Tony Blair, who took Indo-British ties to a new level during his 10 years as prime minister, believes that India is a shining example of a nation that is "genuinely democratic" even as it develops and faces several challenges.
In his remarkably candid memoir titled 'My Journey,' Blair mentions the growing economic power of India several times, and credits himself for foreseeing the growing importance of China and India to international agreements.
In his book has become a best-seller across the country, Blair writes: "Three years out of office have given me time to reflect on our system of government and to study other system. I have no doubt democracy is the best system.
"And India remains the shining example of a large nation, still developing, that manages to be genuinely democratic".
Since democracy depends on institutions, rules and culture to work effectively, Blair says that China, unlike India, "will only be ready for simple democracy at a certain point in development".
On economic matters, Blair writes, "India needs less bureaucracy and less state power, not more".
Recalling that he upgraded the G8 to a new level by inviting India and other emerging powers during its meeting in Birmingham in 1998, Blair writes that China and India are vital to any international agreements.
He writes, "I looked at G8 and this was before the economic crisis in 2008 " and realised that there was no way it could survive.
"China, India, Brazil and others would demand a seat at the table; and if they didn't get one, they would get their own table.
He adds, "I saw the danger for Europe of a G2: US and China. And then, if we weren't careful, a G3: US, China and India. Or a G4: US China, India and Brazil. And so on.... As the new economies emerge, we have to compete. How? Bybrains and skill, by moving up the value-added chain. By working harder. By competing on merit, on ability".
Blair writes that climate change is a global challenge and the solution is global agreement.
He writes, "The agreement requires developing and developed nations -China and India, America and Europe - to agree. Their national interest lies in a collective bargain.
"That bargain won't work unless it is fair to countries at different stages of development".
Stating that geopolitical power was changing in this age of globalisation, Blair writes that China, India, Brazil, Russia and in time Indonesia, Mexico and others "demand rightly to be treated as equals and partners".
"But, to state the obvious, they do not all share the same interests or views".
