'India needs to listen more and react less'

New Delhi, Jul 28: Vishaka Desai, President of Asia Society on Tuesday, Jul 28 said that the inevitable rise of India and china on the global stage means the leadership models of each country would inform geo-political and geo-economic shifts in the world.

During an interactive session with Aspen Institute India, Desai pointed out the biggest difference between western countries and India and China is the notion of the 'self', which is in the individualistic and in the latter is very relational.

Desai added that because of India"s colonial past, our tendency is to stand up for ourselves and defend ourselves. China"s revolutionary history on the contrary dictates that reactions are practical, with the focus that what needs to be done must be done.

Desai also pointed that speeches of Indian corporate leaders have traces of nationalism as well as community responsibility, which is not seen amongst American business leaders. The Chinese business leaders again prefer to lead by example.

When asked on comment on climate change and ways in which leadership presented by India, US and China informs the same, Desai said that there is a need for leadership models to be flexible and for the various style to come together so that common problems can be addressed more effectively.

OneIndia News