Routledge Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation in South Asia

Product Description This book examines how bilateralism and multilateralism serve as cornerstones in bringing countries together to enhance regional cooperation. It explores the unfolding dynamics of bilateral and multilateral relationships in South Asia and looks at how factors like the absence of shared identities or common threats from external sources, a lack of trust, and suspicion are manifesting as obstacles for regional cooperation. With case studies from various constituent countries, the volume studies themes such as economic cooperation in South Asia, connections through sub-regional initiatives, migration and refugee problems in the region, SAARC and terrorism, the Pashtun factor in Afghanistan–Pakistan relations, India’s interests in ASEAN and BIMSTEC, the nuclear dynamics of India–Pakistan relations, India–Bangladesh connectivity issues, Sri Lanka as a troubled island nation, and Afghanistan’s relations with the Kashmir Valley. It discusses the implications of these long-standing issues that have stood as impediments to regional cooperation and bringing new perspectives to enable greater understanding and probable solutions. A comprehensive and accessible volume, it will be useful for scholars and researchers of international relations, international trade, South Asian studies, SAARC, regional development, international and multilateral trade, political studies, geo-politics, strategic and defence studies, and peace and conflict resolution. About the Author Adluri Subramanyam Raju is Professor and former Head of the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asia Regional Cooperation (UMISARC) and Centre for South Asian Studies and Coordinator of the UGC Centre for Maritime Studies at Pondicherry University, India. He is the recipient of the Mahbub ul Haq Award (Regional Centre for Strategic Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka), the Scholar of Peace Award (Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace, New Delhi, 2002) and the Kodikara Award (Regional Centre for Strategic Studies, Colombo, 1998). He was a Salzburg Seminar Fellow (2006). He received the National Best Teacher Award (C.V.S. Krishnamurthy Theja Charities, Tirupati, 2017) and Best Teacher Award twice (Pondicherry University, 2013 and 2018). He is a member of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Third Task Force on Blue Economy. He was previously a visiting fellow at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka. He is on the editorial boards of five journals.