Connecting Borders and Boundaries

South Asia, a region teeming with nearly 2 billion people and vast potential, remains one of the least integrated areas globally. Economic stagnation, political discord, and stringent borders have hindered its ability to foster connectivity, collaboration, and growth. This book delves into these challenges, offering an in-depth analysis of the region's border policies, trade barriers, and the untapped promise of regionalism. This edited volume explores issues and challenges through the lens of Border Studies, addressing the historical, political, and economic factors that divide the region. It also extends beyond South Asia, examining how robust connections with Southeast and Central Asia could transform the region. It investigates key initiatives like the Bhutan-Bangladesh-India-Nepal Motor Vehicle Agreement (BBIN-MVA), highlighting their potential and the hurdles they face.

Through critical perspectives, it tackles complex questions of sustainability, security, and cooperation. It examines India's pivotal role in operationalizing its Act East Policy, the enduring India-Pakistan rivalry, and the implications of unfulfilled connectivity projects. It is a timely exploration of the possibilities and challenges of uniting South Asia with its neighbors, offering actionable insights for policymakers, scholars, and readers interested in reshaping the economic and geopolitical landscape of Asia.

A must-read for anyone passionate about the future of regional integration and global collaboration.

Explores unique perspectives on regional integration by bringing in insights from border studies Looks beyond regional integration in South Asia with inter-regional transactions between Southeast Asia & Central Asia Explores border policies, environmental cooperation, science diplomacy & sub-regional efforts for regional integration

Autorentext

Dr. Vaishali Raghuvanshi, Assistant Professor, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India

Dr. Emmanuel Brunet-Jailly, Professor & Jean Monnet Chair in European Union Policy and Governance, University of Victoria, B.C. Victoria, Cananda

Dr. Dhananjay Tripathi, Associate Professor, South Asian University, New Delhi, India

Inhalt

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Debordering in South Asia Possibilities and Challenges.- Chapter 3: South Asian Borders Political Masculinities and the Myth of the Motherland.- Chapter 4: The challenges for regional integration and connectivity Lessons from the South.- Chapter 5: Indias Connectivity with Southeast Asia Configuring the Impetuses.- Chapter 6: BBIN as a Gateway of Opportunity for Northeast India.- Chapter 7: Understanding Bangladesh Myanmar Border Cooperation and Challenges.- Chapter 8: Sikkim Nepal Border Connectivity Exploring New Border Prospects in the Region.- Chapter 9: The Kartarpur Corridor as a Model for Cross border Connectivity and Cultural Exchange.- Chapter 10: Crossing Maritime Borders Challenges and Solution A Case Study of Indian and Sri Lankan Waters.- Chapter 11: A Green Asian Century Potential of India China Geo Economic Relationship.- Chapter 12: Border Area Development A Comparative Study of Central and South Asia.