The International Politics of Southern Asia

There is now a major policy convergence among the major nations of southern Asia: all are pro-economic growth, pro-international trade, against the retention of excessive governmentally-imposed barriers to trade and growth, and generally against tensions and conflicts that may inhibit trade and growth. These policies are backed by a common commitment to economic liberalization at home and to employing market-oriented methods to achieve high economic growth. But the set of security definitions guiding the Southern Asian states creates opportunities for conflict as well as cooperation. A core characteristic of the region is what Southern Asian states often define as intrusive roles played by certain extra-regional nation-states, namely the United States and Russia.