This term paper, with the title "U.S. - India relations since India's independence and the rapprochement of the two cultures in the course of globalization", examines the importance of the politics of Jawaharlal Nehru and his successors for India's development into a leading power in South Asia, and the impact of these politics on the relations between the United States of America and India (1947 – 2009). Moreover, it deals with the question how globalization, since India's economic liberalization in 1991, affects the U.S. - India relations, and what changes it causes for the two countries and their citizens.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Jawaharlal Nehru - a dominant colossus in India´s politics: The beginnings
2.1. Modernization or Westernization of India?
2.2. Jawaharlal Nehru´s domestic policy of India
2.3. The rise and fall of the rightists in India
2.4. Jawaharlal Nehru´s foreign policy of India
2.4.1. The US-American Anti-India Policy
2.4.2. Jawaharlal Nehru´s foreign policy: idealism and realism
2.5. Jawaharlal Nehru´s legacy and its impact on India´s foreign policy
3. Improvement in US-India relations after the end of the Cold War
3.1. Media: A cause for India´s increasing consumerism
3.2. The effect of India´s global economic integration on the Indian and US -American workforce
3.2.1. The consequences of globalization for India´s farmers
3.2.2. Walmart in India
3.3. Intercultural rapprochement due to an increasing transnational expansion within the food and beverage sector
3.4. Hollywood and Bollywood
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Topics
This academic paper explores the evolution of the U.S.-India relationship from 1947 to 2009, specifically focusing on how India’s political trajectory, initiated under Jawaharlal Nehru, and the subsequent effects of economic liberalization and globalization have shaped the bilateral ties and cultural exchange between the two nations.
- The historical influence of Jawaharlal Nehru’s domestic and foreign policies on India’s rise as a major power.
- The shifting dynamics of US-India relations from the Cold War era to the post-1991 liberalization period.
- The socio-economic impacts of globalization, particularly regarding the Indian workforce and the agricultural sector.
- The role of media, consumerism, and the entertainment industry (Hollywood and Bollywood) in facilitating intercultural rapprochement.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2.1. The consequences of globalization for India´s farmers
During the past two decades, US-American companies did not only proliferate in the IT and manufacturing sector but also in “India´s massive farm sector, which employs 70% of the population”. This farm sector offers “huge investment opportunities” for foreign agricultural companies, as for instance for the “[a]gro-chemical giant Monsanto”. Monsanto, which is an internationally operating company based in St. Louis, Missouri, is working on genetically modified crops and fertilizers in India. Since “heavy synthetic fertilizer[s] […] and […] genetically modified crops” are increasingly demanded by megastores, like Wal-Mart, in India, Monsanto and similar companies earn a healthy profit. Mira Kamdar warns that India “is in danger of turning its back on the poor”. Further, she explains that
Under intense pressure from business interests, India is throwing away its rich agriculture, peasant […] heritage in favo[u]r of a toxic and dangerously outmoded […] model of industrial development, monopoly agriculture, and chaotic urban growth.
However, this development certainly does not take place without any opposition. There is a strong backlash among farmers, local vegetable sellers and small shop owners. Many Indian farmers not only suffer from India´s persistent water crisis but also from the establishment of more and more chemical plants and the application of new “industrial agricultural practices” by US agricultural companies. Therefore those farmers see no alternative but to protest, “sometimes with violent means”, against the ruthless procedures by foreign investors, in order to protect their land and their livelihood, equally. But very often, their protests “for land, […] food, […] water, […] forests [and] for the indigenous communities, […] are modified [by the powers in control] to appear as if they concern religion or are related to terrorism or extremism.” This leads to the general belief that farmers do not fight the effects of globalization but are warring against each other. Thus, this kind of manipulation keeps
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the paper's scope regarding the U.S.-India relationship and the transformative role of globalization since 1991.
2. Jawaharlal Nehru - a dominant colossus in India´s politics: The beginnings: Examines Nehru's foundational role in modernizing India and his pursuit of major-power status through domestic and foreign policy strategies.
2.1. Modernization or Westernization of India?: Explores the conceptual differences between modernization and westernization within the Indian context and their impact on national identity.
