Yes, the South Asian integration process is in life support. The major problem is that so far the leaders of the region have failed. They framed several declarations and regional plans for more integration but that is yet to really happen. To be fair, something has moved forward, especially in the field of trade and commerce but on the front of forging a common, united South Asia, nothing significant has been achieved.
The sheer lack of political resolve among leaders to seriously walk the talk toward a stronger regional integration might take a heavy toll on the people of South Asia who, despite thousands of commonalities, are still far from thinking uniquely as “South Asian”.
The real problem is that the South Asian people do not care anything about regional integration, something understandable and regrettable at the same time. It is understandable because it is not their fault if they do not have any clue on the process of regional integration because nothing serious has happened since the establishment of SAARC. It is regrettable because they are losing out an incredible array of opportunities that could arise if the integration process could at least switch to 3rd gear, increasing the speed toward a new era of common prosperity.
Therefore, the upcoming summit should take steps to build bridges for more and better cooperation and an enhanced understanding among the citizens of South Asia. This bottom-up approach, based on the concept of people-to-people relationships, could truly be revolutionary and have a profound impact on the daily lives of citizens.
Is this vision just a mere dream? Surely, there isn’t a magic wand that is capable of suddenly changing the people’s perceptions of their neighbors and erasing the deep misconceptions still existing among South Asians. The emergence of a South Asian identity will take time but cricket, Bollywood, eating habits are strong indicators that a strong common ground already exists among the people of the region.
Of course, no one is so naïve to think that this profound evolution will happen without politics. Here enters the foresightedness of the President Nasheed of Maldives in choosing such a right topic for the summit.
The path ahead for a new South Asia is not easy, neither free from obstacles but the leaders gathering this week in the Maldives should be aware that falling again on the regional integration agenda will put a serious brake on the road toward prosperity and equality.
We are all well aware that we have entered a multi-polar era where the balance of power is quickly shifting toward a more even world. Aside from China and India, other developing countries too are already on the right track to graduate as “emerging nations” and hopefully the number of least developing countries around the world will also possibly soon reduce. More middle-income countries will take over the world economy and the current crisis in Europe and North America is a clear signpost for this change. The nations of South Asia are now on the shining path of history and their thirst of prosperity and their blossoming ambition should bring them closer and closer. Regional integration, but not only of economic nature, could be the turbo engine for their climbing to the top.
Economic integration should, of course, lead the way toward a real common market where possibly one day not only goods but also markets will be free to circulate, replicating the famous freedom of movement that is one of the major achievements of the European integration project. At the same time, South Asia cannot follow the European model where education, culture and other relevant aspects of modern European life is getting integrated at a very slow pace.
The leaders of South Asia should set forward a very ambitious target that should mix together economic, financial and political integration together with a progressive people-to-people contact agenda. The fight against hunger, inequality and poverty should of course remain the ultimate goal but the only sure way to turn the South Asian nations in beacons of hope and prosperity is through a deep economic, political and cultural integration.
An elected regional parliament is still a daydream but a permanent regional assembly composed of national parliamentarians should be in the list of immediately doable things. The assembly could start with a consultative status expressing opinions on the most relevant issues debated by the leaders and progressively grow with more oversight and control over the leaders of SAARC.
The “Conclave of SAARC Parliamentarians” discussed last year in the Thimphu Summit if implemented will offer a signal in this direction although the need of the hour is something serious resembling a regional parliament. Anything less will not serve the purpose. Other institutions should be considered by learning from the mistakes of the European experience.
More opportunities for discussions among the heads of government should be pursued during the year, also with informal one-day gatherings that would serve to foster an enabling framework of understanding based on personal trust and bond. A comprehensive agenda of action should be determined, not through obscure working committees but through national debates that will have to involve the national parliaments and civil societies.
Complementary but essential to this political process, regional initiatives in the field of education and culture should ensure that the integration process does not alienate the people. The creation of a South Asian University is a welcome step but not the only way to forge an integrated educational and cultural space.
The SAARC Secretariat led by Fathimath Dhiyana Saeed, a young and brilliant diplomat from Maldives, can ensure that youth and the new generation is not bypassed but rather become the foundations of the new South Asia. The experience of SAARC Youth Award could be used as a platform for a regional program for youth with seed funds allocated region wide to promote cross country projects and initiatives and cultural exchanges among youth.
The ‘South Asia Forum”, a supposed platform of eminent personalities that will offer inputs on the ways to charter the regional integration process that was proclaimed in the 2010 summit, should be seen as a powerful opportunity to kick off a debate in this direction. Also, here, political will is necessary to truly steer the debate and consequentially take bold decisions.
A new idea could be the celebration of a SAARC Day, maybe to celebrate the founding of the association. The day could be commemorated as a public holiday in the entire region where culture, art, food of other South Asian countries should be showcased and appreciated. This kind of event will help people to gain more understanding of their neighboring countries. The seed of a real integration and common identity will emerge out of these opportunities. True, all these require huge investments but it is an investment for common prosperity.
The giants of the region, India and Pakistan, should look at the way Germany and France, the engine of the European Project, have been leading from the front. The leaders of Islamabad and Delhi should understand that forging a common path is the only winning formula to walk over years of misunderstandings and revelries. The smaller nations of South Asian can easily fit in the process of integration, not as “underdogs” but as equal partners in what could become one of the most incredible examples of South to South cooperation.
The path ahead for a new South Asia is not easy, neither free from obstacles but the leaders gathering this week in the Maldives should be aware that falling again on the regional integration agenda will put a serious brake on the road toward prosperity and equality.
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