. Let us discuss them next.

Differences in the region’s political systems:

Various countries in this region have had various forms of political systems. These are:

Since their independence from British colonialism, India and Sri Lanka have had a democratic system. During the post-Cold War period, Bangladesh has remained an independent democracy.

• Since 2008, a civilian government has been running Pakistan
• In the year 2008, Nepal constituted itself as the Democratic Republic
• Bhutan has had a constitutional monarchy since 2008
• The Maldives voted unanimously to make itself a Multi-Party System in June 2005

South Asia and Democracy:

1. Despite various challenges that the countries in this region have faced, all have been committed to the idea of democracy as the preferred form of Polity in their respective countries.
2. South Asia has eradicated the misconception that democracy could flourish and survive only in prosperous countries.
3. Today, the meaning of democracy has broadened in its perspective at the world stage due to the contributions and experiences of South Asia.

SAARC and SAFTA

South Asia’s countries, despite their frequent disputes, recognise the importance of cooperation and friendly relations among themselves. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a major regional effort that aims to promote cooperation among South Asian countries through intergovernmental procedures. It all began in 1985. Unfortunately, due to ongoing political conflicts, SAARC has not enjoyed much success. SAARC countries signed the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), pledging the formation of a free trade zone for all of South Asia.

If all of the countries in the region allow unrestricted cross-border trade, South Asia might enter a new era of peace and collaboration. With this mindset in mind, SAFTA was founded. The agreement was signed in 2004 and came into force on January 1, 2006. SAFTA aims to cut trade tariffs by 20 percent by 2007. Some of our countries, on the  contrary, are worried that SAFTA will allow India to “invade” the markets and exert influence over respective societies and governments through business ventures and commercial presence. India feels that SAFTA will benefit all countries involved economically, and that a region that trades more freely will be better able to work on political issues.

Conclusion

Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka all have state identities that have hampered study of South Asia’s diversity. By providing research and analysis on contemporary issues affecting the entire area, Contemporary South Asia wants to change that. Its goal is to increase awareness that South Asia is more than the sum of its parts, and that it matters not only to the region’s states and peoples, but also to the rest of the world, as well as to address the region’s major challenges from a regional and interdisciplinary perspective.