International Relations Theory and South Asian Regionalism

Abstract

This chapter illustrates the theoretical implications of this study for International Relations theories and their assumptions about regionalism which have been presented at the outset of this book. It assesses whether the theoretical assumptions of the three mainstream theories about the rise, process, outcome and effects of regionalism can explain South Asian regionalism. As will be analysed, the assumptions of standard IR theories cannot be applied in the case of South Asian regionalism. So, what theoretical insight can we draw from this case? It also illustrates what the lessons of this study tell us about the state of IR theories in general. It is generally posited that the current IR theories are Western-oriented and have been built based on the experiences of the West, hence there are questions about their universal applicability. Given such a context, there has developed a debate about a ‘Global IR’. Can the analysis of this study contribute to this debate?