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OPINION: India’s rise brings challenges, opportunities
India is surpassing China to become the world’s most populous nation, according to data from the United Nations. This is a significant development with more than symbolic importance. India, with its huge, diverse population and its growing economy, is poised to play a leading role in global affairs. It’s also a key U.S. ally, but […]
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India is surpassing China to become the world’s most populous nation, according to data from the United Nations. This is a significant development with more than symbolic importance.
India, with its huge, diverse population and its growing economy, is poised to play a leading role in global affairs. It’s also a key U.S. ally, but our relationship isn’t always as smooth as we might like. The rise of India presents both opportunities and challenges for American foreign policy.
The nation of 1.4 billion people has long taken pride in being the world’s largest democracy, but recent developments — including limits on free speech and political activity and efforts to define India as a Hindu nation — have raised questions about its commitment to democratic norms.
India celebrated 75 years of independence last year, and it has been in the global spotlight. Its fast-growing economy is the world’s fifth largest, having surpassed the United Kingdom, its former colonial ruler. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to make a state visit to Washington, D.C. soon, and President Joe Biden will travel to Delhi in the fall for a Group of 20 summit.
India is growing while China and many Western countries are not. India enjoys a “demographic dividend” because so many of its people are young and moving into the workforce. China has an aging population and a growing share of retirees, partly because of the one-child policy that it pursued until recently.
Economic reforms over the past 30 years have helped boost India’s economy, which includes a fast-growing services component, a strong tech sector, and a dynamic startup culture. Business services, such as outsourcing and information technology, are a major part of its $3 trillion GDP. Modi has promoted “digital public infrastructure,” and a ubiquitous instant-payment system has transformed domestic commerce. Indian culture — including food, films, and music — has tremendous global influence. India struggles with poverty and pollution, however. Some regions are prosperous, but others are not. It lags far beyond China in the size of its economy, per-capita economic output, and health indicators like infant mortality and life expectancy. Only one in five Indian women are in the formal workforce.
Ethnic divisions are serious, and Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which is rooted in Hindu nationalism, has been tied to anti-Muslim violence. The government has taken an authoritarian turn. It has instituted citizenship-verification requirements and sent longtime residents to detention centers when they couldn’t prove they were born in India. Opposition leaders have been arrested; and one, Rahul Gandhi, was sentenced to two years in jail for defaming the prime minister.
India has also frustrated American and European leaders by declining to condemn Russia’s war in Ukraine. Instead, India has strengthened its ties with Russia and increased trade; it relies on Russia for food, fuel, and fertilizer. Long a British colony, and later a nonaligned nation, India doesn’t take kindly to being pressured or lectured by the West.
U.S. officials are reluctant to publicly criticize India, however. It is a “trusted trading partner,” as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on a recent visit. U.S.-India bilateral trade reached $157 billion in 2021. Indian investment in the U.S. totals $12.7 billion and supports 70,000 jobs. American universities enroll almost 200,000 Indian students. Perhaps more importantly, India is a key strategic ally and a counterbalance to China, which seeks to expand its influence in Asia and globally.
As countries take sides in a global competition between democratic norms, exemplified by the United States, and China’s autocratic model, India — the world’s most populous nation — could tilt the scales one way or the other. Maintaining a productive relationship with India is vital for the U.S. and the West.
Lee Hamilton, 92, is a senior advisor for the Indiana University (IU) Center on Representative Government, distinguished scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, and professor of practice at the IU O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Hamilton, a Democrat, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years (1965-1999), representing a district in south-central Indiana.
Pinckney Hugo Group, a full-service marketing-communications firm, has hired ERIN PACIFICI and ALEXIA CARR, both of Syracuse, as assistant account managers. Prior to joining Pinckney Hugo Group, Pacifici was a digital-outreach specialist at another marketing organization in Central New York. She has a bachelor’s degree in communication and film studies from Le Moyne College. Prior
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Pinckney Hugo Group, a full-service marketing-communications firm, has hired ERIN PACIFICI and ALEXIA CARR, both of Syracuse, as assistant account managers. Prior to joining Pinckney Hugo Group, Pacifici was a digital-outreach specialist at another marketing organization in Central New York. She has a bachelor’s degree in communication and film studies from Le Moyne College. Prior to joining Pinckney Hugo, Carr was an operations manager at Amazon. She has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Fox School of Business at Temple University.
Metis Consulting Group — a Manlius–based IT consulting firm and certified woman-owned, disability-owned B-Corp — recently announced that ERIN MCLANE-GWIN, a nine-year veteran at Metis, has been promoted to chief of staff. McLane-Gwin holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Hartford and leads Metis’ human resources and accounting teams. Joining Metis as
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Metis Consulting Group — a Manlius–based IT consulting firm and certified woman-owned, disability-owned B-Corp — recently announced that ERIN MCLANE-GWIN, a nine-year veteran at Metis, has been promoted to chief of staff. McLane-Gwin holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Hartford and leads Metis’ human resources and accounting teams. Joining Metis as software-application developers are CASEY COCHRAN (California), SAMUEL EFFA (Michigan), and JOSHUA LOKKEN (Minnesota). Metis has also partnered with Syracuse University’s Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering (CASE), welcoming graduate students MANAS BHOLE and SUSHEEL GOUNDER as software-developer interns.

