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Powershift: India–China Relations in a Multipolar World
‘As India and China stand at a crossroads, Powershift goes a long way to explain how we got here and where we might go' SHIVSHANKER MENON, former National Security Advisor ‘An insightful and timely re-examination of the increasingly volatile relationship between India and China' AMITAV GHOSH, author of the Ibis Trilogy ‘Powershift should be on the shelves of every China-watcher in India and should be read carefully’ VIKRAM SOOD, former Chief of R&AW Just like seven decades ago when the dramatic re-emergence of India and China from their traumatic encounter with colonialism followed by a war between them in 1962 transformed this region’s geopolitical landscape, the equation of the two countries is once again poised to influence the future course of Asia. Wider interests demand that both countries craft a tenuous coexistence and stabilize a fragmenting world order. There are also circumstances that are bringing new frictions and differences to the fore as India and China pursue their regional interests and attempt to settle old scores. Although both leaderships have chosen to delicately manage this see-saw, recurring border crises have repeatedly questioned whether Delhi and Beijing can maintain such a balancing act for much longer. The emerging multipolar world has brought the relationship at a crossroad where today’s choices will set in course events that will profoundly impact India’s economy, security and the regional order. It is, therefore, critical that India’s leaders get our China policy right. Powershift helps us make sense of a complex relationship and how India and China are learning to cope with each other’s rise on the world stage. Whether it is intricacies of the border dispute and the complicated history of their Himalayan frontier, the flux in US–China relations, the geopolitics of Greater Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific, China’s belt and road initiative and growing connectivity footprint in the region, BRICS and a changing world order, or the conundrum of formulating a far-sighted China policy, the book casts a wide net in unpacking India–China relations. Powershift provides much-needed context for Indians to start thinking more strategically and realistically about their largest neighbour.
347 pages, Hardcover
Published December 7, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 20, 2021
"History is obliging both countries to step up and play constructive roles to shape the emerging world order even as it is impelling both sides to learn to co-exist in a common neighbourhood."
(Singh, 292)
The aforementioned quote serves as the crux of Zorawar Daulet Singh's latest book, Powershift: India-China Relations in a Multipolar World. Published in 2020 by Macmillan, the book presents a gripping narrative of comprehending India-China relations set on the past and current policy issues. The following sections will present a summarised account of the book, my criticism and reflections on the same before concluding.
For holistic writing of India-China relations, the border issue must get a worthy mention in the book, and Singh rightly matches that expectation. The first part being self explanatorily titled "Border Dispute", is divided further into five chapters. Attempting to maintain a chronological undertone while explaining the events, Singh has emphasised using this undertone to present his interpretations. Commencing with the 1914 Agreement, which led to creating the Mc Mahon line, the book fast forwards to the late 1940s (1947 and 1949 in particular).
Leading on to present a concise account of the bilateral dispute and the corresponding actions taken by various governments till the present day, the subsequent chapter presents a retrospective insight over the 1962 India-China war. Further linking the dispute to the ongoing Cold War at the time, Singh presents the road that leads to the Depsang Valley Face-off. This section wraps up by detailing the circumstances that led to the Doklam (2017) and Ladakh (2020) crises, narrative accounts of the incident, the respective governments' consequent actions to restore it to normalcy and recommendations for the future.
After satiating the initial interest of reading on the border issue, the book now puts the India-China relations on a broader pedestal. The section named "Geopolitics and World Order" initiates a discussion on the possibility of non-hegemonic world order, implying it to be a multipolar world. It connects with the disillusionment that has stemmed from the Liberal World Order and the viewpoint that contradicts this thought.
Progressively, the relationship between China and the USA is traced through a chronological lens. Singh facilitates an easy yet holistic comprehension of the studies by carefully listing their respective interests (both convergent and divergent). The next chapter is a summary account of India's relations with the great powers. Succinctly introducing the BRI, the chapter concludes with the promise of elaborating on it in the later section (which rather hooks the reader). To draw the curtain on the geopolitical understanding, Singh successfully ties in the possibilities mentioned at the beginning of this section with the real-life illustration of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). BRICS is seen here not as a replacement of the existing intergovernmental organisations but as a guiding example for them to follow and evolve according to the current world scenario.
The final section, titled "Strategy and Policy", ties in the information provided in the previous sections while distinctly producing nuanced observations. Singh presents a unique comparison of continental and maritime dominance by referring to Mackinder and Mahan, respectively. After suggesting the course of action that India should pursue, he delves into recommending India's priorities when framing its policy for the Eurasian region.
