China India: Bus, Gov, Glob

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

This course is intended to deepen students understanding of Asia's two emerging giants through comparative analysis. These countries are the core states of two great world civilizations. For centuries locals and outsiders have compared the two civilizational polities. Major economies, nuclear powers, "the hearth" to vast global diasporas, and home to two thirds of the world's population, these two countries are today two of the fastest emerging global actors in the post- Cold War world. In recent years the two countries have been rivals for foreign investment; rivals for a role in the growing global technology economy; and increasingly rivals regionally and on the world stage. The focus of this course is primarily on political economy, with an emphasis on the politics of finance. But, the readings approach the domestic, regional, and global political dynamics of the two countries from a range of perspectives. We will begin with the civilizational and imperial historical antecedents in both polities. Then we will move through the most important dimensions of comparative political and social development internally. Next, in the second half of the course, the emphasis will move outward locating the countries with respect to external actors, analyzing their changing regional and global positions, and finally considering their relations with one another. We will explore also how China and India assimilated the key modern political forces of sovereignty and nationalism. The course is organized, to the first order, in a thematic fashion. While there is some chronological development, readings each week jump across large time spans. For this reason, participating students will benefit from, but are not required to have, some background in Asian history or Asian politics generally. This course attempts to explain the origins of, the reasons for, and the policy implications of economic change in Asia. Along the way we will explore some political economy theories that may explain patterns of development, and critically examine political economy. To help students understand how the rise of India and China is changing the global economy and international relations while raising major new questions about global governance. For this purpose the course will review: · Basic facts and figures concerning both countries, their history, societies, political systems and organization of government; · Management of the reform process and results so far in terms of income growth, poverty reduction, education, health, infrastructure, domestic markets, fiscal and financial system development, legal system development, etc.; · Reasons for high economic growth, in China since 1979 and in India since the early 1990s; · Participation by either country in the international economy through trade, foreign investment and membership in multilateral agencies; · Prospects for continued high growth, financial stability, social stability and political change; · Implications of the rise of India and China for global stability, global inequality and environmental sustainability; · Implications of the rise of India and China for global governance. - Students in this seminar can get credit for the Asian Studies MA or undergraduate certificate, as an elective for PECO (the political economy concentration/certificate) and for INAF and IPOL.