China & India Flashcards
Population of China
1.3 billion
Population of India
1.2 billion
Political and economic history of China
Early centre of civilisation.
Dominant global power for 2,000 years.
Decline in the nineteenth century, hastened by Japanese invasion and European interference.
Manufacturing impressed European visitors with its complexity and sophistication.
In 1985, 33% of global manufacturing production was Chinese.
Political and economic history of India
Early centre of civilisation
Fell under the influence of European colonial powers in the eighteenth century.
Direct colonial rule by Britain in the nineteenth century, India was responsible for 15% of global manufacturing.
Active struggle for the independence begins n the early twentieth century.
Key date of China
Communist revolution, 1949
Key date of India
Independence from Britain, 1947
Path to development of China
State led industrialisation and intensification of agriculture.
Largely cut off from rest of world, 1949-80.
Increasing economic reform and liberalisation since 1980, leading to an explosion of foreign investment, manufacturing and trade.
Path to development of India
Policy of economic and political independence and home grown technology.
High import tariffs, gradually lowered after 1990.
Still a predominantly rural society, it has built a very powerful and increasingly global economy.
Relations with other superpowers: China
Uneasy, sometimes hostile relationships with the former USSR, Russia and the USA.
Relations with the USA thawed in the 70s as the USA sought to prevent a communist alliance between China and the USSR.
In recent years, China has sought some economic and political stability in Asia.
Relations with other superpowers: India
Following independence India was ‘neutral’ steering a pathway between the USA and USSR.
Neither of the superpowers was happy with this policy.
India has worked hard to establish good relationships with other ‘neutral’ countries to enhance its role internationally.
