南亞

大概是全球人口最多的地理區域了。南亞的9個國家總共住了全球四分之一的人口。儘管擁有超過19億人,南亞經常被認為缺乏區域一體化,所以龐大的人口數並沒有帶來多大的紅利,反而造成區域安全問題。
南亞最大的外交角力非中印兩國莫屬。中小型國家如不丹、尼泊爾和馬爾地夫夾在中國和印度之間左右為難。印度和巴基斯坦的歷史恩怨和宗教衝突仍持續,未見緩解。2022年的全球糧食危機和通貨膨脹在人口爆炸多的南亞更顯嚴峻,不僅巴基斯坦總理遭到倒閣,斯里蘭卡更是直接宣布破產。另外也別忘記2021年塔利班佔領阿富汗帶來的動盪,以及可能快要研發出核武的伊朗。
仔細一看,才發現原來南亞有這麼多待解的難題。
*在聯合國編碼系統中,伊朗和阿富汗被歸類於南亞,但傳統上兩者大多被列為西亞。
看2022South Asia is likely the most populated geographical area in the world.
The nine countries in South Asia account for one quarter of the world’s population: 1.9 billion people, including Bangladesh, which ranks 6th in population density; Pakistan, which boasts a population of 200 million; and India, which is the second most populated country in the world. But due to its large population and overcrowded cities, South Asia is also one of the poorest areas in the world, second only to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Whereas other areas are more religiously homogeneous, South Asian countries have very different religions, including Buddhism in Bhutan and Nepal, and Islam in Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Not to mention the fact that India mainly follows Hinduism, yet has the second largest Muslim population in the world. With the differences in religions combined with sovereignty controversies, the legacy of British colonization, South Asia has a long way to go to reach peace and harmony between nations.
(Iran and Afghanistan are categorized under South Asia as the United Nations M49 Standards, but traditionally, the two countries are listed as part of West Asia.)