 | The Post-American World
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 2008-11-12 - Undoing of the United States by the United States
The Post-American World by Fareed Zakaria is a timely and useful book but the author avoids looking at the causes behind the Rise of the Rest at America's expense. The United States wanted to have too many things in too short a time in the misplaced hope that with its robust and colossal economic, military, political, intellectual might, and vast'intelligence' network, it would always remain an indispensable nation, particularly in the post cold war ambience. In the process, a whole two decades from the end of the cold war was wasted in failed policies and in turning a blind eye to the realities of international history and politics that has characterized all precusrsor great powers in history.
The rise of the rest has rather proved to be a zero-sum game for the United States because the traditional US economic policies of grabbing global markets from a geographically and culturally disadvantaged situation unravelled with the change of international order from protectionism to globalization. My book 'Tracing the Eagle's Orbit' throroughly lays bare the US situation in a lucid way.
However, Dr. Zakaria's suggestion to adjust to the needs of a changing world is at odds with American perception that America can't withstand a situation it can't bear. This book has quite a few illuminating suggestions and is indeed objective and that is why I would recommend the readers to read it.
Gautam Maitra
Author of 'Tracing the Eagle's Orbit: Illuminating Insights into Major US Foreign Policies since Independence.'
 2008-11-10 - Interesting but....
The historical and current events perspective on India and China are very interesting. However, Zakaria seems to be in love with capitalism as the solution for the world. I realize that he did not have a crystal ball when writing the book; however, the current economic situation calls into question the value of capitalism as practiced by the U.S. and imitated by China and India. Yes, this emphasis has helped to raise the economies of these international giants, but as I read the book, I kept feeling that too rosy a picture was being painted about the benefits of pure capitalism and the pursuit of "things." Another reviewer wrote that the book's optimism rang false in this regard, and I agree with this. I would give the book only 3 stars, except that I thought the author included a lot of interesting historical and foreign affairs content that made the book worth reading.
2008-11-01 - A must read for the current times
I read with interest this morning a article in the Wall Street Journal where Senior White House military officials believe that engaging in some level of discussion with the Taliban could help stabilize Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan. This is a major policy shift and one that is in line with my most recent reading by Fareed Zakaria titled the Post-American World. The book is full of opinion backed up with some facts and figures. His insight and cultural understanding provides and excellent addition to Globalization 50+ years from now.
Overview
The push of technology and economics is driving the world to integrate to engage in the opportunity of globalization at the same time globalization is driving immense cultural change and power shifts. The US has enjoyed since the fall of the Soviet Union a position in history that is unparalleled in growth, prosperity and influence. What may be seen as the dividend of wealth for those that understand the ideology of the free market and the value of democracy, will need to evolve into a world of where power and influence is brokered and earned not an inherited right.
Zakaria asserts that what we are seeing is not the fall of the US, but the rise of the rest. He asserts that the same way that Britain gave way to the US and joined the new team, the new world order which is underway requires the US to embrace its evolving role in this order. Power is shifting from Nation/States (only 100 years old) to powerful MNC's, NGO's, PetroCartels, and Drug Cartels.
The case for pessimism is strong in today's media. We are transfixed to violence around the world, transfixed to changes in the economy via Wall Street Week. Media brings violence close. Our need to know has collapsed to minutes and our ability to control world events that affect our lives is seemingly less and less. But let's look at the data and take another perspective. Over the last two decades through globalization two billion people have now come into the global marketplace. The global economy has grown from $23 Trillion to $53 Trillion. Emerging Markets represent half of the total growth. This growth has taken the form not only of exports (low cost labor) but also of internal consumption made possible through globalization.
Collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 80's confirmed to the world one path. This is free markets, free capital flows, supported by open governments and democracy. This leads to the flow of goods, mobile through large logistic chains, mobile capital, and then finally mobile labor. The three main forces of globalization are therefore Politics, Economics, and Technology.
US is the last super power. 5% the world's population has produced 25% of the worlds output more or less for the last 125 years. While emerging markets are ascending, you can look at the GDP data from 1980 to 2005. China has grown from 2% of WW GDP to 5%. This is the only developing geography to grow faster that the WW average or the US average. The growth WW was 6% and China's 10%. So on this pace change will take some time.
The growth in Global Awareness and attitudes is not balanced in the various elements of the US society. Global Awareness is coming from the exposure that US MNC's have to those areas of the globe that are growing. Growing as a result of the 2 billion people now accessing the global market place made possible through globalization. Universities are embracing globalization with globally diverse faculty and students and researchers. While these elements embrace globalization the mainstream remains suspicious of the benefits. Pew Global Attitudes Survey on Free Trade. The US opinion of support is dead last of the 17 countries surveyed.
