CSS 2011 Solved Current Affairs Past Papers | Recommendations to Make SAARC an Effective Organization
The following question of CSS Current Affairs 2011 is solved by Sir Ammar Hashmi, the best Current Affairs Coach, on the guided pattern of Sir Syed Kazim Ali, which he taught to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. This solved past paper question is uploaded to help aspirants understand how to crack a topic or question, write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.
Question Breakdown
This question requires us to extensively explain the issues in SAARC’s framework and key lessons to be learned from the European Union.
Outline
1-Introduction
2-A cursory glance at SAARC
3-Recommendations for SAARC to enhance regional integration
- ✓Economic integration: a precursor to regionalism
- ✓Thriving win-win relationship among member states
- ✓Pursuing market diversity
- ✓Institutional development
- ✓Concrete mechanism for conflict resolution
- ✓Addressing Contemporary Challenges
- ✓Human development through exchange programs
4-Critical analysis
5-Conclusion
Introduction
In the era of technological advancement and economic competition, regionalism has been the center of focus of nation-states to achieve and preserve national interests. Several regions of the world have thwarted their intraregional conflicts to secure regional integration. The glaring examples are the East Asian Community (EAC), the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN), the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and the European Union (EU). As a result, the countries in these regions have been successful in securing regional peace and national aspirations. However, the case of SAARC is strikingly different. Besides its establishment to enhance regional cooperation, the South Asian alliance has remained vulnerable to intra-regional political conflicts. Therefore, trans-regionalism has flourished, leaving the South Asian association in a paralyzed state. On the other hand, the EU that emerged from the European Steel and Coal Community represents a pragmatic example of sound regionalism in modern history. Significant economic integration, trade diversity, conflict resolution, and inter-regional cooperation have been numerous ingredients behind the EU’s prosperity.
A cursory glance at the SAARC
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation was founded in 1985 to foster regional connectivity and integration among its member states. Initiatives like the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) and Integrated Programme of Action (IPA) have been taken to enhance regional cooperation. However, political conflicts among member states, lack of a robust institutional framework, and issues in the association’s charter have evaporated the required expectations. Since 2014, no summit has been convened, showing the fragility of the South Asian Association and lacking integration among member states.
Recommendations for SAARC to enhance regional integration
- Economic integration: a precursor to regionalization
Economic integration among member states is the backbone of strengthening regionalism. In the case of the European Union (EU), it has capitalized incentives like tariff reduction and free movement of goods and services to boost economic cooperation. However, SAARC has not been able to achieve so. According to a World Bank report, mutual trade among SAARC countries constitutes only 5% of all regional trade. On the contrary, trade volume among EU countries has surpassed 2.3 Trillion euros showing a 30% rise over the past five years. Therefore, SAARC countries have to enhance economic integration by capitalizing SAFTA agreement to strengthen their regional cooperation.
- Thriving Win-Win Relationship among member states
Regional political tensions have been responsible for the paralyzed state of the SAARC. For instance, the historical conflict between India and Pakistan and India’s dominant ambitions have polarized regional cooperation. On the other hand, EU countries have achieved political harmony through pluralism and inclusivity. France and Germany have thwarted their hegemonic interests through the 1963 peace treaty, showcasing a win-win relationship to enhance regional connectivity. Thus, SAARC countries, specifically India, have to approach multilateralism to foster regional integration.
- Pursuing market diversity
In the era of globalization, trade diversity promotes economic integration. Contrary to this, a lack of market diversity results in economic competition, thus weakening economic connectivity. Ironically, SAARC countries mainly export textiles and agricultural products, embroiling them in a constant phase of economic competition and promoting trans-regionalism. However, the EU reflects a strong case of market diversity ranging from agriculture to automobiles, Artificial Intelligence, and renewable energy. Hence, SAARC countries must diversify their trade potential, strengthening regional integration rather than trans-regionalism.
