Billions of Entrepreneurs: How China and India Are Reshaping Their Futures-and Yours
The title of this book might suggest that it is not a serious scholarly study, which in fact it is. Although the claim of "billions" of entrepreneurs is a bit much, there is no denying that both China and India are now at last having success in advancing their economies and that a driving force in their economic growth is their private sectors. Khanna has written an objective and insightful comparison of China and India. His analysis of Indian developments is particularly outstanding, because it is based on his firsthand experiences in India. But he does not hold back in his praise of Chinese successes. The result is a very fair-minded report on the two Asian giants.
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Christopher Patten's new book goes beyond Hong Kong to offer a sensible middle ground in the debate over the link between culture and Asia's rise -- and fall.
India's elections aroused fears about its political viability but elicited yawns about its economic health. The reality of India's prospects is just the opposite. Conventional wisdom aside, the main threat India faces is economic. Slower growth and a stalled program of economic reforms could endanger India's stability. Its politics, by contrast, exhibit an admirable ability to bring extremists, including the Hindu nationalists of the newly preeminent Bharatiya Janata Party, closer to the center. India's democracy is the glue that keeps the country together; its economy, if not reformed, could cause dangerous strains.
Three issues preoccupy Asia's leaders (1) economic strategy (2) political stability versus greater openness (3) regionalism. The accelerating socio-economic revolution presents challenges to both the Marxist and the democratic states. There is a requirement for increased public participation, greater local autonomy and more regional and international interaction. On balance the odds favouring a largely peaceful revolution are lengthening.
