The South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF) is a Brussels-based think tank devoted to South Asia and its relationship with the European Union (EU) in the context of a global, changing world. Our work is organised through two research programmes, one on democracy and the other on regional cooperation. SADF organises high-level contacts, stimulates studies and evaluations, designs and disseminates research methods and concepts, combines networks and supports; it brings together people, private and public institutions, that can contribute to Europe-South Asia related cooperation and understanding. Other than its annual conferences, SADF produces in-house research and policy advice, and promotes promising external research dedicated to enduring peace, regional cooperation, democracy building, and integrated development in the South Asian region through its external publications. In the ‘Contemporary South Asian Studies’ series, we published and intend to continue to publish major works on the opportunities and challenges faced by the region.