Institute of Development Studies

Asian Drivers

China and India are 'poor but powerful' countries whose rise to global prominence is challenging both developed and developing countries alike. Their rapid growth, large size and increasing assertiveness in global affairs demands attention. What China and India do matters in areas as diverse as global governance (notably, climate change), global competition and development aid.

These points are now widely accepted, but the rush to come to terms with this new phenomenon frequently overlooks three important facts:

• China and India are themselves both changing rapidly. Therefore, research on the impact of China and India on other countries must understand the processes that are changing both their economies and the politics of their engagement with other countries.
• Despite the frequent lumping together of China and India, these two economies are very different in terms of their impact on the rest of the world and will develop in very different ways.
• These countries do not engage with the world in a vacuum. Countries increasingly place demands on them. They are not economic and political juggernauts whose impacts overwhelm the rest of the world. How OECD and developing countries engage with China will be critical for both defining its impact on the global economy and politics.

The Asian Drivers research programme at IDS recognises these challenges. Its developing research programme focuses simultaneously on the transformations taking place in China and India and on the economics and politics of their engagement with OECD and developing countries. In the past year, initiatives to take this agenda forward have included:

• A conference in Thailand in 2007 on Vulnerability to Crises and MDGs in Asia.
• A research project on China's Private Sector Investment and the Investment Climate in Africa.
• Research on Outsourcing and Innovation in the Indian Software Industry.
• The development of a new research programme jointly with the German Development Institute on the challenges to Europe posed by the rise of China and India.
• Collaboration with IDS climate change researchers to develop research on China and India as key actors in global initiatives for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• Development of thinking on the implications of China and India for Western aid donors and policy.

Asian Drivers News

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01 Dec 10 What are the environmental consequences of China's rise as a global player?



China's paradox: as well as being one of the world’s largest polluters, China is also a forerunner of innovation in low carbon technology and a key player in climate change negotiations.





06 Aug 10 China as the new 'shaper' in development



The Rising Powers Network takes a look at the understanding of development in China and the EU, and how China engage with low income countries through a series of international workshops.





22 Mar 10 New ESRC Rising Powers network on China



Rising Powers Network is a new network that will place China as the new 'shaper' of global development under the ESRC’s Rising Power’s Programme.






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Asian Drivers Publications




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• Humphrey, J. (2010) 'European Development Cooperation in a Changing World: Rising Powers and Global Challenges after the Financial Crisis' , Working Paper No 8, EDC2020
• Urban, F. and Mohan, G. (2010) 'China’s Rise – Implications for Low Income Countries', IDS In Focus Policy Briefing 8.4, Brighton: IDS
• Gereffi, G., Humphrey, J. and Sturgeon, T. (2007) 'The Governance of Global Value Chains (Beijing) ', Comparative Studies :157-176
• Gottschalk, R. (2006) 'The Asian Drivers: Financial Flows into and out of Africa. Implications for Developing Countries', IDS Bulletin 37.1, Brighton: IDS
• Schmitz, H. (2006) 'Asian Drivers: Typologies and Questions', IDS Bulletin 37.1:54-61



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Asian Drivers Projects

• China-Africa Development Prospects and Perspectives - The study aimed to generate knowledge on what is the best way that Africa can benefit from China's strong economic engagement with the continent. (2009 - 2009)
• China's Private Sector Investment and the Investment Climate in Africa - Based on extensive fieldwork interviews in China and Africa, this project examines the role of Chinese private enterprises in Africa. (2007 - 2009)
• Technological Trajectories for Climate Change Mitigation in China, Europe and India - This research project addresses the questions of how and why the emerging trajectories for climate change mitigation technologies in China, Europe and India differ and derives implications for strategies of international cooperation and competition at the enterprise and government level. (Ongoing)
• The Implications of China’s “Going Out” Strategy for Inequality and Poverty Alleviation in Latin America and Africa - (Ongoing)
• Understanding Chinese Investment and its Impacts in East Africa - China's engagement with Africa has continued to attract much attention across the world. A debate has formed about the benefits of this engagement on Africa's development. This project aims to identify and evaluate the implications of Chinese FDI on African development. (Ongoing)