Bridging Two Worlds: Comparing Classical Political Thought and Statecraft in India and China

by Amitav Acharya (Editor), Daniel A. Bell (Editor), Rajeev Bhargava (Editor), Yan Xuetong (Editor)

Overview

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The rise of China and India could be the most important political development of the twenty-first century. What will the foreign policies of China and India look like in the future? What should they look like? And what can each country learn from the other? Bridging Two Worlds gathers a coterie of experts in the field, analyzing profound political thinkers from these ancient regions whose theories of interstate relations set the terms for the debates today. This volume is the first work that systematically compares ancient thoughts and theories about international politics between China and India. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the growth of China and India and what it will mean for the rest of the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780520390980
Publisher:	University of California Press
Publication date:	01/03/2023
Series:	Great Transformations , #4
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	334
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Amitav Acharya is Distinguished Professor of International Relations and UNESCO Chair in Transnational Challenges and Governance at the School of International Service, American University (Washington, DC).

Daniel A. Bell is Chair Professor of Political Theory with the Faculty of Law at the University of Hong Kong.

Rajeev Bhargava is Honorary Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (Delhi) and Director of its Parekh Institute of Indian Thought. 

Yan Xuetong is Distinguished Professor of International Relations at Tsinghua University (Beijing) and Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Setting the Stage, Part i: Overview of the Project Daniel A. Bell 1

Setting the Stage, Part 2: Why Compare the Classical Political Thought of China and India? Amitav Acharya 22

Theme I Methodology 37

1 Mining the Past to Construct the Present: Some Methodological Considerations from India Patrick Olivelle 39

2 Some Methodological Reflections: In Defense of Philosophy of Culture and Thick Generalizations Roger T. Ames 59

Theme II Political Leadership 75

3 How do Xunzi and Kautilya Ponder Interstate Politics? Yan Xuetong 77

4 Ashoka's Dhamma as a Project of Expansive Moral Hegemony Rajeev Bhargava 96

Theme III Amoral Realism 117

5 A Comparative Study on the International Political Thoughts of Han Feizi and Kautilya (Chanakya) Xu Jin 119

6 The Spectre of "Amoral Realism" in International Relations: A Classical Indian Overview Deepshikha Shahi 133

Theme IV Empire 153

7 The Particularity of Ancient China as an Empire Zhou Fangyin 155

8 Ideas of Empire in Ancient India in a Comparative Frame Upinder Singh 170

Theme V Just War 187

9 The Mahabharata, Mencius, and the Modern World: Reflections on Dharmayuddha and Anrsamsya Kanad Sinha 189

10 Mencius on Just War: A Comparison with Political Thought in Ancient India Daniel A. Bell 208

Theme VI Diplomacy 221

11 India's Diplomacy in Absentia: Violence, Defense, Offense Deep K. Datta-Ray 223

12 From Ancient Silk Road to Modern Belt and Road Initiative: A Signaling Approach to Trust-Building across Narratives Zhao Yujia 241

Theme VII Balancing, Hegemony, and Mandalas 265

13 Balancing in Ancient China Qi Haixia 267

14 International Order in Ancient India Manjeet S. Pardesi 284

List of Contributors 311

Index 313