Furthermore, tracing India's relationship with countries such as Japan, the next chapter lays the factors that should govern India's Indo-Pacific policy. Singh subtly recommends the policymakers the way forward. China's historic declaration about the Belt and Road Initiative created ripples among four schools of thought, corresponding with four varying typologies within these schools. This chapter deals with that, and India's engagement with the BRI initiative, analysing the divergent viewpoints that come with this engagement. The section ends by describing the contemporary changes in South Asia and comparing the policy formulations under PM Modi and former PM Nehru; it further enlists India's future policy options, considering the current constraints it faces.
As there is with every book, there are a couple of points on which the book falls short of the expectations. The book has only a couple of tables, no graphs or illustrations, and no pictures that can serve as a visual break. The lack of these makes the reading a bit tedious, especially when the book's topic is such that it demands and commands attention. Additionally, certain portions in the book (particularly in section I) can throw off the reader by a constant chronological movement across various viewpoints.
However, there are certain aspects of the book that deserve appreciation. First, the book is highly informative and authentic in its research, as its reference list contains academic articles, news articles, government publications and the viewpoints of students and other experts. Secondly, Singh signposts his objectives and interpretations within and across chapters to facilitate retention of what he intends to reader to take with them. Additionally, the book is deftly sectioned into portions suiting various interests of all kinds of readers (as he explicitly mentions this in the preface). The book's language provides it with the potential to be widely popular, as it is written in a hybrid fashion (merging both academic and bestselling styles).
Based on the issues covered in the book and my comprehension of the same, India and China cooperate most on issues concerning the International Economic Order, followed by the issues of South Asia, and then Asia in general. The issues of divergence are dealing with Military Security and the Border Dispute. Further, I also believe that 'the simultaneous emergence of India and China, two major powers with independent foreign policies is a reality' (Singh,11), and this reality should be accepted and appreciated.
To conclude, reading this book was an enjoyable, enlightening and insightful experience, and it will make it an enticing read for policy professionals, academic experts, ministers and politicians, students and any other interested individual who intends to comprehend India and China relations either in totality or on a particular issue.
(Singh, 292)
The aforementioned quote serves as the crux of Zorawar Daulet Singh's latest book, Powershift: India-China Relations in a Multipolar World. Published in 2020 by Macmillan, the book presents a gripping narrative of comprehending India-China relations set on the past and current policy issues. The following sections will present a summarised account of the book, my criticism and reflections on the same before concluding.
For holistic writing of India-China relations, the border issue must get a worthy mention in the book, and Singh rightly matches that expectation. The first part being self explanatorily titled "Border Dispute", is divided further into five chapters. Attempting to maintain a chronological undertone while explaining the events, Singh has emphasised using this undertone to present his interpretations. Commencing with the 1914 Agreement, which led to creating the Mc Mahon line, the book fast forwards to the late 1940s (1947 and 1949 in particular).
Leading on to present a concise account of the bilateral dispute and the corresponding actions taken by various governments till the present day, the subsequent chapter presents a retrospective insight over the 1962 India-China war. Further linking the dispute to the ongoing Cold War at the time, Singh presents the road that leads to the Depsang Valley Face-off. This section wraps up by detailing the circumstances that led to the Doklam (2017) and Ladakh (2020) crises, narrative accounts of the incident, the respective governments' consequent actions to restore it to normalcy and recommendations for the future.
After satiating the initial interest of reading on the border issue, the book now puts the India-China relations on a broader pedestal. The section named "Geopolitics and World Order" initiates a discussion on the possibility of non-hegemonic world order, implying it to be a multipolar world. It connects with the disillusionment that has stemmed from the Liberal World Order and the viewpoint that contradicts this thought.
Progressively, the relationship between China and the USA is traced through a chronological lens. Singh facilitates an easy yet holistic comprehension of the studies by carefully listing their respective interests (both convergent and divergent). The next chapter is a summary account of India's relations with the great powers. Succinctly introducing the BRI, the chapter concludes with the promise of elaborating on it in the later section (which rather hooks the reader). To draw the curtain on the geopolitical understanding, Singh successfully ties in the possibilities mentioned at the beginning of this section with the real-life illustration of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). BRICS is seen here not as a replacement of the existing intergovernmental organisations but as a guiding example for them to follow and evolve according to the current world scenario.
The final section, titled "Strategy and Policy", ties in the information provided in the previous sections while distinctly producing nuanced observations. Singh presents a unique comparison of continental and maritime dominance by referring to Mackinder and Mahan, respectively. After suggesting the course of action that India should pursue, he delves into recommending India's priorities when framing its policy for the Eurasian region.