RONALD FIGUEROA was recently promoted to resource sharing and facility manager at Syracuse University Libraries. He has more than 20 years of experience in academic-library service and operations, with a focus on resource sharing, interlibrary loan, and access services. Figueroa joined the Libraries in 2014 as interlibrary loan supervisor, and his responsibilities expanded to resource-sharing
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RONALD FIGUEROA was recently promoted to resource sharing and facility manager at Syracuse University Libraries. He has more than 20 years of experience in academic-library service and operations, with a focus on resource sharing, interlibrary loan, and access services. Figueroa joined the Libraries in 2014 as interlibrary loan supervisor, and his responsibilities expanded to resource-sharing manager the following year. Figueroa is now responsible for management of the Syracuse University Libraries’ offsite storage facility and accompanying workflows. He also oversees delivery service, course reserves, and alternate format of library materials as an accommodation for authorized patrons. Under Figueroa’s leadership, all areas of his responsibilities have increased in usage and service improvement. Since assuming coordination of course reserves, usage has increased by 20 percent and usage of delivery service has increased by 15 percent.

MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, has hired CARRIE ARENS as senior accountant. In this role, she will ensure fiscal compliance with regulations of state and federal-funding sources, assist in managing state and federal funding sources, and coordinate with the preparation and analysis of accounting records. Arens previously served as the controller for St. Luke’s Health Services
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MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, has hired CARRIE ARENS as senior accountant. In this role, she will ensure fiscal compliance with regulations of state and federal-funding sources, assist in managing state and federal funding sources, and coordinate with the preparation and analysis of accounting records. Arens previously served as the controller for St. Luke’s Health Services in Oswego. Prior to that, she gained extensive experience in the field of finance in her seven years at Oswego County Opportunities. Her background in grant financial management will be an essential asset to her role and responsibilities supporting the MACNY team, the association says. Arens is a graduate of St. John Fisher College, with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Central New York Community Foundation
GERIANNE CORRADINO has been promoted to human resources & operations officer at the Central New York Community Foundation. She has worked for the foundation since 2015, serving as finance manager and senior manager of business operations. Corradino is now responsible for providing operational, IT, and human-resources support to staff and overseeing the Central New York
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GERIANNE CORRADINO has been promoted to human resources & operations officer at the Central New York Community Foundation. She has worked for the foundation since 2015, serving as finance manager and senior manager of business operations. Corradino is now responsible for providing operational, IT, and human-resources support to staff and overseeing the Central New York Philanthropy Center building. She is a graduate of the Leadership Greater Syracuse (LGS) civic-leadership training program Class of 2021 and recently received her SHRM-CP certification. Corradino holds a dual bachelor’s degree in French literature and language & international trade from SUNY Oswego.
DANA FIEL was elevated to finance manager at the Community Foundation, after serving in her previous role as senior finance associate for 1.5 years. She is responsible for managing the grants and accounts-payable process, as well as preparing reports and reconciliations. Fiel graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a dual bachelor’s degree in economics and art history.
ELISIA GONZALEZ was promoted to grants manager at the foundation after serving in her previous role as program associate for two years. She manages the responsive grantmaking process and provides support for initiatives and programs. Gonzalez was born and raised in Syracuse and graduated from Corcoran High School. She also attended Syracuse University, graduating with a degree in geography.
JENNY GREEN was promoted to senior information systems officer at the Community Foundation. Green joined the foundation in 2016 and her previous title was philanthropic services officer, which she held for two years. She will oversee the information systems for the foundation and provide guidance regarding its management, integration, and security. Green holds a master’s degree in information technology from Marist College and has extensive experience with data management, procedures, and strategy.
ELIZABETH HARTMAN was promoted to senior director of finance. She is responsible for the financial reporting and manages the day-to-day accounting activities of the Community Foundation. Hartman holds a bachelor’s degree in fashion design and an MBA in accounting from Syracuse University. Hartman joined the foundation in 2014 as controller.
JULIET MALOFF has been promoted to senior communications officer at the Community Foundation, after previously serving as communications officer for three years. During her nine years at the foundation, Maloff has championed and guided the Community Foundation’s brand management to internal and external audiences. In her new role, she will oversee and implement strategies to ensure impactful and consistent communications messaging across all platforms. Maloff is a recent graduate of FOCUS Greater Syracuse’s 2022 Citizens Academy class and served as the former president of the Public Relations Society of America, CNY Chapter board of directors. Maloff attended Syracuse University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and rhetorical studies and a master’s degree in communications and public relations from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

MVHS to name Wynn Hospital birthing center in honor of Sammon family, after donation
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