The Intelligence from The Economist The club rules? India’s RSS
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Dec 23, 2024 
Avantika Chilkoti, a global business correspondent for The Economist, shares her firsthand experience at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's annual celebration in Nagpur. She delves into the organization's dual nature as a community hub and a supporter of Hindu nationalism. Chilkoti reveals how RSS influences Narendra Modi's policies and the complex dynamics of power at play. The discussion also highlights how Gulf countries are shifting focus towards innovation, and introduces the 2024 word of the year, 'cacostocracy,' reflecting current political sentiments.
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Modi and RSS Tension
- Despite being an RSS product, Modi's growing cult of personality clashes with the organization's emphasis on collective identity.
- This tension creates a complex dynamic between Modi's government and the RSS.
Decline of Science
- The Islamic Golden Age of science, marked by Baghdad's House of Wisdom, flourished until the Mongol invasion.
- This era's decline is reflected in the limited number of Nobel science prizes awarded to Middle Eastern individuals since.
Gulf States and Science
- Gulf states aim to diversify from fossil fuels by focusing on science and innovation.
- Despite efforts to create knowledge-based economies, R&D spending remains low compared to other wealthy nations.