Furthermore, tracing India's relationship with countries such as Japan, the next chapter lays the factors that should govern India's Indo-Pacific policy. Singh subtly recommends the policymakers the way forward. China's historic declaration about the Belt and Road Initiative created ripples among four schools of thought, corresponding with four varying typologies within these schools. This chapter deals with that, and India's engagement with the BRI initiative, analysing the divergent viewpoints that come with this engagement. The section ends by describing the contemporary changes in South Asia and comparing the policy formulations under PM Modi and former PM Nehru; it further enlists India's future policy options, considering the current constraints it faces.
As there is with every book, there are a couple of points on which the book falls short of the expectations. The book has only a couple of tables, no graphs or illustrations, and no pictures that can serve as a visual break. The lack of these makes the reading a bit tedious, especially when the book's topic is such that it demands and commands attention. Additionally, certain portions in the book (particularly in section I) can throw off the reader by a constant chronological movement across various viewpoints.
However, there are certain aspects of the book that deserve appreciation. First, the book is highly informative and authentic in its research, as its reference list contains academic articles, news articles, government publications and the viewpoints of students and other experts. Secondly, Singh signposts his objectives and interpretations within and across chapters to facilitate retention of what he intends to reader to take with them. Additionally, the book is deftly sectioned into portions suiting various interests of all kinds of readers (as he explicitly mentions this in the preface). The book's language provides it with the potential to be widely popular, as it is written in a hybrid fashion (merging both academic and bestselling styles).
Based on the issues covered in the book and my comprehension of the same, India and China cooperate most on issues concerning the International Economic Order, followed by the issues of South Asia, and then Asia in general. The issues of divergence are dealing with Military Security and the Border Dispute. Further, I also believe that 'the simultaneous emergence of India and China, two major powers with independent foreign policies is a reality' (Singh,11), and this reality should be accepted and appreciated.
To conclude, reading this book was an enjoyable, enlightening and insightful experience, and it will make it an enticing read for policy professionals, academic experts, ministers and politicians, students and any other interested individual who intends to comprehend India and China relations either in totality or on a particular issue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2022
Not too bad for a one time read. Understanding how India and China are doing in terms of Narrating Diplomacy, Politics, Infrastructure, Military, Manufacturing to the rest of the Global powers.
April 9, 2021
Book has 3 parts which talk about Border Dispute, Geopolitics and Strategy for Future.
The author brings out in each of these parts the thought process of Indian and Chinese academia and policy makers.
Author puts into perspective wider geopolitical challenges of India and China. By this he tries to explain our historic and contemporary policy choices. For instance the author states that China knows its capacity drawbacks to influence Western Pacific, hence it chose to go landwards into Eurasia through its BRI. In case of India the author brings out India's hesitancy to accept China's swap offer of Eastern Ladakh (Aksai Chin) for recognition of Arunachal.
This book addresses all aspects of Indo-China relations in a broader perspective. It doesn't delve into some important aspects like trade - how it is one sided and how China has kept it of a colonial nature with India.
Overall it is a good read to understand the Chinese and Indian mind when comes to bilateral policy issues.
The author brings out in each of these parts the thought process of Indian and Chinese academia and policy makers.
Author puts into perspective wider geopolitical challenges of India and China. By this he tries to explain our historic and contemporary policy choices. For instance the author states that China knows its capacity drawbacks to influence Western Pacific, hence it chose to go landwards into Eurasia through its BRI. In case of India the author brings out India's hesitancy to accept China's swap offer of Eastern Ladakh (Aksai Chin) for recognition of Arunachal.
This book addresses all aspects of Indo-China relations in a broader perspective. It doesn't delve into some important aspects like trade - how it is one sided and how China has kept it of a colonial nature with India.
Overall it is a good read to understand the Chinese and Indian mind when comes to bilateral policy issues.
November 1, 2021
Author seems too positive on the making amends with China, The Author keeps forgetting China respects strength. There are lot of issues I do accepts with him that India as it grows will have to join hands with China in order to keep a multipolar world and also the part where we need not make a separate bloc but apart from that I differ from his view point on most occasions.
China will always look at us from a suspicious angle as we are developing and we might stand as a threat to China’s rise we can’t escape from that view.
I get to know an interesting point from the author about China Grab the week economy for its gain in a different view point from this book as well. The author says they where anyway in large amount of debt so why not some more.
Although the book is interesting not many points on which I can accept the authors POV.
China will always look at us from a suspicious angle as we are developing and we might stand as a threat to China’s rise we can’t escape from that view.
I get to know an interesting point from the author about China Grab the week economy for its gain in a different view point from this book as well. The author says they where anyway in large amount of debt so why not some more.
Although the book is interesting not many points on which I can accept the authors POV.
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May 11, 2021I had trouble following this book, and I don't think the sole reason was because I had Alexa read it to me! It's really a pity because this topic is extremely important! Perhaps I'll read it one more time.
二零二一年： 第十五本书
二零二一年： 第十五本书
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews