Shifting Identities and Globalization in Contemporary India
A conference organized by The Globalization and Society in India Working Group at George Mason University
Sponsored by George Mason University's Center for Global Studies and The Colonial Academic Alliance
FEBRUARY 26, 2009
9 A.M. -- 5:30 P.M.
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY

This conference will foster critical analysis of the globalization discourse in India, while simultaneously developing a cross-disciplinary network of scholars interested in continuing the discussion of globalization's impact on thesub-continent. India began a period of economic deregulation and liberalization in the early 1990s.e ripple effects of these policy changes continue to be experienced in India as it becomes one of the fastest growing economies in the world. While great attention has been paid to the "new" India with its jubilatory discourse surrounding development, progress, and economic achievement, little attention has been focused on the changing Indian identity that has accompanied this growth. Although some scholars have acknowledged that these new economic policies have not benefited everyone equally, a sustained analysis is lacking. is conference brings to the fore discussions of the social problems and cultural conflicts that are a consequence of this success, but that are often hidden behind a veil of progress and growth. The rhetoric of "progress" in India needs to be problematized as it marginalizes the already-always marginalized. This conference aims to examine the underbelly of "progress" and provide a space where the dominant discourse can be critically examined.

Registration deadline: February 12, 2009
More information: http://www.colonialacademicalliance.org/collaborative/documents/IndiaConferenceBrochureFinal.pdf

IJEB INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INDIAN ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS ISSUES
December 18-22, 2009
New Delhi, India

To be Invited Speakers: Dr. Subramanian Swamy, Ex- Union Minister of Commerce, Government of India and Harvard Professor of Economics, Dr. Narendra Jadhav, Vice Chancellor, University of Pune; Dr. Narayana Murthy, Mentor, Infosys India and many other eminent scholars, academicians, business leaders and researchers. Invited speakers will address Luncheons and Dinners meetings on the India specific topics.

Paper & abstract submissions:
Deadline: June 1, 2009 even if early submission are encouraged. Blind review and acceptance letters out to primary author: June 1, 2009 or earlier if possible. Full paper submission deadline: October 1, 2009. Electronic submissions may be emailed to kulkarnk@mscd.edu. All paper submissions should follow guidelines listed on the journal website http://www.ijeb.com/InstructionsForAuthors.htm .
Selected papers will be published in the refereed conference proceedings which will be available to all participants at the conference.

Please send papers and registration fees to:
Dr. Kishore G. Kulkarni.
Editor, Indian Journal of Economics and Business, (visit www.ijeb.com),
Campus Box 77, P. O. Box 173362
Metropolitan State College of Denver
Denver, CO 80217-3362, USA.
Tel: 303-556-2675. Fax: 303-556-3966

China issues nervous welcome to Obama (AFP, Jan 21)
Sections of the state-run press on Wednesday censored Obama's inauguration speech to delete his praise for people who opposed communism and his warning that regimes who silenced dissent were on the wrong side of history. The defence ministry on Tuesday also warned Obama against continuing US military support to Taiwan, a long-standing point of tension between the two world powers. The China Daily editorial acknowledged that Bush's foreign policy efforts were full of disappointments, and described the "yet-to-be-justified" war on Iraq as a discredit to both the former president and the United States. But it said there were merits, namely his handling of US-China ties.

INDIA: 'No Reason For Unease at Obama Presidency' (Inter Press Service, Jan 21)
Former Indian diplomats and independent experts believe that India has no reason to be particularly apprehensive about the Obama presidency given the breadth and the depth of the U.S.-India relationship. However, Indian officials' apprehensions about Obama arise on three counts. First, unlike George W. Bush, who made Iraq the centrepiece of his foreign policy and war on terrorism, Obama will focus strongly on South Asia and Afghanistan. Secondly, Indian officials fear that President Obama may link a resolution of the Kashmir issue with its strategy of stabilising Pakistan. In recent interviews to "Time" magazine, Obama made such an explicit link and said that addressing Pakistan's security concerns on its eastern border with India would be the key to securing Islamabad's cooperation in the war on terror along its western border. A third source of India's apprehension is the perception in Washington that the top priority as regards Afghanistan is to secure Pakistan's cooperation in the war against the Taliban-al-Qaeda, and that this would mean reducing the pressure on Islamabad to act decisively against the jehadi networks that have been staging terrorist attacks in India.

