Global Trade and Indian Politics: The German Dye Business in India before 1947
Мировая торговля и индийская политика: немецкий лакокрасочный бизнес в Индии до 1947 года
2015-01-01
SCID: 54.1/da2rtq3q
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German dye businessGerman-Indian commercial relationsIndian business historyIndian industrial self-relianceglobal trading networks
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Abstract (AI)
This article analyzes the German dye business in India before 1947 as an example of expanding German-Indian commercial relationships. German dye manufacturers showed great interest in India's economic potential in the absence of discriminatory tariffs, while Indian elites were interested in non-British Western partners, which could support their struggle for industrial self-reliance. This particular alignment of interests facilitated cooperation and shows that the so-called European experience is more diverse than research has shown so far. The analysis highlights global trading networks beyond the political boundaries of formal empire and offers an alternative perspective on Indian business history, which reveals more competition between multinationals of different origins and more strategic choices available to Indians.
Key Findings
1
German dye manufacturers pursued India’s economic potential when discriminatory tariffs were absent, encouraging commercial expansion before 1947.
2
Indian business history involved greater multinational competition and more strategic choices for Indian actors than conventional empire-centered accounts suggest.
3
Indian elites sought non-British Western business partners to support industrial self-reliance and reduce dependence on British interests.
4
The alignment between German commercial ambitions and Indian industrial goals facilitated German-Indian cooperation in the dye trade.
5
The case demonstrates that European economic experience was diverse and that global trading networks extended beyond formal imperial boundaries.
Research Object
The German dye business in India before 1947
Research Subject
German-Indian commercial cooperation, trading networks, and strategic business interests in the context of tariff conditions, Indian industrial self-reliance, and competition among multinational firms
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2015-01-01
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