Both India and China became independent countries within two years of each other (India in 1947, and China in 1949). Within less than 75 years, India and China have become respectively, the 7th and 2nd largest economies in the world, yet India is a multi-party democracy and China is a single-party socialist republic. What do you think are the key factors that help explain this divergence in political outcomes in the two most populous countries? Identify between 2-4 factors (historical, cultural, political, economic) and discuss why you think these factors help explain this divergence.

 Both India and China became independent countries within two years of each other (India in 1947, and China in 1949). Within less than 75 years, India and China have become respectively, the 7^th and 2^nd largest economies in the world, yet India is a multi-party democracy and China is a single-party socialist republic. What do you think are the key factors that help explain this divergence in political outcomes in the two most populous countries? Identify between 2-4 factors (historical, cultural, political, economic) and discuss why you think these factors help explain this divergence.