Globalization and Rising Powers – Challenges and Opportunities for China and India

ASIA FORUM with Dr. Sumit Roy

Senior Researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala 

Thursday, October 24, 2013, 10:30-12.00

Globalisation is a historical process. Its contemporary phase is marked by the compression of the world, a blurring of national borders, and the interlocking of states driven by new information, communication technology and rapid transportation. This is underscored by a shift in emphasis from state, to non–state, market led policies and the creation of a ‘new space’ which coexists with the nation state. This calls for global governance centered on ‘collective action’ to tackle economic and political challenges.

In this context there is intense controversy over the capacity of China and India, two key nations among the ‘Rising Powers’ or the ‘Emerging Giants’ to become major players in the world. They function under different socio-political systems-China a ‘planned,’ ‘state directed’, and ‘centralized democracy’ run by one party and India a ‘mixed’ state and market economy based on ‘multiparty democracy.’ In this respect, the focus of this seminar is on capturing more fully through political economy the key forces which enhance and inhibit the capacity of both to pursue their goals. This is underscored by (a) a structural transformation aimed at diversifying and boosting growth and employment, whilst tackling domestic socio-economic and political strife and (b) building strategic ties or alliances with nations/regions and institutions within and beyond Asia to bolster economic and political influence. The seminar will focus provide insights on the reality of both nations pursuing their vision and outline critical implications for security and development.

Dr. Sumit Roy’s work has for over 30 years centered on the global and comparative political economy, in both Asia (India and China) and Africa. He holds a D. Phil in Development Studies (University of Sussex), an MA in Development Economics (University of East Anglia) and an MA in Economics and Economic History (University of York, UK).

His professional experience spans research, teaching, advisory, and media. He is currently a Senior Researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala. He is also a Research Associate, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and a Visiting Senior Research Fellow, School of International Relations and Strategic Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. He has published extensively on global and regional affairs including books on globalisation and regional development: Globalisation ICT and Developing Nations: Challenges in the Information Age, Sage; Economic Progress and Prospects :Lessons of Development Experience Since 1945 (with Sir H. W. Singer). He has held positions in several institutions: Jadavpur University, India, London School of Economics, City University (UK), Delhi University, and Ahmadu Bello University (Nigeria), the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the ILO, UNCTAD and the Economist Intelligence Unit. He is a regular contributor to the BBC World Service on global and regional Asian and African issues.

To attend, RSVP by October 23, 2013 to Ms. Lisa Bäckman at lbackman@isdp.eu

Location: ISDP, Västra Finnbodavägen 2, Stockholm-Nacka. For a map and directions, please go here.