Book Review:-SUPERPOWER? The Amazing Race between China’s Hare and India’s Tortoise by Raghav Bahl {PENGUIN, ALLEN LANE, 2010, RS699}.
The two Asian giants-Indian and China are now undoubtedly the force to reckon with, after their long hibernation out of plundering colonial setbacks, these two nations are now retrieving their civilisational glory. With many commonness and ofcourse differences, relation between India-China stands on antagonistic construct…historically very close until the defiance of trust did by the China in 1962 that permanently fixed a big if in the psyche of Indians. Though with enhanced aspirations in new world order, both Indian and China are constructively heading to defy all the adverse obstinate impediments with wider framework to usher in a special kind of relationship primarily based on economic interests. Indeed it’s a way forward to cope with the swiftly changing geo-politics…time now is to revisit the history, politics, economics, culture of these two superpower with new insights but without burying the old prudence.
Raghav Bahl {Journalist, founder Network18 Media} did this superbly with his scintillating views and meticulous documentation that easily lead the readers to comprehensive realities of the race of dominance between the two powerful neighbors. This book, {SUPERPOWER? The Amazing Race between China’s Hare and India’s Tortoise} presents the narratives, how the India and China going to make history within their own set of rules. China’s monolithic political system and India’s vibrant democracy-both with their pros and cons are occupying a stout functional feet to show the resistance at global platform. Preface marks the distinction of Indian growth which is statistically sluggish than China’s achievements…title says it better, why don’t they get India?
Prologue of the book has demystifying hold, China and the Art of Escape Velocity? Napoleon’s quote which is an all time super remarks, vehemently define the China and its inclusion completely fit here. Paul Krugman’s The Myth of Asia’s Miracle: A Cautionary Fable gives an ample back up to consider on the Raghav’s insistence on knowing closely the intricacies of Chinese miracle vis-à-vis the leaders of world economy. Albeit it will be overestimation to anticipate by the assumptions that who’s going to be swift and finally on crest-China’s Hare or India’s Tortoise…here is need to be adequately judgmental.
Which way will history turn? Raghav is exactly right in reminding the readers that history unfolds over several decades, perhaps even in fractions of centuries and a search of perfect match of growth between these two countries will be an abrupt proposition. If China rebound post financial meltdown wit huge debt and vicious deflation side-by-side the weak demand and prices-India’s experience was much better with lower debt and modest inflation. It will be also worthwhile to know that India’s nominal GDP grew twice as fast as China’s for a few quarters-remarkably, it’s a first such experience in last three decades. So, the notion of India, who? Seems eroding with a positive world view for India story. Goldman Sach’s brainchild, BRIC {2001} strengthened the world views for India’s slot only next to U.S.A and China in the years ahead…this sounds realistic, even when the author himself acknowledge the many odds in the way but China is also not immune from adversities. For knowing the fragility of Chinese growth, reading of Premshankar Jha’s scripture like work on China “Managed Chaos “gives the appropriate scenic realities behind the China’s miraculous growth!
The Race Begins:- This is a catching nomenclature of a chapter inside the book which precisely relates to what the term exists between India and China. With big markets and sound indications, China and India have emerged as “shock observer” after the global financial meltdown-may be theirs ties will be shoot up atleast in economic arena but chances are feeble that China will give India any space within the ambit of its “Asian solidarity” block. This closeness of China naturally evolve the doubting stances over its intention but the aspiration for material growth is stronger than any other tantrums, so it’s possible that China will maintain a balancing ties with its most close competitor-India. Quotation of M.J.Akbar “The language of conflict has passed its sell by date. The poor want to be part of the Indian Rising Story” can be maximized here in Chinese context too.
