Abstract

XAVIER, Constantino. Democracy in Asia. Relações Internacionais [online]. 2013, n.38, pp.57-69. ISSN 1645-9199.

This article looks at how India and China debate the relevance of democracy as a regime to their respective development strategies and foreign policies. With special emphasis on the Indian case, it argues that these countries are pursuing divergent models and that this competition has important implications for other Asian countries that are undergoing rapid transition and massive socio-economic transformation. The natural tension between domestic decision-making processes and principles, and exigent external priorities is a typical challenge faced by great powers. But unlike authoritarian China, the eventual success of India’s democratic model is crucial to the future of the liberal order.

Keywords : Democracy; China; India; Asia.

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