Conclusion

Abstract

Economic outcomes are the result of a historically developed complex set of interrelations between the state, its evolving policies and institutions as well as private business under local or foreign control. These interrelations operate under the constraints and opportunities offered by prevailing structural conditions (see Figure 3.1), for developing countries, mostly internationally given economic conditions. They also depend on the historically given preconditions, including state structures, some of which may be traced back to colonial times as argued by Atul Kohli (2004). The approach chosen here to illuminate these complex interactions for developing countries as they have unfolded in this time of evolving economic globalization was to study closely two selected cases, India and Brazil, guided by open-ended questions inspired by the theoretical debates on developmental states and on the changing nature of world capitalism. One cannot expect to achieve a comprehensive and fully satisfactory picture of how the two countries have managed the challenges of economic globalization from this exercise alone, and other approaches may lead to different interpretations, but the claim here is, nevertheless, that important and significant conclusions can be drawn. With this caveat, I will, in this final chapter, draw out the conclusions, discuss some of the implications and point to some areas for future research.