Topical and well-researched, this collection provides a comprehensive assessment of SAARC and provides policy directives for the future. The book points out the issues and constraints that have hindered regional cooperation in South Asia. It establishes that despite being democracies, there has been little effort by member nations to promote regional cooperation in the public domain.

It stresses that in view of the increased role that countries wish to play in globalisation, economic cooperation is the way forward. The book further argues that political will is the pivot on which the prospect of regional cooperation revolves.

Introduction: Towards New Beginnings in South Asia Eric Gonsalves Reviewing Regional Cooperation in South Asia Haroun Mir and Habib Wardak Afghanistan, SAARC and the Road Ahead Saman Kelegama Changing Face: The Trials and Fortunes of Regional Cooperation Under SAARC Amit Batra SAARC and Economic Cooperation Shyam Saran South Asia’s Mounting Ecological Challenge: Regional Cooperation is the Only Answer Akmal Hussain South Asian Cooperation: Towards a Humane World Rajesh Kharat The Significance of SAARC for Bhutan Nihal Rodrigo Peace, Security and Threats: A Balance Sheet Rasul Bakhsh Rais Politics in Pakistan Today: The Challenge of Securing Democracy Sangeeta Thapliyal Nepal’s Policy Towards SAARC Sanjay K Bhardwaj Bangladesh in SAARC: Identity Issues and Perspectives Kanak Mani Dixit Nepal, SAARC and Southasia Beena Sarwar India, Pakistan and ‘Southasia’ Sasanka Perera Anxieties of SAARC: An Experiential Reading through South Asian University Aishath Velezinee Developing a Regional Human Rights Mechanism Rakhi Sehgal South Asian Regionalism: A People’s Movement Perspective Reema Nanavaty Sewa’s Sister-to-Sister Initiative for Peace and Work Anuradha Koirala Trafficking and Vulnerabilities of Children and Women: An Analysis Namita Gokhale and Malashri Lal South Asian Literatures: Beyond Borders, across Boundaries Firdous Azim Speaking the Unspeakable or the Limits of Representability Ashok Ferrey A Broken Shard: Sri Lankan Writing in English Afsan Chowdhury, Zerrin Afza, Nabaleswar Dewan Human Rights Beyond the State: Generating Spaces for Rights in Society Faizan Mustafa Diversity Management in SAARC Countries