A Hare on Steroids:- Chapter delves with the China’s downside of growth and its complex consumerism that yields many grave concern generally surpassed under the China’s complacent indicators. In next chapter “A Tortoise with new Muscle” inquisite the structural edge of India’s growth, here Stephan Rouch’s views gives sublime touch. The next chapter “Rule of Law, Rule by Law” searches the base of Chinese Law in “Patriotism”-infact, the Chinese state uses laws as policy instrument instead like western democracies where the principle of law believe as supreme and all public policy to be implemented within the law. Here, a missing link is quite evident from China’s own experiment with a liberal system in 1912, after the fall of Qing dynasty…today; China hardly carries even a tint of liberal vision of Sanayat Sen. Ahead of this, Raghav beautifully dwell with the India’s democratic experiments along with a full overview of Indian constitution. Reference of Bhagalpur incident of late 1980’s and Olga Tellis {1981, Bombay} protest against the BMC ruling of eviction for pavement dwellers present the uncomfortable face of our democracy. Next, a fine delineation has made over the China’s story of virtual justice and the state of corruption in both the country…byline is too much sultry-My Scam is better than your Scam!
Geo-politics:- Niall Ferguson’s brainchild CHINMERICA or Journalist Joshua Ramo’s coined term “Beijing Consensus” to draw the attention how China has maximized its stature and outgrew the “Washington Consensus” in investments, aid and trade to Africa appears too much apprehensive from western perspectives. China gave lease to such expectations by spending over $55billion during the 2010 Shanghai World Expo to remind the world that its economy remained unscratched from the grave financial recession of 2008. Undoubtedly, such showing of China and to an extant of India has rearranged the world of an Eagle {U.S.A}, a Dragon {China} and Elephant {India}.
Though this book adequately covers the India’s landmarks in foreign and strategic affairs but it scrimp few detailed take on China’s potential role in India-Pakistan &India-Nepal relation. China’s cold war era complexes are hardly fading away despite the all progress, it should be the India’s primary concern to leverage China for an all round collaboration because it’s alone China which tolls around half of India’s strategic attention. India know much better that the tag of “Sleeping Tiger” is things of past for China under the new ambition and feeble moral restraint.
Part three of the book, Entrepreneurs, Consumers and English speaking is naturally India-centric-remarks of George Soros on India “Your entrepreneurs have built world class companies which I simply don’t see in China…such views are common placed. India also has edge with demographic dividend and systemic transparency…the worst thing happened in China that its communal enterprise turned into cronyism. Still India is away from such large scale coercive methods to achieve quick and visible success…noticeable is the fact, era of Sanjay Gandhi never repeated in India unlike the Deng Xiaoping’s tracts that kept flowing relentlessly in China. China’s capitalism is complex and ambiguous; most of its enterprise is in state control or owned by the party organs and theirs command.
Part fourth of the book “Urbanization and Infrastructure” presents a sound comparison between India and China on the very important issues. Here China has lead with its single minded strategy on building infrastructure…India is now too following the big dreams with emphatic eagerness, the next few years will bring some level playing in this regard. The concluding part of the book revolves around “Social Infrastructure”-Raghav has succeeded to make his point that Chinese consumerism is on peak under the better equitable economic arrangement of China. The Indian case is of fifty-fifty market, which leading historian Ramchandra Guha said on India’s experiment with market reform…book ends with such conclusion.
At some front, China has edge but it’s grappling with many serious systemic flaws unlike the India where democracy is vibrant and freedom of action is inherent. Years ahead will be very vital for both the India and China… these two nations are now naturally placed to lead the world, if these two nations can collaborate in fresh spirits, theirs dominance will be enhanced many folds. More and more of understanding of Chinese policies are needed…work of Raghav Bahl is promising in this regard-addition of knowledge on China will be remain worthwhile from Indian perspectives…after all, we are now aspiring for new dimensions in our relationship.
