{"id":1699,"date":"2026-08-11T21:02:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T15:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingbharat24.com\/the-left-behind-india-global-trade-deals-can-have-disruptive-political-consequences\/"},"modified":"2026-08-11T21:02:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T15:32:15","slug":"the-left-behind-india-global-trade-deals-can-have-disruptive-political-consequences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingbharat24.com\/en\/the-left-behind-india-global-trade-deals-can-have-disruptive-political-consequences\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u2018left-behind\u2019 India: Global trade deals can have disruptive political consequences"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Double-Edged Sword of Globalisation: Understanding India’s ‘Left-Behind’ Regions<\/strong><\/p>\n

As India embarks on a renewed journey of globalisation, signing trade deals with major economies and deepening its integration with the world, policymakers must confront an uncomfortable reality: the benefits of globalisation are unevenly distributed across the country. While some regions have thrived on the back of foreign investment and export-oriented growth, others have been left behind, exacerbating regional inequality and social conflict.<\/p>\n

The Uneven Promise of Globalisation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Globalisation has been a double-edged sword for India. On the one hand, it has created new employment opportunities in labour-intensive sectors like textiles and apparel, and higher-skilled sectors like IT and business services. On the other hand, these opportunities are concentrated in a handful of regions, deepening regional inequality and creating social tensions.<\/p>\n

My research on India’s 30-year experience with globalisation reveals that the benefits of trade liberalisation are often concentrated in a few places, leaving many others behind. This is because the conditions for global production, such as superior infrastructure and industrial agglomeration, are not equally available across the country.<\/p>\n

The Migration Effect<\/strong><\/p>\n

As India’s engagement with the world economy deepens, internal migration is likely to increase, with people moving towards centres of global production in search of new employment opportunities. This migration has had significant political consequences, both for areas that migrants go to and for the areas they leave behind.<\/p>\n

In areas that migrants go to, nativist backlash has reshaped local politics, with locals expressing concerns about labour market competition, public services, and cultural threat. In areas left behind, the out-migration of socioeconomically advantaged groups has led to a decline in the provision of vital public goods like education, healthcare, and electricity.<\/p>\n

The Impact on Public Goods Provision<\/strong><\/p>\n

The IT boom, which has been a key driver of India’s economic growth, has had a disproportionate impact on public goods provision in left-behind areas. My research with Junghyun Lim shows that the selective out-migration of advantaged groups from these areas has led to a decline in the provision of vital public goods, further reducing economic mobility for marginalised groups.<\/p>\n

The Way Forward<\/strong><\/p>\n

As India deepens its integration with the world economy, policymakers must pay attention to the uneven distribution of benefits and the potential social consequences. This requires a more nuanced understanding of the linkages between globalisation, human mobility, and public goods provision.<\/p>\n

Better understanding these linkages can help policymakers predict the economic impacts of globalisation and the extent to which ordinary Indians support pursuing further liberalisation in trade and investment. It can also inform targeted policies to alleviate local concerns and protect migrants from targeting and discrimination.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

India’s journey of globalisation is a complex and multifaceted process. While it has created new economic opportunities and boosted economic growth, it has also deepened regional inequality and social conflict. As India continues to pursue globalisation, policymakers must confront the uncomfortable reality of the uneven distribution of benefits and work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable growth model.<\/p>\n

Benjamin Helms is an Assistant Professor in the Department of International Affairs at the Bush School of Government and Public Service.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This article was first published on India in Transition, a publication of the Center for the Advanced Study of India, University of Pennsylvania.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Amid talk of fractures in world trade, India continues to pursue globalisation as an economic development strategy. 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