POLITICAL CULTURE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GREEN POLICIES IN INDIA AND CHINA

Abstract

Political culture, governance systems, economic interests and environmental policy more and more shape sustainable development in the Global South. In this study, the authors analyze the relationship between political culture and sustainable development by comparing the green policies in India and China. Common challenges of fast industrialization, urbanization, climate change, resources and environmental degradation are shared by both countries but the different political and institutional frameworks result in a discrepancy in their responses. The democratic and federal structure of India is more conducive to public engagement, civil society involvement, judicial action, and experimentation at the state level. China’s centralized and state-led governance model enables long-term planning, coordinated implementation, and large-scale investment in renewable energy and green technologies. However, this model also presents challenges concerning public participation, environmental justice, and access to legal and institutional mechanisms for challenging environmental decisions. In contrast, the Indian context demonstrates the importance of community engagement, environmental impact assessment, and public interest litigation as mechanisms through which affected communities can participate in environmental governance and seek accountability.  The study makes a comparative assessment of key climate and environmental policies, renewable energy policies and programmes, low-carbon development policies and strategies, and environmental governance mechanisms in both countries. It explores the influence of political priorities, institutional capacity, bureaucratic effectiveness, public participation, economic development goals and state society relations on policy making and implementation. The issues of economic growth and environmental sustainability are of particular focus, as are issues relating to the effect of political culture on the effectiveness of policies. The study challenges the notion of finding a universal route to sustainable development in either model. Contextual, coordinated and integrated implementation of political will, institutional capability, technological innovations, economics, environmental accountability and participation is essential to good green governance. The case study of India and China helps to understand the influence of political culture on environmental governance in emerging economies and the lessons that can be learned to improve sustainable development strategies globally in the Global South.