- Institutional development
Robust institutionalization has been instrumental to regional integration. It promotes harmony through checks and balances on regional issues. Unfortunately, SAARC lacks a functional institutional framework to address regional tensions and cultivate inclusivity. Thus, the association has been confronting regional polarization since its establishment. However, the EU is a glaring example of vivid institutional development, fostering regional cooperation. For example, the establishment of the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Council underscores the pragmatism of policy implementation to enhance regional cooperation. Therefore, SAARC has to formulate institutional development like the EU to enhance regional coordination.
- Concrete mechanism for conflict resolution
In the SAARC charter, there is no mechanism to resolve regional disputes. It stresses conflict management through bilateral efforts between member states. Thus, the association has not experienced any significant progress relative to other regional organizations.On the other hand, the EU has significant procedures to maintain regional harmony by addressing regional conflicts. The Court of Justice of the European Union has the authority to convene its jurisdiction on regional issues, liable to every member state. Hence, in the same manner, the SAARC has to incorporate a specific mechanism to address intra-regional tensions and encourage the inclusion of small states in regional cooperation.
- Addressing contemporary challenges
In the contemporary era, robust regional integration prevails by addressing multifaceted challenges like climate change, gender equality, and extremism. Ironically, SAARC has no foundational agreements or declarations to confront these issues through regional cooperation. Nonetheless, the EU has shown commitment to global issues. For example, the 2021 European Climate Law obligates the union to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Similarly, the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 shows a commitment to end Gender Based Violence, and to achieve gender equality in different sectors. Thus, SAARC countries must stimulate momentum to address different issues at regional and global levels to enhance regional harmony and cooperation.
- Human development through exchange programs
In the rapidly modernizing world focusing on human values and security, human development is the cornerstone of regional and national integration. Surely, the EU’s emphasis on human development through education, health, and employment has signified and cemented its regional integration. Various initiatives have been launched to enhance regional connectivity, including sports, education, and cultural exchange programs. For example, Erasmus + and Youth Employment Initiative are prominent examples of these initiatives. However, the SAARC lags in this perspective having no notable exchange programs. Therefore, to strengthen regional cooperation, SAARC countries must concentrate on human development through cultural and educational exchange programs.
Critical analysis
The case study of the SAARC showcases a glaring example of how organizational values decipher its fate. Despite multiple commitments to boost regional coordination, the association has not materialized its objectives. Certainly, the reasons are clear: there is a lack of institutional development and mandate in the SAARC’s charter to resolve regional conflicts. In addition, India’s hegemonic ambitions and geopolitical factors in the form of growing Indian-United States relations have further subjugated regional connectivity. Besides, existing demographic inequalities and the presence of great powers have garnered a sense of insecurity among small states like Nepal and Bhutan, jeopardizing regional interests.
Conclusion
Conclusively, the European Union (EU) offers a blueprint for the SAARC to strengthen regional coordination multifacetedly. To illustrate, enhanced economic integration, market diversity, institutional development for pragmatic policy making and implementation, and thwarting political interests for regional cooperation have been the keys to achieving regional integration objectives. The Paris Peace Treaty in 1963, signed between the historic rivals France and Germany resonates as a clear example for Pakistan and India to thrive in friendly relations to achieve regional harmony. Thus, the SAARC has to pursue amendments to its charter and foster economic cooperation through trade diversity to achieve its objectives.
CSS Solved Past Papers’ Essays
Looking for the last ten years of CSS and PMS Solved Essays and want to know how Sir Kazim’s students write and score the highest marks in the essays’ papers? Then, click on the CSS Solved Essays to start reading them.
CSS Solved Essays
CSS Solved General Science & Ability Past Papers
Want to read the last ten years’ General Science & Ability Solved Past Papers to learn how to attempt them and to score high? Let’s click on the link below to read them all freely. All past papers have been solved by Pakistan’s top CSS GSA coach having the highest score of their students.
General Science & Ability Solved Past Papers
