India: the next superpower
most dangerous country in the world to be a woman. 34 Such misogyny inevitably diminishes the rates of beneficial inward investment and inward migration.
Although India’s population is predominantly Hindu, India is also home to many other religious communities (see figure 3). Historically, these different religious groups have lived largely segregated lives, 35 but have tolerated each other. More recently, however, a rise in Hindu nationalism has led to tension with other religious communities. 59% of Hindus now say it is ‘very important’ to be able to speak Hindi to be ‘truly Indian’. 36 India’s Hindu population has come into particular conflict with India’s Muslim minority, encouraged by ‘anti - Muslim rhetoric’ from populist Hindu parties and politicians. 37 Muslims complain of abuse and places of Islamic religious significance have been attacked. 38 Indian Hindu society itself is further divided into five castes: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras and Dalits. Although India’s
Figure 3
constitution prohibits discrimination by caste, and the influence of the caste system is said to be waning, discrimination by caste remains a problem. 39 These various divisions in Indian society are an impediment to social cohesion and will hold India’s development back.
Finally, India is likely to have to negotiate and overcome China’s influence to become a true global superpower. Geographically, India is virtually in China’s back - yard. China is also India’s largest trading partner. China’s military and economic influence around the world is much more developed than India’s. China has interests with which it can exert influence not just in the South China Sea and Africa, but all around India: in the in the Indian Ocean region, 40 in Pakistan, 41 in Afghanistan, 42 in the Middle 34 India’s Official Crime Statistics for 2016 show that: a woman was raped every 13 minutes; six women were gang-raped every day; a bride was murdered for dowry every 69 minutes; and 19 women were attacked with acid every month- see Is India really the most dangerous country for women? - BBC News. 35 All communities agree that ‘ a large majority say their friends come mainly or entirely from their small religious community ’ - see Religion in India: Tolerance and Segregation | Pew Research Center. 36 Carrie Blazina, ‘For Most of India’s Hindus, Religious and National Identities Are Closely Linked,’ Pew Research Center , April 14, 2024, https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/07/20/for-most-of-indias-hindus- religious-and-national-identities-are-closely-linked/. Consulted 15/8/24. 37 BBC News, ‘Uttar Pradesh: India’s Muslim Victims of Hate Crimes Live in Fear,’ February 21, 2022, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-60225543. Consulted 15/8/24. Yogi Adityanath in particular is accused to inciting attacks on Muslims with inflammatory speeches. 38 Soutik Biswas, ‘Delhi Riots: How Muslims’ Homes Were Targeted and Burnt,’ March 4, 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51719204. Consulted 16/8/24. 39 The Economist, ‘India’s Caste System Remains Entrenched, 75 Years After Independence,’ The Economist , September 11, 2021, https://www.economist.com/asia/2021/09/11/indias-caste-system-remains-entrenched- 75-years-after-independence. Consulted 13/8/24. 40 Joshua T. White, ‘China’S Indian Ocean Ambitions,’ Brookings , June 15, 2020, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/chinas-indian-ocean-ambitions/. Consulted 19/8/24. 41 Madiha Afzal, ‘‘At All Costs’: How Pakistan and China Control the Narrative on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,’ Brookings , June 15, 2020, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/at-all-costs-how-pakistan-and-china- control-the-narrative-on-the-china-pakistan-economic-corridor/. Consulted 19/8/24. 42 Vanda Felbab-Brown, ‘A BRI(Dge) Too Far: The Unfulfilled Promise and Limitations of China’s Involvement in Afghanistan,’ Brookings , June 15, 2020, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/a-bridge-too-far-the-unfulfilled- promise-and-limitations-of-chinas-involvement-in-afghanistan/.
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