บทบาทของสมาคมเอเซียใต้เพื่อความร่วมมือในภูมิภาค ภายหลังสงครามเย็น (1990-1998) : ศึกษาความร่วมมือของประเทศสมาชิก / ชวลิต ชวลิตพงศ์พันธ์ = The roles of the South Asian Association for regional cooperation after the cold war (1990-1998) : A study of cooperation among the member states / Police Lieutenant Chavalit Chavalitphongpum
The study concentrates on the roles of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) after the cold war (1990-1998) relating to cooperation among the member states. It appears that these states generally had conflicts which the causes often resulted from internal and external factors. The vital conflicts were internal issues relating to ethno-linguistic and religious groups with cross border affiliation; territorial disputes inherited from the colonial past; the sharing of the water resources of common rivers; the balance of power and the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the subcontinent. These problems were very complex yet there were some efforts to coordinate common interest and cooperate in possible areas. Therefore, the establishment of SAARC on December 8th, 1985 provided many areas of cooperation. Yet many conflicts in the past still existed and affected the SAARC's cooperation process and organization's survival. SAARC was formed during the cold war era and still exists today. Its present existence demonstrates that SAARC is an important organization in the region professing roles in the trade and economic areas. It increasingly promotes trade and economic cooperation among member states. Eventually it created the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA). Besides, SAARC member states have positioned themselves into a collective body of common interests and at the same time SAARC also cooperates with other international organizations and institutions. Member states are convinced that SAARC's roles have increased and now it becomes a regional organization. However some areas of cooperation do not progress, such as poverty eradication, environmental and natural resources development, human rights protection and the combating against drug trafficking abuse and terrorism. In conclusion, this study shows that SAARC can move on and there is a certain level of success in trade and economic cooperation and in the South Asian Free Trade Area framework. Member states have also created a common position in the international platform, and it also interacts and cooperates with other international organizations and institutions. At the same time these cooperations can ensure SAARC's existence and develop its cooperation further
