The EU and SAARC: The Identity Question

The authors make a comparative study of two regional organisations—the European Union (and its predecessor the European Community) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation whose creation and agenda were partly inspired by the former. They examine whether these organisations have formed, influenced and promoted a common identity among their citizens. There are divergent views among scholars on whether these bodies foster a regional identity and if that is helping to achieve regional integration. While both Europe and South Asia developed an early awareness of cultural and political unity (through the Holy Roman Empire and India's ancient religious and epic literature respectively) there are also strong nationalistic traditions and ideologies which stand in the way of building integrated regional communities.