India had the world's largest economy until the 17th century but suffered almost 500 years of decline afterward. However, India is currently the world's most populous nation with one of the largest economies, growing faster this year than any other major country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought stability to India, making the country economically and geopolitically resurgent. Critics worry that Modi's democracy is too autocratic and inward-looking, rooted in Hindu nationalism. India's future is uncertain as centrifugal forces of religion, inequality, and nationalism could overwhelm the current growth. Will India continue to evolve and become a global power?

Milan Vaishnav is a senior fellow and director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington and an accomplished India watcher. He shared some answers in this episode of the New Thinking for a New World podcast.

This podcast was first published on May 18, 2023

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