Professor Anthony P. D’Costa

The Long March to Capitalism: Embourgeoisement, Internationalization and Industrial Transformation in India

By: Professor

Anthony P. D’Costa, Comparative International Development, University of Washington – Tacoma

Relying on political economy and institutional approaches Professor D’Costa discusses India’s recent industrialization with a focus on automobiles and consumer durables industries, sectors that are understudied in the context of India’s glamorous software industry. He argues that structural transformation, which was initially state-engineered, became the foundation for future market growth in India.

The rise of the Indian “middle” class has been the basis for market development, consistent with international economic integration and globalization. His talk goes beyond the demand side of market development and brings in supply responses to demand growth in the form of institutional responses, including Japanese-style flexible industrial practices at the industry and shop floor levels. Departing from other studies on market expansion, the study emphasizes the uneven character of capitalist development and the inherent contradictions of contemporary industrialization. Finally Professor D’Costa outlines some of the ways by which contradictions could be “resolved” with an alternative system of capitalist regulation.

Dr. Anthony P. D’Costa is a Professor of Comparative International Development at the University of Washington. He is the author of a large number of scholarly articles and books. His most recent book is: 

“The Long March to Capitalism” (2005, Palgrave Macmillan).  

The talk is arranged by the

Asia Research Centre and

NIAS. For further information please contact administrative secretary Anne Jensen,

ahj.int@cbs.dk, phone 38 15 34 09.