The China-India Rivalry Reconceptualized

This article aims to refocus the theoretical debate on the rising China-India rivalry by using the conceptual framework of 'enduring international rivalries'. Largely neglected by China-India studies, the enduring international rivalries literature is used hereafter to re-conceptualize the interactions between the two giants in a postcolonial context, and hypothesize the potential evolution of their so-called 'rivalry'. Rather than being considered as a fait accompli, the rivalry will be construed through its intrinsic dynamisms (a series of historicized dyadic crises shaped by deeply rooted perceptual gaps and mutual psychological distrust since 1947) in order to conceptually map out the patterns that make it live, consolidate, and potentially terminate. It is argued that the successive peace management processes initiated by Chinese and Indian state leaders after each bilateral crisis have nevertheless perpetuated the rivalry, without any credible conflict resolution initiative been taken over the years. This article concludes on the importance to settle the territorial dispute, bridge the psychological gaps between the two societies, and increase democratization trends in China, if a rivalry termination between the two rising powers is to be envisioned.