Challenges to Regional Cooperation in South Asia: Ideological Divergence, Economic Asymmetry, and Political Distrust Introduction The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), established in 1985, embodies the promise of regional integration in a geopolitically fragmented and economically diverse subcontinent. Yet, the organization has persistently struggled to translate its institutional framework into effective policy outcomes. … Continue reading Critically examine the challenges to regional cooperation in South Asia in light of the assertion that SAARC’s effectiveness is constrained by the absence of ideological cohesion and economic interdependence among its members. To what extent do historical rivalries, asymmetric economic structures, and political distrust undermine the prospects for meaningful regional integration?