India's Company Founders Must Disclose Shares Pledged for Loans (Bloomberg.com, Jan 21)
India's regulator said founders of companies must disclose shares pledged in return for loans, as authorities tighten disclosure rules in the wake of the alleged accounting fraud at Satyam Computer Services Ltd. Corporate owners must report how much of their stake was held by lenders at the end of Dec. 31, C.B. Bhave, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, said at a press briefing after its board met in Mumbai today. In future, disclosure will be "event-based and periodic," he said.

China, Hong Kong Central Banks Agree on Currency Swap (Bloomberg.com, Jan 21)
China's central bank and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority agreed on a 200 billion yuan ($29 billion) currency swap to help ease cash shortages and bolster the city's role as a foreign-exchange hub. Hong Kong's central bank will have access to Chinese yuan from the People's Bank of China for three years whenever the city needs "short-term liquidity support," China's central bank said in a statement today from Beijing. The deal will also promote yuan-denominated trade between Hong Kong and the mainland, the PBOC said.

Jobless migrants flood back to China's villages (Associated Press, Jan 19)
For Chen Xiaohong, the global economic crisis started with unsold portable DVD players. "The factory just couldn't move the merchandise. It sat there for three months. They said it was because of the financial crisis," said Chen, a slight 37-year-old in a navy suit with the trouser legs rolled up to keep the hems out of the mud. Chen, his wife and a half-dozen relatives worked at the factory on China's southern coast. Now they're all back in their rural village home earlier than expected for the country's biggest holiday, the Lunar New Year, with plenty of time on their hands. Slumping global demand has forced Chen and tens of millions of other rural migrants who power China's factories into an early vacation, sending them back to their villages and turning what is usually a festive break from grinding work into a period of gnawing uncertainty. Many don't know whether their factories will reopen and where else they can find work.

China Oil Fund Fuels Criticism (Radio Free Asia, Jan 21)
China's government is reportedly planning a large fund to help control oil prices as its energy policies remain in flux. On Jan. 9, the state-controlled China Daily said the country would establish "a giant government-led fund along the lines of the National Social Security Fund in a bid to stabilize oil supply, demand and prices." "Countries like Iran and Russia already have their oil stabilization funds, which help protect them from the fluctuation of international oil prices and stabilize their national economies," the English-language daily said. The problem is that the oil funds in those countries do just the opposite, according to analysts. Instead of using government money to keep oil prices from fluctuating, those funds use windfall oil profits to support long-term projects that need stable revenues when oil export prices fall. "Here [in the case of China], funds will be collected to control the market and subsidize certain players in the market when prices are against them," Philip Andrews-Speed, a China energy expert at Scotland's University of Dundee, told Radio Free Asia. "It's absolutely the other way around and really shouldn't be called an oil stabilization fund," he said.

China top coal producer says 2008 output up 20 pct (Reuters, Jan 8)
China's coal market currently has ample supplies, while despite heating needs in winter demand is weak due to an economic slowdown, dragging down coal sales in recent months. China's power generation fell over 6 percent in December, its third decline in a row as efforts to revive the economy by investing heavily in infrastructure failed to boost industrial activity.

Chu confirmed as Secretary of Energy (PennEnergy, Jan 20)
he Senate confirmed Steven Chu, President Obama's choice for secretary of energy, on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. The voice vote was unanimous for Chu and six other cabinet positions. Chu waded through his confirmation hearing for the position January 13, weathering questions from Capitol Hill about his commitments, values and plans when it comes to America's energy policy. Members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee grilled Chu about a past comment labeling coal his "worst nightmare." Chu noted that, if the world continues to use coal as it does today, we could all, globally, be a very bad situation -- especially given the increasing use of the fuel in Russia, China and India. Chu noted, however, that he favors a look at companion technology to make coal cleaner rather than calling for the end of the coal era.