Atul Kumar Thakur
May 31, 2011, Tuesday, New Delhi
Email: summertickets@gmail.com
Showing posts with label India-China Relations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India-China Relations. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Material Planks in India-China Relations
India-China seems very similar in many trajectories like both countries had faced monarchy and later western imperial pressure in the past but surprisingly they emerged with entirely distinct ethos. China opted for socialism along with classical way of statecraft and diplomacy where words used to obfuscate the real intention; like its projected insistence on border issues which creates complexities in relationship with India.
Most strikingly China didn’t recognize the Mack Mohan line (Excerpted from its official minutes) and further kept denouncing the promises made by their statesmen like Zhou Enlai and others on strategic mutual agreements with Indian authority.
Consequently there never formed a unified perception on India-China relationship either in India or China. So, at least initial years showed very gloomious outcomes for both the country just after successful experiments with their respective mode of political system in late nineteen forties. Its matter of fact that apart from its dubious standing on foreign policy China has been showing a deliberate progressive development in their internal governance under visionary leaderships that stimulated the growth pattern of its economy.
Albeit these not remained consistent in equitable manner following an institutionalized pattern of corruption and denial of basic rights like freedom of expression and independence of press or fourth estate as it is called usually.
Unfortunate Tienmen square incident was much at par with such repressive state policy; China’s internal conditions are very different and fragile from an outsider’s perceptions of its might and prosperity. Today China facing huge resentment of its civil society and media over the atrocities they impose on rudimentary natural rights; an alluring example being vivid in my mind how peoples acted differently from Chinese government.
Recently China’s Central TV (CCTV) came under the fire and very outlandishly there was huge joy among the media persons including staffers of this state owned Tele Vision since they became overloaded with its biased view with the government authorities.
Chinese authorities out rightly denied such basic rights and any other similar claims like introduction of multi party democracy in socialistic pattern; a senior party leader had recently refuted such any propositions in near future.
So, China have very stringent consideration on its own insistence both at home and the world; such impatient with others view presents major hurdles for any constructive maneuvering.
Case is somehow very different in Indian side where its immaculate ethos has very strong constitutional backups with absolute democratic formulation which radically marked its difference with dogmas of Chinese system.
In its part India have been sharing very patient relationship with China though always gained complex and improper reply in their deal, so it’s remain a daunting task for even an expert to completely comprehend the transcendences of China’s world view. Explicitly Chinese authorities on many instances shown its uneasiness over India’s emergence in recent decades as they respectively supposed themselves more developed in economic and strategic terms, so never want any comparisons with India since they found only U.S.A, Japan and erstwhile U.S.S.R as their optimum comparable force.
China performs dubious role in foreign policy not only with India but its acknowledged partners like U.S.A as sometimes its called for G2 (China and U.S.A) as drive of aggressive foreign policy but also soonly refuted it.
Even despite being too much integrated with American economy China could visualize the fall of Wall Street as great news and see all such troublesome outcomes as an opportunity and a shift of Geo-economic scenario , so dealing with China indeed requires a cautious approach to handle such fluctuating policy. It’s completely outrageous policy of China where they wish to rise albeit refusing to trust others standing at their feet.
At every level of diplomatic move its foremost challenge before India to constructively engage China in their relationships that may be possible through harmonization of nationalism in both the country. Also both country needs to comprehend their power since conditions are now more balanced as a feeble India and mighty China like of ground realities are no longer exists. So China couldn’t undermine India now and think for India to breakup as they think in 1960’s as many complexities of power equations are becomes historical now.
China-Pakistan equations are another issue that bears great implications for India-China relationship because India seen at center locus by the Chinese government during framing its propensity of strategic ties with Pakistan. China puts their best commitment for Pakistan and India remains the strategic determinant for this albeit it’s also a counter reality that despite such efforts Pakistan is more dominated by the U.S.A than China since their Arm forces sustain on U.S dollars instead of Chinese Yuan.
On the issue of border problem with India, it would be quite asymmetric to conceive that it’s an outcome of India’s position on Tibet instead these policies started long before the Tibetan stalemate. Indeed Tibet should be a matter of concern more for China than India because of historical and geographical similarity but India let continue playing their humanitarian role with the sufferers of Tibet.
