Globalisation Governance Reforms And Development In India

Papers presented at a national workshop held at Anand during 14-16 December 2004.

This volume will be of much interest to researchers, teachers and students. The issues discussed in the volume will also draw the attention of civil society organisations and NGOs engaged in advocacy activities.

This volume examines the tangled relationship between globalization and governance through the lens of India’s domestic politics, structures, institutions and policies. The contributors to this volume draw attention to the interconnectedness of global and domestic processes. In doing so, this volume also captures the evolving dynamics of state-society-market relations. A unique blend of papers, the collection brings out the complex interplay and interconnections between global trends, domestic politics and governance challenges in explaining both the persistence of policy reforms, as well as institutional change. In this light, the volume examines the role of socio-political processes and key actors at the domestic level; how they have negotiated global norms, pressures and opportunities resulting in durable policies and institutions. The COVID-19 pandemic has yet again brought the focus back to the significance and interconnectedness of globalization and governance. This volume will contribute to a deeper understanding of these twin processes through thematic discussions on embedded liberalism of the Indian state; transnationalisation of India’s economic elites; exploring the role of global-local linkages in the transparency laws; strategic internationalization and the politics of reform; the global success of micro-credit and its domestic manifestation; and the resilience and durability of the ‘Indian way' of governing globalization. This book was originally published as a special issue of the India Review.

This book examines the impact of globalization on some vital aspects of Indian politics, its structures and processes, and identifies the challenges to globalization itself, in order to highlight India’s complex and fascinating story. In 1991, India officially embraced the policy of neo-liberal reforms by signing the GATT agreement, which exposed the country, its society, culture and institutions to the various forces of globalization. Globalization as such may not be new to India, for the country has been embracing the influence of external cultures and civilisations for millennia, but the post-1991 reforms policy marked a significant shift, from a predominantly social welfare state and a command economy to a predominantly market driven one. Through a range of disciplinary perspectives, the authors analyse how India’s version of secularism, communal harmony, nationhood, the public sphere, social justice, and the rights of aboriginal communities came under attack from the forces of the new dispensation. The book goes on to show how globalisation in India has posed fresh challenges to political economy, democracy, federalism, decentralization, parliamentary system, judiciary, and the parliamentary Left. Critically reflecting on themes in the context of India’s globalisation that are local, regional, national and global, this book will be of interest to those in the fields of South Asian Politics, Globalisation, and International Relations.

Six Years Have Passed Since The Fast Process Of Liberalisation And Globalisation Was Started In India In July 1991. The Book Examines The Achievements And Failures Of The Process Of Economic Reforms During This Period. It Makes Useful Suggestions To Make The Economic Reforms More Successful And Human. The Role Which The State Has To Play In Accelerating The Process Of Economic Development And In Lessening Social Tensions Involved In Rapid Economic Reforms Has Been Clearly Laid Down In Detail.The Book Studies The Experience Of Economic Reforms In Other Countries And The Lessons Which India Can Draw From That. It Also Examines The Role Which Multinationals Can Play In The Economic Development Of The Country.The Book Analyses The Impact Of Economic Reforms On The Agricultural Economy And The Cottage And Small Scale Sector. It Emphasises The Need For Greater Attention To These Sectors On Which Depends The Well Being Of An Overwhelming Portion Of The Population.A Host Of Issues Concerning The Process Of Liberalisation And Globalisation Have Been Examined By Fortyseven Economists Spread Over The Entire Country.The First Volume Was Published In 1995 And The Response Of Readers Was So Heavy That It Had To Be Reprinted Again. The Encouraging Response To The First Volume Has Led To The Publication Of The Second Volume.

In India, The Move Towards Globalisation And Free Trade Coincided With The Process Of Structural Reforms And Economic Liberalisation That Began In July 1991. Since Then The Country Has Seen A Significant Integration Of Markets In Commodity, Services, Finance And Technology With Other Countries. Right At The Outset Of Globalisation, Some Persons In India Like Those In Other Developing Countries Were Against This New Trend, Perceiving It As Elite-Driven And Incapable Of Bringing Qualitative Change In Peoples Lives. Fear Of Lagging Behind In The Race With The Advanced Countries, Which Would Ultimately Capture A Lion S Share In The Global Market, Had Further Led Some People To Oppose Globalisation.But The Present Scenario Is Altogether Different. India S Apprehensions About Globalisation Have Been Removed To Some Extent. Economic Liberalisation Has Paved Way For Rapid Technological Progress For India While Globalisation Has Given Its Young Talent Vast Employment Opportunities In America And Europe. Today, India Has Become A Big Market For Multinational Giants. There Is Hardly A Big-Name Company That Is Not Outsourcing To India. India Has Developed Several Hubs Of Information Technology-Enabled Services, Business Process Outsourcing, Research & Development, Pharmaceuticals And Telecommunication. On The Contrary, The Advanced Countries Like The United States Are Now Fearing Globalisation Because They Are Losing Jobs In The International Corporate World To Indian Technical Experts. Globalisation And Liberalisation Have Brought New Opportunities In Our Country In Trade, Business, Services And Employment. The Atmosphere Is Vibrant. The Younger Generation Is Educated, Talented And Ambitious. The Opening Of International Markets Has Led To Earnest Endeavours To Improve Product Quality To Secure Marketing. Internationalisation And Privatisation Of Education Has Led To Updating Of Curriculum And Bring Technical Manpower That Would Implement The Latest Technology In Manufacturing And Servicing. The Globalisation Should Be Made An Instrument Of Rapid Economic Development In A Way That Its Benefits Reach All Regions Of The Country And All Sections Of Society.The Volume Has Wide Coverage Including In Its Spectrum The Structural Changes In The Indian Economy. Contributors To This Volume Have Not Only Recognised The Reality Of Globalisation As A Process Of Change But Have Also Comprehensively Dealt With The Major Issues And Concerns For India In The Context Of Globalisation. The Papers Closely Examine Important Implications And Impact Of Liberalisation And Globalisation Measures Taken By The Government In Recent Years.It Is Hoped That The Book Would Be Found Useful By The Researchers And Students Of Economics, Businessmen, Government Executives, Parliamentarians And Legislators, Concerned With The Formulation And Execution Of Economic Policies, And The General Readers Interested In Knowing The Changes That Are Taking Place In Our Economy.

The Contributors To The Present Compendium Share The View That, As A Consequence Of Globalisation, Considerable Prossure For Constructive Reforms Has Been Generated For `Regulating` Globalization Ie. Transparency, Accountability, Ethics, Bureaucratic Reforms Etc.

Papers presented at the 85th Conference of the Indian Economic Association, held at Thiruvananthapuram in 2002.