South Asian Survey
Call for Papers on Special Issue: SAARC and Geopolitics

Guest Editor: Dr. Swagato Ganguly

Thomas Friedman, in his book The Lexus and the Olive Tree (1999), had posited the Lexus as a symbol of economic integration, while the olive tree served as a symbol for the historical, political, religious and social aspects which often tend to present obstacles to economic integration. If the logic of the Lexus was to emphasize the reality of globalization and new market conditions, the olive tree represented a need for equivalent national responsiveness. The metaphors used by Friedman capture all too well the realities of the South Asian region – how it continues to conscript itself as a political economy of partial gain in the global integration process. The South Asian region has had a shared history and culture; it is positioned as a strong consumer market base with consistent GDP growth rates, of 5-6%, over the past couple of decades. In terms of high demographic dividend, the region has among the largest working-age populations and the milieu to foster entrepreneurship. Despite these similarities, South Asia is one of the least integrated regions of the world. SAARC nations have historically been marked by cross-border disputes, allegations of infiltration and violations of sovereign rights, religious extremism, refugee crises and human rights violations.


At the same time, there have been major efforts to ensure regional peace through strengthening of bilateral ties, free trade agreements, treaties of regional cooperation, and cultural and educational exchanges. This special issue invites scholarly submissions on the geopolitical dynamics of South Asia, which focus on SAARC nations as a whole or on specific issues affecting the bilateral ties of the member states.

SUBMISSION PROCESS
South Asian Survey operates on a double-blind peer review system. Papers submitted should represent original research, not published or under review elsewhere. Authors are encouraged to submit articles that hold relevance for academicians and practitioners alike, and join the ongoing conversation at SAS on topics that are contemporary, important, and interesting. SAS accepts both conceptual and empirical papers, with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method approaches. Detailed author guidelines are available at https://in.sagepub.com/en-in/sas/south-asian-survey/journal200973#submission-guidelines.

For any query or clarification, please write to SAS Peer Review at sas@sagepub.in