2.2. Jawaharlal Nehru´s domestic policy of India: Analyzes Nehru’s commitment to secularism, democracy, and social equality as pillars of the newly independent Indian state.
2.3. The rise and fall of the rightists in India: Discusses the emergence of Hindu nationalist ideology and its challenge to the secular political framework established by the Congress Party.
2.4. Jawaharlal Nehru´s foreign policy of India: Details the four components of Nehru's "grand strategy" and his efforts to maintain nonalignment while seeking international recognition.
2.4.1. The US-American Anti-India Policy: Explores historical friction between the U.S. and India, particularly regarding Pakistan and nuclear proliferation policies.
2.4.2. Jawaharlal Nehru´s foreign policy: idealism and realism: Breaks down Nehru's premiership into idealistic and realistic phases based on the shifting geopolitical climate.
2.5. Jawaharlal Nehru´s legacy and its impact on India´s foreign policy: Assesses the challenges faced by Nehru's successors and their adaptation of his policies in a changing global landscape.
3. Improvement in US-India relations after the end of the Cold War: Highlights the shift towards a closer bilateral partnership driven by economic growth and changing geopolitical necessities.
3.1. Media: A cause for India´s increasing consumerism: Investigates the influence of American media conglomerates on Indian cultural values and consumer behavior.
3.2. The effect of India´s global economic integration on the Indian and US -American workforce: Reviews the mixed consequences of offshoring and the economic shifts affecting both Indian laborers and American professionals.
3.2.1. The consequences of globalization for India´s farmers: Explores the backlash of the agricultural sector against the influx of foreign corporate interests and industrial practices.
3.2.2. Walmart in India: Discusses the resistance from local retailers against the entry of large foreign retail chains.
3.3. Intercultural rapprochement due to an increasing transnational expansion within the food and beverage sector: Analyzes the tensions and cultural exchanges brought about by multinational food corporations in India.
3.4. Hollywood and Bollywood: Examines the strengthening ties between the Indian and Western film industries and their mutual global ambitions.
4. Conclusion: Synthesizes the evolution of the U.S.-India relationship, acknowledging the complex balance of economic, political, and cultural factors.
5. Bibliography: Lists the sources and references used throughout the study.
Keywords
India, United States, Jawaharlal Nehru, Globalization, Foreign Policy, US-India Relations, Cold War, Consumerism, Hindutva, Economic Liberalization, Outsourcing, Hollywood, Bollywood, Nuclear Policy, Modernization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
This paper examines the political and economic evolution of India from its independence in 1947 through 2009, specifically focusing on the changing dynamics of its relationship with the United States in the context of globalization.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The core themes include the legacy of Nehru's political strategies, the rise of Hindu nationalism, the impact of economic liberalization on local Indian industries, and the cultural exchange manifested through media and film industries.
What is the central research question?
The work investigates how globalization has affected the relationship between the U.S. and India since the Indian economic liberalization in 1991, and what specific changes this has caused for both countries.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a descriptive and analytical approach, synthesizing existing literature, political reports, and media analyses to reconstruct the historical and contemporary developments in U.S.-India bilateral relations.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main sections cover domestic and foreign policy under Nehru, the emergence of right-wing political movements, the impact of economic integration on the labor force and agriculture, and the cross-cultural penetration of media and entertainment.
How would you characterize this work using keywords?
The work is best characterized by terms such as geopolitics, foreign policy, socio-economic transformation, cultural rapprochement, and the rise of India as a global power.
How does the author evaluate the "Nehruvian" legacy?
The author presents a nuanced view, acknowledging Nehru as the architect of India's modern statehood and nuclear aspirations, while also noting that his policies faced significant crises and obstacles that his successors had to navigate.
How has the film industry contributed to the rapprochement between the U.S. and India?
The author highlights that the expansion of Hollywood and Bollywood into each other's markets, driven by high revenues and technological/cultural exchange, serves as a bridge, fostering global cooperation and shifting perceptions between the two nations.
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- B.A. Loreen Leuschner (Autor:in), 2010, USA and India. Their relation since India's independence, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/270729
