The New Era …!

Shivam Dwivedi

Jul 30

The era of benign globalization that facilitated the dramatic rise of China has come to an end...

How this came to pass is obviously important; what to make of it even more so. India's rise has been slower and will now have to navigate difficult waters.

We have entered a turbulent phase where a new kind of politics is being fashioned.

The issue is not whether India will continue rising; that vector is reasonably assured - The question is how to do so optimally in an era of greater uncertainty.

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For the near term, India has little choice but to pursue a mix of multiple approaches, some orthodox and others more imaginative ...

But in all of them, partnerships with global interests could make a significant difference.

Much of that would revolve around the West and Russia.

But China, now the world's second largest economy, can hardly be disregarded in any calculation.

Leveraging them all may not be easy but still no less necessary for that. Mastering mind games and playing hardball are also musts in a more visceral world.

Now ...

To do all that, it is vital that we come to terms with its complex dynamics n Only then can India successfully execute strategic policies for a new era.

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India's rise will inevitably be compared to that of China, if only because that country has immediately preceded it.

Its imprint on global consciousness, its civilizational contribution, geopolitical value and economic performance will all be factors in that exercise.

Emulating the strategies and diplomatic tactics of another obviously cannot be a serious proposition for a society with a very different history and outlook.

That said, there is much that India can learn from China:

One important lesson is demonstrating global relevance as the surest way of earning the world's respect.

The Singaporean leader Lee Kuan Yew once paid India's rise a back-handed compliment of being the more reassuring one.

Well, Today's world may call for a greater willingness to make waves. There could also be an opportunity in a world looking for more sources of growth and stability.

Being a democratic polity, a pluralistic society and a market economy, India will grow with others, not separately.