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The Formative Years: 1980–92

This chapter analyses the evolution of SAARC and the process of regionalism in its formative phase from 1980 to 1992. SAARC strived to consolidate regionalism by adopting the ‘spillover’ idea of neo-functionalism which it borrowed from the early days of European regionalism. The SAARC states started the process of regionalism by focusing cooperation on non-controversial, functional areas. The objective was to incrementally deepen regional cooperation and build a peaceful regional environment. Evidently, SAARC added many new areas of regional cooperation during this phase. A noteworthy aspect of South Asian regionalism during this phase was that the SAARC states did not start cooperation in core economic areas, rather they based regional cooperation only on functional areas.