Despite Historic Pact, U.S. Firms Are Hampered in Setting Up Reactors in India (Washington Post, Jan 21)
It took three years of diplomatic wrangling to get a controversial agreement signed late last year to allow India to participate in global civilian nuclear trade, but U.S. business executives now say there are more hurdles to overcome before they can start setting up reactors and selling fuel to India. The largest-ever business delegation from the United States met with high-level Indian officials, lawmakers and nuclear executives last week and pored over the fine print in the historic agreement . Some executives said it would take at least two to three years to jump through the bureaucratic hoops, complete the commercial negotiations and sign the contracts.

Astonfield to invest $2 bn in renewable energy sector (Business Standard, Jan 19)
Promoted by a group of non-resident Indians (NRIs), Astonfield Renewable Resources (ARRL), today said it will invest $2 billion in India's renewable energy sector in the next two years. "We will focus on the renewable energy space in India and invest $2 billion over the next two years," Astonfield Group of Companies' Co-Chairman & Director Sourabh Sen told reporters here. Pointing out that the focus of the company would be on solar energy, Sen said ARRL has already committed $1.2 billion in solar energy.

Satyam may agree to takeover or merger soon: Report (International Business Times, Jan 22)
Fraud-hit technology outsourcer Satyam Computer Services may give in to a takeover or merger offer soon, media reports claimed, even as a member of the newly appointed board said that potential buyers are knocking at its doors. "Satyam has got enormous fixed, human resources and technology assets. It's a very strong company. The board hasn't yet discussed the issue of a lookout for a buyer. But I have to truthfully say, we have been approached by potential buyers," Das, who is the chief mentor of leading industry lobby Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), said.

Revenue growth for Indian computer-services companies may slow to 6 percent this year, from 20 percent in 2008 (Reuters, Jan 8)
Wipro joins Indian software industry leader Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. in reporting profit that trailed analyst estimates. Tata Consultancy last week said net income rose 1.6 percent to 13.5 billion rupees after currency movements hurt earnings. Wipro plans to contain costs with various measures including wage freezes to help it tide over the current uncertain environment, Senapaty said today.
Apple to sell second-hand items in China (Digital Journal, Jan 21)
The well known computer giant Apple has opened an online recycling store that will be selling second-hand products in China. The company made the announcement on Tuesday. Items that have been sold before that were returned to Apple with faults will be sold in the online store. After a quality check they will be made available again. The used articles are offered with discounts up to twenty-two percent. An iPod Shuffle, for instance, will cost 308 yuan (35 Euro) and a used iMac will be 14.000 yuan (1.575).

Sony Starts First Blu-Ray Replication Factory in China amid Economy Crisis (Xbit laboratories, Jan 20)
In spite of extremely tough situation of the global economy, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on Tuesday opened up the first Blu-ray disc (BD) movie replication factory. The manufacturing facility will allow the company to sell Blu-ray content made in China inside the country, reducing manufacturing and fare costs and improving its own profitability. The factory, which will be run in partnership with Shanghai Media Group, is a 130 thousand square foot facility located in the Shanghai area that will employ 200 workers and will be able to produce up to 500 thousand Blu-ray discs per month, reports The Hollywood Reporter web-site.

Georgia Ramps Up Agriculture Presence in China (Global Atlanta, Jan 20)
Until recently, Matt Anderson hadn't come across a Chinese word for "pecan." "That came about in the past few months," said Mr. Anderson, an international trade specialist for the Georgia Department of Agriculture. "Before that, for 99 percent of (China's) population, a pecan was just a funny-looking walnut." The need for a distinction has increased as Chinese demand for the Georgia-grown nuts has risen. As the world's epicenter of pecan farming, Georgia usually accounts for about a third of production in the U.S., which grows 80 percent of the world's pecans. Thanks to a record crop in 2007, Georgia had 60 percent of U.S. production and exported 40 million pounds of pecans, four times the 2006 amount, said Hilton Segler, president of the Georgia Pecan Growers Association. Most of those exports went to China, which has emerged as a huge market for Georgia-grown products, he said. Georgia farmers have had no trouble selling poultry and cotton in China, and the state is ramping up its presence there.

