Common South Asian Identity and Regional Integration in South Asia

Abstract

This paper explores the avenues to evolve a common identity, in South Asia. This paper has been divided into five parts. In the first part, Identity and Regional Integration, the concepts of identity and regional integration have been defined and the need for a common identity for regional integration has been discussed. The second part, analyses South Asia as a region and the need for developing a common identity there. The third part, explores the different types of identities existing in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres of the South Asian region. In the fourth part, the challenges in evolving a common regional identity in South Asia, a region marked by diversity and myriad number of complex problems in different spheres has been discussed. By way of conclusion, it has been argued that a common identity is much required for furthering the process of regional integration in South Asia, which should be built on the common indicators of human development in the social sector as well as upon the common values, lifestyle and socio-cultural norms of the peoples of this region, like the ASEAN vision of an ASEAN Socio Cultural Community (ASCC).