sMRC-Genesis of tlze OwnMtion 35

and GCC also are the result of the convergence of political outlook,
especially prompted by the security outlook. 55
There are other regonal organizations that have come up
with their members with different political systems and divergent
foreign policies. The ECOWAS, LAFTA, Nordic Council etc. Are
such orranizations. Their achievements are also varied. Some
have faded away, whereas others have proved to be successful.
In a limited way, SAARC falls under this category. But it is too
early to say anything about its success or failure.
While for the EEC and ASEAN the security concerrB were
one of the molivationg factors, for the GCC the culturql and
religous factors were a strong uniting element. But all of them
were guided by economic necessities primarily. In the case of
SAARC, the above mentioned factors, viz., the security concerns,
the economic moves are not strong. It is actually a product of
the ingrained feeling of the ruling elites of the South Asian States
that there was a need to have a regional organization. It was an
assertion of national identity and independent status t?is-a-uis
other States of the region as well as the world. Jinat is wly the
smaller States of the region were more enthusiastic in setting up
the regional organizaton than the major ones. For them it was a
mearB to find an alternative to the bilateral approach in dealing
with their neighbours and the outside world 56 Thus, SAARC is
a product of the indigenous factors governing the political systems
and the inter-relationships of the South Asian States.
While the democratic system was the more uniting factor
for the European Community, convergence of foreign policy has
been the common ground for both the EC and the ASEAN. South
Asia on the other hand finds itself in a diametrically opposite
situation compared to these organizations. For, its member States
neither have a similarity in political systenns nor have common
approach in their foreign policy. Moreover, the South Asian
States'security perceptions are directed more against each other
than the outside powers unlike the ASEAN or EC States. 57
As far as the organizational structure is concerned, the EEC
has adopted an elaborate system, The AsEAN too has a larger
organizational structure compared to SAARC. But the