ABSTRACT

Many, perhaps most, China experts would advise against comparing China with other countries vis-à-vis developmental efforts and corresponding gains and losses. The Chinese experience, or the ‘Chinese Model’ as it is often called, is supposed to be entirely unique on account of China’s peculiar history, her vast size, enormous human and other resources, and above all, the radical social, political and economic organization of the post-revolutionary period. This chapter is devoted toward construction of a larger framework of conditions and circumstances in India and China within which science and technology policy issues would become more meaningful. Under a totalitarian, highly centralized national-level planning and leadership, China emphasized, and largely succeeded, in generating mass support and involvement at various levels of developmental decision-making and action. The chapter also focuses on the relevance of India and China for each other, for other Third World countries and for the rest of the world.