South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC): A Comprehensive Multidimensional Analysis

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), a regional organization established to promote economic growth, social progress, and cultural integration among South Asia’s eight member states. Since its inception in 1985, SAARC has grappled with challenges arising from persistent political tensions, economic disparities, and institutional inefficiencies. This paper provides a multidimensional analysis for this paper by exploring the historical evolution, stages of regional integration, and complex geopolitical dynamics. Besides, both realist and liberal theoretical frameworks are used to provide basis of analysis to evaluate SAARC’s achievements and shortcomings. Moreover, the paper examines the influence of major external actors and global trends on regional cooperation and proposes actionable recommendations to enhance SAARC’s potential as a catalyst for integrated development and stability in South Asia.

Keywords: SAARC, regional integration, South Asia, geopolitical dynamics, realism, liberalism, external influences