China recently professed that Dalai Lama has no role to play in peace negotiation which means now he ceased to be the representative of Tibetan peoples that is in itself a showpiece of China’s fragile and confused policy on such crucial matters. India has firm standing on its foreign policy which allowed it’s to show genuine concern to strife ridden peoples besides it’s also striking co-incidence that historically Tibetans has always showing their faiths in outsiders, so Indian role on Tibet must not acknowledged and confused as an act of intrusion.
Internal scenario of China presents confused and fudged picture for outsiders since hardly it’s provide impartial circumstances of introspection; noted author and journalist Prem Shankar Jha’s book on China “Managed Chaos” vehemently unleash such fabricated trends of Chinese development.
Despite all such odds India and China can strive for good deals on economic co-operation, it’s evident from historical enquiry that economic co-operation has reversed the chronic political stalemate between many countries. Besides both has superb presence at world politics and facing many common challenges like terrorism, economic slowdown, communalism etc, so at numerous level both countries has options for better co-operation that must finally up heal the Asian growth.
India’s bid for permanent seat in United Nations Security Council is a crucial issue where China’s constructive intention could boost the Indian claim which may ushered into a new paradigm of relations.
Both countries are highly integrated to world economy and can move for great symbiotic ties by manipulating Indian software expertise with Chinese hardware edge. India must keep availing the mid path theory of Confusias and Buddha…. Consensus is possible even between the stark divergent sides.
Like India’s first Prime Minister Mr. J.L.Nehru who once gifted with a Panda from Chinese president Zhou Enlai in his China’s visit, some months later Zhou Enlai visited India than he got a healthy dog from Mr. Nehru; but real story is ahead when Mr. Nehru visited next time to China he asked for well being of his gifted dog… reply of Zhou Enlai was it was quite tasty. These means diversions can make things more interesting like these unusual incidences.
Atul Kumar Thakur
September 8th2009, New Delhi
atul_mdb@rediffmail.com
Most strikingly China didn’t recognize the Mack Mohan line (Excerpted from its official minutes) and further kept denouncing the promises made by their statesmen like Zhou Enlai and others on strategic mutual agreements with Indian authority.
Consequently there never formed a unified perception on India-China relationship either in India or China. So, at least initial years showed very gloomious outcomes for both the country just after successful experiments with their respective mode of political system in late nineteen forties. Its matter of fact that apart from its dubious standing on foreign policy China has been showing a deliberate progressive development in their internal governance under visionary leaderships that stimulated the growth pattern of its economy.
Albeit these not remained consistent in equitable manner following an institutionalized pattern of corruption and denial of basic rights like freedom of expression and independence of press or fourth estate as it is called usually.
Unfortunate Tienmen square incident was much at par with such repressive state policy; China’s internal conditions are very different and fragile from an outsider’s perceptions of its might and prosperity. Today China facing huge resentment of its civil society and media over the atrocities they impose on rudimentary natural rights; an alluring example being vivid in my mind how peoples acted differently from Chinese government.
Recently China’s Central TV (CCTV) came under the fire and very outlandishly there was huge joy among the media persons including staffers of this state owned Tele Vision since they became overloaded with its biased view with the government authorities.
Chinese authorities out rightly denied such basic rights and any other similar claims like introduction of multi party democracy in socialistic pattern; a senior party leader had recently refuted such any propositions in near future.
So, China have very stringent consideration on its own insistence both at home and the world; such impatient with others view presents major hurdles for any constructive maneuvering.
Case is somehow very different in Indian side where its immaculate ethos has very strong constitutional backups with absolute democratic formulation which radically marked its difference with dogmas of Chinese system.
