Shifting Boundaries of State and Civil Society in India and China
2026-03-12 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York)
We are pleased to invite you to a thought-provoking discussion that explores how boundaries between state and civil society have been historically drawn, reshaped, and reimagined in India and China from their founding days to the present moment.
This panel will explore how civil society emerged alongside state power in India and China, the role of non-state actors in welfare and governance, and how aspirations for democracy are expressed and contested in both countries. The discussion will analyze the shifting boundaries of power, accountability, and civic action, offering fresh insights into the future of democratization in Asia.
MODERATOR

Nidhi Srinivas
Professor of Management, The New School

Nidhi Srinivas's research centers on social innovation and postcolonial studies, mobilizing critical theory to study a variety of topics, including management history, international development, mutual aid, ecological politics and civic design. Read more
SPEAKERS

Ajay Gudavarthy
Associate Professor, Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Ajay Gudavarthy has authored and edited several books on Indian politics, including India after Modi: Populism and the Right (Bloomsbury, Delhi, 2018), and Secular Sectarianism: Limits of Subaltern Politics (Edited, Sage, 2019). Gudavarthy has served as Visiting Fellow/Faculty in universities in India and abroad, including the University of Calcutta, Gottingen University and Tubingen University, Germany. Read more

Carolyn L. Hsu
Charles A. Dana Professor of Sociology, Associate Provost for Equity and Diversity, Colgate University

Carolyn Hsu's research interests include Chinese civil society, citizenship, NGOs, social movements and activism, the social credit system, social entrepreneurship, morality and values. She is part of the research group that conducts the Civic Participation in China Survey, which has been tracking changes in the relationship between citizens and the state in China since 2018, including new forms of activism and mobilization. Read more
