SZABIST

SOUTH ASIAN LITERATURE ANDSOCIETY

Lecture -12

Title

SAARC and the South Asian Common Identity

What is Identity?

Identity is a complex term, though it can be understood generally as the sense of self, sameness and continuity in personal characteristics. The distinguishing character of an individual or an object. (Merriam-Webster) The fact of being who or what a person or thing is OR the characteristics determining who or what a person or thing is. (Oxford dictionary) However, presently, no definition offers a comprehensive statement that may encompass the phenomenon or senses the term translates into.

Why complex?

Different fields of study take and may define Identity for individuals (humans) differently. For instance, in social sciences Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy, Political Sciences offer different perspectives while defining identity. Apart from a primordial approach to identity, as an ancestry phenomenon, there is a social constructivist approach to identity as well which views Identity as a formation of political, social or cultural forces/ideas.

Continued
It may then refer to: National identity Ethnic identity (or linguistic identity) Ethno-nationalist identity Cultural identity Collective identity Religious identity Gender identity Political identity (including ideological influences) Social identity Online identity

South Asia and identity crisis

South Asia has been faced with identity crisis since long. Initially, forces of nationalism provided a boost to national identities, however; South Asian societies then turned polarized on the basis of identity-related issues. There has never been a smooth and constant process of socio-political evolution. South Asian people owe their origin to varied civilizations, some of which have either faded or amalgamated giving rise to mixed race phenomenon. Political instability and weak state structure in turn increased tendencies towards strong expressions of different identities.

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Political, economic and social disparities are also one of the factors that led towards identity-related issues. Unfinished decolonization also contributed to social polarization and identity crisis. Today, South Asian societies are divided along religious, political, cultural, ethno-lingual and social lines. At regional level, South Asian states lack strong communication, faced with socio-cultural differences, religious differences are also one of the factors.

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Societies are faced with the dilemma of enemy image. States are faced with bilateral conflicts that have penetrated into societies and are translated into feelings of animosity. Power imbalance. History counts and there has never been a conscious effort to eliminate the reasons of differences between states.

SAARC and South Asian Common identity

Following and exercising regionalism in the form of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), the region is too far away from promoting a sense of common identity. While South Asian states are faced with differences and identity issues within, SAARC faces a formidable challenge and a question: Can SAARC promote a common identity? What factor(s) can lead towards a sense of common regional identity in South Asia? Can unity with diversity work at regional level? Is it necessary to develop a common regional identity for regionalism to work fully?

References

James D. Fearon, What is Identity, http://www.stanford.edu/~jfearon/papers/iden1v2.pdf Ajeet Cour and Noor Zaheer (eds.), Eight Neighbours: Together We Survive (New Delgi: FOSWAL, 2011).