In its part India have been sharing very patient relationship with China though always gained complex and improper reply in their deal, so it’s remain a daunting task for even an expert to completely comprehend the transcendences of China’s world view. Explicitly Chinese authorities on many instances shown its uneasiness over India’s emergence in recent decades as they respectively supposed themselves more developed in economic and strategic terms, so never want any comparisons with India since they found only U.S.A, Japan and erstwhile U.S.S.R as their optimum comparable force.
China performs dubious role in foreign policy not only with India but its acknowledged partners like U.S.A as sometimes its called for G2 (China and U.S.A) as drive of aggressive foreign policy but also soonly refuted it.
Even despite being too much integrated with American economy China could visualize the fall of Wall Street as great news and see all such troublesome outcomes as an opportunity and a shift of Geo-economic scenario , so dealing with China indeed requires a cautious approach to handle such fluctuating policy. It’s completely outrageous policy of China where they wish to rise albeit refusing to trust others standing at their feet.
At every level of diplomatic move its foremost challenge before India to constructively engage China in their relationships that may be possible through harmonization of nationalism in both the country. Also both country needs to comprehend their power since conditions are now more balanced as a feeble India and mighty China like of ground realities are no longer exists. So China couldn’t undermine India now and think for India to breakup as they think in 1960’s as many complexities of power equations are becomes historical now.
China-Pakistan equations are another issue that bears great implications for India-China relationship because India seen at center locus by the Chinese government during framing its propensity of strategic ties with Pakistan. China puts their best commitment for Pakistan and India remains the strategic determinant for this albeit it’s also a counter reality that despite such efforts Pakistan is more dominated by the U.S.A than China since their Arm forces sustain on U.S dollars instead of Chinese Yuan.
On the issue of border problem with India, it would be quite asymmetric to conceive that it’s an outcome of India’s position on Tibet instead these policies started long before the Tibetan stalemate. Indeed Tibet should be a matter of concern more for China than India because of historical and geographical similarity but India let continue playing their humanitarian role with the sufferers of Tibet.
China recently professed that Dalai Lama has no role to play in peace negotiation which means now he ceased to be the representative of Tibetan peoples that is in itself a showpiece of China’s fragile and confused policy on such crucial matters. India has firm standing on its foreign policy which allowed it’s to show genuine concern to strife ridden peoples besides it’s also striking co-incidence that historically Tibetans has always showing their faiths in outsiders, so Indian role on Tibet must not acknowledged and confused as an act of intrusion.
Internal scenario of China presents confused and fudged picture for outsiders since hardly it’s provide impartial circumstances of introspection; noted author and journalist Prem Shankar Jha’s book on China “Managed Chaos” vehemently unleash such fabricated trends of Chinese development.
Despite all such odds India and China can strive for good deals on economic co-operation, it’s evident from historical enquiry that economic co-operation has reversed the chronic political stalemate between many countries. Besides both has superb presence at world politics and facing many common challenges like terrorism, economic slowdown, communalism etc, so at numerous level both countries has options for better co-operation that must finally up heal the Asian growth.
India’s bid for permanent seat in United Nations Security Council is a crucial issue where China’s constructive intention could boost the Indian claim which may ushered into a new paradigm of relations.
Both countries are highly integrated to world economy and can move for great symbiotic ties by manipulating Indian software expertise with Chinese hardware edge. India must keep availing the mid path theory of Confusias and Buddha…. Consensus is possible even between the stark divergent sides.
Like India’s first Prime Minister Mr. J.L.Nehru who once gifted with a Panda from Chinese president Zhou Enlai in his China’s visit, some months later Zhou Enlai visited India than he got a healthy dog from Mr. Nehru; but real story is ahead when Mr. Nehru visited next time to China he asked for well being of his gifted dog… reply of Zhou Enlai was it was quite tasty. These means diversions can make things more interesting like these unusual incidences.
Atul Kumar Thakur
September 8th2009, New Delhi
atul_mdb@rediffmail.com
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