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Symposium

The Future of India

Hauser Symposium Panel

Event date



From Asia Program.

India has emerged as a major global power capable of shaping events beyond South Asia. Experts from CFR and elsewhere examined the future of India and how the country’s economic trends, domestic politics, and foreign relations have affected its rise and viability as a critical international actor. 

This event was made possible by the generous support of the Hauser Foundation.

In-Person Session One: India’s Economic Rise—Continued Ascent or Turbulence Ahead?

Panelists will explore the history and trajectory of India’s economic growth, the various structural factors that led to the nation’s economic ascent, and how challenges from inadequate infrastructure and endemic poverty to a reliance on imported energy will affect India’s future.

Speakers

  • Pravin Krishna
    Chung Ju Yung Distinguished Professor of International Economics and Business, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University
  • Aseema Sinha
    Wagener Chair of Comparative and South Asian Politics and George R. Roberts Fellow, Claremont McKenna College (speaking virtually)
  • Arvind Subramanian
    Senior Fellow, Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, Brown University; Distinguished Nonresident Fellow, Center for Global Development; Nonresident Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics; Former Chief Economic Advisor, Government of India (2014–2018)

Presider

Introductory Remarks

  • James M. Lindsay
    Senior Vice President, Director of Studies, and Maurice R. Greenberg Chair, Council on Foreign Relations; @JamesMLindsay

Transcript

LINDSAY: Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Council on Foreign Relations and to the opening session of this year’s Hauser Symposium on “The Future of India.”

I’m Jim Lindsay, director of studies here at the Council on Foreign Relations. We are absolutely thrilled to be able to hold this annual symposium both in person and virtually.

One of the things I really want to do here is to recognize Rita Hauser, who is here with us today. (Applause.) Rita has been a very big and generous supporter of the Council, and this symposium is made possible with the great support of the Hauser Symposium. And so, Rita, as always, thank you.

We have three sessions today. They’re going to examine India’s future. We’re going to look at the country’s economic trends, its domestic politics, and its foreign relations, particularly in light of how these are affecting India’s rise and its influence as a critical global actor.

With that introduction, please join me in welcoming the panelists for our first session. It’s entitled “India’s Economic Rise—Continued Ascent or Turbulence Ahead?”

Our presider for this session will be Seema Mody, who is a global markets reporter for CNBC. Over to you,...

In-Person Session Two: India’s Democracy—Resilient or Endangered?

Panelists will discuss the health of Indian democracy, including the rise and popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, perceived democratic backsliding, and potential outcomes of upcoming state and national elections.

Speakers

  • Pratap Bhanu Mehta
    Laurence S. Rockefeller Professor for Distinguished Teaching, Princeton University
  • Lisa Mitchell
    Chair and Professor of Anthropology and History, Department of South Asia Studies, University of Pennsylvania (speaking virtually)
  • Ashutosh Varshney
    Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies and the Social Sciences and Director, Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia, Brown University

Presider

  • Bobby Ghosh
    Editor and Columnist, Bloomberg Opinion; CFR Member

Transcript

GHOSH: Shall we begin? Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Bobby Ghosh. Welcome to today’s Council on Foreign Relations Hauser Symposium. This session is entitled “India’s Democracy—Resilient or in Danger?”

And my three distinguished guests to discuss this topic are—I will start with Lisa, who is on screen. Lisa is chair and professor of Anthropology and History, the Department of South Asian Studies at the University of Pennsylvania; Pratap Bhanu Mehta is the Laurence S. Rockefeller Professor for Distinguished Teaching at Princeton University; and Ashu Varshney is the Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies and the Social Sciences director of the Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia at Brown University.

I have asked each of them to prepare an opening statement, if you like, an outline of their argument. They’ll each take five minutes, and then I will ask them a few questions, and then throw the session open to questions from you, the audience.

Lisa, would you like to get us started?

MITCHELL: Certainly. Thanks so much, Bobby. It’s nice to be with you all today, and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person.

I guess I’ll just start by saying that the democracy indicators for India all...

In-Person Session Three: Indian Foreign Policy in an Era of Geopolitical Competition

Panelists will explore India’s growing importance in an era of great power competition, the geopolitical implications of its leadership of multilateral partnerships like the G20 and the Quad, and how India will manage tensions between other world powers in the coming years.

Speakers

  • Alyssa Ayres
    Adjunct Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia, Council on Foreign Relations; Dean, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University; @AyresAlyssa
  • Robert D. Blackwill
    Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy, Council on Foreign Relations; Former U.S. Ambassador to India (2001–2003) (speaking virtually)
  • Ashley J. Tellis
    Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs and Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; CFR Member (speaking virtually)

Presider

Transcript

AGRAWAL: All right. Hello, everyone. Welcome to the third and final session of today’s Council on Foreign Relations Hauser Symposium. This session is titled “Indian Foreign Policy in an Era of Geopolitical Competition.” I’m Ravi Agrawal, the editor in chief of Foreign Policy magazine, and I’m presiding over today’s discussion. This meeting is on the record, but I’ve been assured it won’t stop our guests from being frank. So let’s introduce them all and give them a round of applause afterwards.

Alyssa Ayres, to my left, is the dean of the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University. She’s also an adjunct senior fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia here at CFR.

To her left, I have two virtual guests.

And they are, in order of—to the left of Alyssa we’ve got Ashley Tellis. He’s the Tata chair for strategic affairs and senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He’s also a CFR member.

And to his left we’ve got Robert Blackwill, the Henry Kissinger senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy at CFR. He was also a U.S. ambassador to India from 2001 to 2003.

Welcome all of you. Quick round of applause, please.

It’s...