Regional Organizations
Chapter – 9
Table of Contents
- Regional organizations have proliferated worldwide after WWII.
- States in a particular region form organizations to foster economic, security, and political cooperation.
- Initially, the primary motive of many regional organizations post-WWII was to provide security guarantees for members.
- After the Cold War, regional organizations shifted focus to economic development and cooperation.
- Free Trade Areas (FTA) are created by regional organizations to encourage economic cooperation among members.
- Regional organizations aim to address the needs, desires, and aspirations of people in the region.
- The study of regional organizations has become significant in International Relations.
SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION (SAARC)
Origin and Members
- SAARC was established on 8 December 1985 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- The idea of forming a regional organization in South Asia was proposed by President Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh in the early 1980s.
- SAARC was officially launched in 1985 with seven members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
- Afghanistan joined SAARC in 2007, bringing the total number of member states to eight.
- China, Iran, and Myanmar have expressed interest in becoming full members of SAARC, with their candidacies under consideration.
- SAARC has granted observer status to countries including Australia, China, European Union, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea, and the United States.
- Russia has shown interest in becoming an observer.
Objectives of the SAARC
- SAARC Charter outlines the objectives signed by the Heads of Government of member-states.
- Objective 1: Serve the people of South Asia and develop their standards of living.
- Objective 2: Work for economic, social, and cultural development of the region, ensuring dignity of life for every individual.
- Objective 3: Create an atmosphere of unity and confidence among states in South Asia.
- Objective 4: Realize others’ problems through mutual trust and cooperation.
- Objective 5: Establish mutual cooperation in economic, social, cultural, scientific, and technological areas.
- Objective 6: Enhance cooperation with other developing countries globally.
- Objective 7: Increase mutual cooperation among member-states to protect South Asia’s interests in international bodies.
- Objective 8: Seek increased cooperation with all international and other regional organizations.