This edited volume reconsiders the conventional wisdom, which argues that comparative performance (in economic, social, political, as well as diplomatic arenas) of China has been superior to that of India. The book brings together 'new paradigms' for evaluating the comparative performance of two countries. The essays show that if not outright wrong, conventional wisdom has proven to be overly simplified. The book brings out the complexity and richness of the India-China comparison.

Ever since China and India began to reform their planned economies in the 1980s, the world has watched as two quite differenct development success stories have unfolded. One side has been China's rapid economic growth and remarkable achievements in poverty alleviation and diplomatic power. On the other has been India's less rapid growth but continued success in democratic rule and social pluralism. Today the two countries, which together account for 40 percent of the global population, are emerging as the new great powers of the twenty-first century. Contributors to this volume reconsider the conventional wisdom that argues that the comparative performance of China has been superior to that of India, bring together new paradigms for evaluating the two countries in terms of economics, social policy, politics, and diplomacy. The essays show that if not outright wrong, conventional wisdom has proven to be overly simplified.