IRAN’S ROLE IN ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION (ECO): A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

In the international arena, cooperation among nation-states is facilitated when these countries have
shared interests and a common vision for the collective good. The contemporary world envisages a
dominant role of the regional Inter-Governmental Organizations (IGOs) in promoting the vital
concepts of interdependence and economic integration. The attainment of desired objectives through
regional organizations is inextricably linked with the patronizing role of a core member, a country
relatively more dominant politically, economically and militarily compared to other members.
Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) has been one of the leading IGOs in the world among the
nations of South Asia, West Asia, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. With Iran as the core state of the ECO,
the organization has yet to prosper despite numerous commonalities and shared interests among the
member countries. ECO has remained hostage to conflicting interests of the member states, nonconducive global political environments and lack of will on the part of key members. The organization
is unlikely to take off, if the existing lukewarm attitude of the member states, especially the core
country continues to prevail