Weaving Histories: Unraveling the Diverging Textile Economies of India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam Through Colonization and Globalization

Brown University Undergraduate Honors Thesis

Awards:
Linda J. Cook Award for Outstanding Honors Thesis in Comparative Politics
Undergraduate Thesis Prize in South Asian Studies in the Social Sciences Category

Abstract:

How were the effects of colonization and globalization felt in the textile industries of India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, and how did this impact the industry’s economic development and perpetuate oppressive labor conditions for textile workers? Today, Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam stand as three of the top four global exporters of textiles, each with a rich history of textile production spanning centuries. Despite this, comprehensive research comparing their industries’ development over time is scarce. Through comparative case studies spanning periods of colonization and globalization, this thesis presents a novel empirical analysis of the textile industries of these nations. I argue that the timing of independence holds greater significance than the nationality of the colonizing force, as it influences the economic and political development strategies adopted by each nation. While India and Bangladesh faced the same colonizing force, they diverged in their post-colonial trajectories due to their distinct independence eras (1947 and 1971 respectively). Conversely, despite facing disparate colonizing forces, both Bangladesh and Vietnam gained independence in the 1970s and pursued similar economic paths. Employing a blend of controlled comparison testing and congruence procedures, these findings offer insights applicable to a broader spectrum of the global textile industry, with implications for labor reforms and economic policies.