India Won't Impose Tax on Crude Palm Oil Imports (Bloomberg.com, Jan 21)
India, the world's largest buyer of vegetable oils after China, ruled out import taxes on crude palm oil as prices of domestic oilseeds stay above the assured rates the government pays farmers. Domestic oilseed prices are rising, farm minister Sharad Pawar told reporters in New Delhi today. India scrapped import duty on crude palm oil in April to bolster domestic supplies.

China's steel market may be recovering (Australia Metal Worker, Jan 21)
CHINA's largest steelmaker has raised prices for key steel products for March, halting decisively five months of price declines. Baoshan Iron and Steel (Baosteel) had halted two-thirds of its galvanising steel production facilities in late 2008 due to weakening demand.

China Iron Ore Price Talks Unlikely To End Soon (Wall Street Journal, Jan 21)
Brazilian miner Companhia Vale Do Rio Doce (RIO), or Vale, has suggested it could accept a 10% reduction in this year's iron ore contract prices, a Shanghai-based analyst with sources in Baoshan Iron & Steel (600019.SH) or Baosteel, said Wednesday. Baosteel, along with the China Iron & Steel Association, is representing Chinese steel mills in annual contract price negotiations with leading miners.

Geneva Acquisition to buy Mumbai steel producer (IndUS Business Journal, Jan 16)
Geneva Acquisition Corp., a U.S.-based "blank-check" company whose sole objective is to acquire existing businesses, has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Global Hi-Tech Industries Ltd., a privately held integrated-steel producer headquartered in Mumbai, India. Under the terms of the agreement, Geneva will purchase Global Hi-Tech Industries to form India Steel & Metals Corp. in a multi-step transaction, initially acquiring 51.6 percent of GHIL at closing, with an option to acquire an additional 15.7 percent and plans to then acquire the remaining 32.7 percent. Both of the two subsequent acquisitions are expected to occur within 30 days of closing.

New race to explore the Himalayas (chinadialogue, Jan 15)
Comprehensive data on climate change's effects on Himalayan glaciers is woefully lacking. Introducing The Third Pole project on chinadialogue, Navin Singh Khadka reports.

Managing climate security (chinadialogue, Jan 15)
Climate change -- and our responses to it -- will fundamentally change the world's strategic security environment. Nick Mabey introduces Frontline Earth, a new project that examines the unprecedented challenges that lie ahead.

Past Graft Is Tainting New India (The New York Times, Jan 19)
India's world-class technology sector was the epitome of "New India," a nation that had left behind its feudal past to embrace modernity and the market. But the billion-dollar scandal at Satyam Computer Services has exposed old-fashioned corruption: a patriarch willing to go to any length to keep control, a web of cozy relationships among members of a seemingly untouchable elite, and a governance system that failed to keep either in check. "The challenge is not that there is corruption in India," said Rajeev Malik, an analyst with Macquarie Securities, "but that these issues surfaced in a company that only recently was awarded a prestigious international award for corporate governance, and was in a sector that set the bar higher for other sectors."

China Reports Third Bird-Flu Death This Month (WSJ, Jan 20)
Until this month, no new human cases had been reported in China since February 2007. The Agriculture Ministry has ordered tighter monitoring of disease outbreaks at all levels and proper vaccination of all poultry. It also will increase checks across the country and at borders.

Drug Making's Move Abroad Stirs Concerns (New York Times, Jan 19)
Decades ago, most pills consumed in the United States were made here. But like other manufacturing operations, drug plants have been moving to Asia because labor, construction, regulatory and environmental costs are lower there. The critical ingredients for most antibiotics are now made almost exclusively in China and India.

International Contributors Editorial Board
RJ Paulsick - Co-Editor
Roxanne Russell - Co-Editor
Geoff Hiscock - Australia
Harsha Harjani - Hong Kong
Dr. Nilay Yajnik - India
Farhad Mirzaei - Iran
Ajay Sharma - Netherlands
Melissa Steinmetz - UK
Dr. Daney Jackson - USA
Dr. John R. McIntyre - USA
Dr. Sudhanva Char - Academic Resources
Shree Pandya - Engaging Youth
Laurel Askue - Environment & Conservation
Christopher Chan - Intellectual Property