China and India after Decolonization: Implications for Southeast Asia

CHINA AND INDIA AFTER DECOLONIZATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA


PRASENJIT DUARA
Professor and Chair
Department of History
University of Chicago

November 19, 2007 (Monday)
10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Bulwagang Sala'am
Romulo Hall
Asian Center
University of the Philippines
Diliman, Quezon City


ABSTRACT
India and China had rather different historical relations with Southeast Asia for over two millennia. Although India had played an important cultural role in Southeast Asian society, it had a small presence in recent centuries. China had been, until recently, a much more powerful political presence. As the new national movements in the two societies began to converge towards a common horizon in the early twentieth century, their subsequent national histories marched to a remarkably similar rhythm. Both also sought to exercise their leadership over the emergent nations in Asia and Africa in post-WWII period.

The initial rivalry between the two for regional leadership, which culminated in the Bandung Conference in 1955, gave way to pre-occupation with domestic issues. It was not till several decades later that a renascent China was able to have a major influence in Southeast Asia. It is only recently that India has also turned its attention to the Asia Pacific region.

The paper tries to tell the story of what happened in the intervening years in the relations between the two over the issue of Asian leadership. It outlines how the Chinese leadership was effective in actually utilizing a Westphalian-type, Panchasheela model of international relations to further its interests among its neighbors, while also being able to confine India to South Asia. Improvement in the relations between the two nation-states in recent years and the concomitant growth in the status of India in Asia has led to considerable economic and political opportunities for Southeast states and people.

PROGRAM

09:30-10:00
Registration

10:00-10:05
Welcome Remarks
Aileen S.P. Baviera
Dean
Asian Center
University of the Philippines-Diliman

10:05-10:10
Introduction of the Speaker
Teresa S. Encarnacion Tadem
Director
Third World Studies Center
College of Social Science and Philosophy
University of the Philippines-Diliman

10:10-11:10
China and India after Decolonization:
Implications for Southeast Asia
Prasenjit Duara
Professor and Chair
Department of History
University of Chicago

11:10-11:50
Open Forum

11:50-12:00
Last Comments from the Lecturer



Moderator
Eduardo Gonzalez
Professor
Asian Center
University of the Philippines-Diliman