FAST POWER AND THE RACE FOR SEMICONDUCTORS - WHY AMERICA SERVES AS INDIA'S ENTRY POINT IN THE CHIP WAR?

According to experts, the current global order illustrates the proverb "The Survival of the Fastest" rather than "The Survival of the Fittest."

- Rajyavishek Pradhan

Introduction

It is said that the era of arms races and weapon hoarding has come to a standstill, allowing the states to adopt a more proactive and dynamic strategy, which is essential given the rapidity with which communication and information flow. An increased capacity for adaptation is required in this age of information and technology. The need for immediate action by the states is where the notion of "Fast Power" enters the discussion. Since speed, today is an important attribute of power, the increasing economic, technological, and geopolitical significance of semiconductors can be seen as an avenue for nation-states in the present international structure, which is characterised by a technological order. As an element of Fast Power, semiconductor chips can be considered the brains of the modern technological world.

According to The Wall Street Journal (2023), chips are the new oil, and whoever controls the chip market significantly impacts the world. It should therefore come as no surprise that the current competition for semiconductor market dominance between the USA and China, as well as the drive to outdo one another, have significant lessons to teach, particularly for India.

A New Dimension of Power and Chip War