The pace of economic and technological change is evolving into a more Western World. The example he raises is of Japanese students who no longer understand or take interest in the traditional Japanese society. This is something that is evident to any foreigner visiting Tokyo. As a result of these changes, one quarter of the world now speaks some English. English is the predominant language of the connected world. 80% of all digital information is stored in English. Over time economic and technological change creates wealth. Combine this with individual opportunity and this fundamentally changes society.
Interestingly, where you sit in this connected world often effects how you see the world. While what we see is filtered through the media - electronic information flows have allowed us to see the ways that others see the world. Interestingly too - is the creation of news, movies, and print media all made easier and more available though the electronic world. The shift in the world to be more global in nature is now meeting with a strengthening of local ties. This shift is worldview is more about power, than culture, more about wealth and poverty than about "being on the right side". This power is becoming diffused over time.
Zakaria goes into more depth in defining the growth of China and India as clear examples of the development of the rest. Much of this is a repeat of the readings by Friedman, Stiglitz, Wolf and others. But he carries a unique perspective being an immigrant from India and writing with Newsweek on the International economy
2008-10-31 - The Post American World
Reviewed By Stephen J. Hage SteveH9697@aol.com
In this book Fareed Zakaria paints crystalline images that reveal not only how the world is changing but also why.
For decades, after World War II, the United States enjoyed political, economic, ideological and social hegemony on a global scale. And, for the most part, even though a hegemon, it was viewed as benevolent.
Today, there is much talk and hand wringing about declining American prestige and power in most if not all of the areas mentioned above. Viewed through that particular lens, the situation is dire and spiraling quickly downward. Fareed Zakaria sees the situation differently. What he sees happening is "The Rise of the Rest." He makes his point by asking to consider this:
"Look around. The tallest building in the world is now in Taipei, and it will soon be overtaken by one being built in Dubai. The world's richest man is Mexican, and its largest publicly traded corporation is Chinese. The world's biggest plane is built in Russia and Ukraine, its leading refinery is under construction in India, and its largest factories are all in China. By many measures, London is becoming the leading financial center and the United Arab Emirates is home to the most richly endowed investment fund. Once quintessentially American icons have been appropriated by foreigners."
All this is from pages 2 and 3 of chapter 1. And while, in isolation, the quote appears blatantly alarmist rest assured that is not Zakaria's objective. He writes instead about American power and purpose by highlighting America's path, during the rise of the Western World, from the fifteenth century through the beginning of the twenty first; and he does this from the perspective of someone who emigrated here from India and became an American.
Zakaria's signal strength is his ability to write in a manner that mirrors what he sounds like when he speaks. Since I watch him regularly on his television series Fareed Zakaria GPS (Global Public Square), on CNN, as I read the book I constantly heard his voice in my mind. It was a pleasant experience. His formidable brilliance shines bright on every page and his thesis, instead of being alarmist is uplifting and inspirational. It's an easy read that deals with large and important issues.
This book is a MUST READ for anyone interested in what's happening in the world and in, not only how America fits but what it must do and why, as history proceeds apace.
 2008-10-31 - Vacuous and misguided
Views like this book's depend on materialistic assumptions. If leadership and influence do not revolve around how much stuff you make and buy (the world as a big strip mall), it falls apart.
China, Brazil, Russia, India are one-trick ponies. Cheap labor or energy reserves. No one looks to them for leadership; they produce no ideas and inspire nothing but consumption and criminality (Russia). Their cultures are based on systematically defective understandings of reality, such as Confucianism, Buddhism, or Hinduism, that will profoundly limit them.
China will revolve around the same oriental despotism they have practiced for thousands of years. The mindset created by their cultural assumptions prevents them from offering anything meaningful to the world but cheap labor (for a time). China can only think about and take care of China.
The success of the west is based on a specific set of beliefs: that the world can be understood and is worth understanding (leading to science), that humans were made in the spiritual image of God, thus have intrinsic worth (human rights), but voluntarily corupted themselves (requiring representative, decentralized government).
Non-western countries do not have a culture that supports such beliefs. Thus they can lead only to human-centered responses; despotism, cronyism, organized crime with a veneer of jingling cash registers until it fails.
Problems in the west similarly stem from the decline in Christian culture among the ruling elite, now most advanced in Europe. Watch how long cash registers can keep a "post-American" world happy.
I have lots of Chinese junk I bought that seemed important and worthwhile at the time but is just sitting there, representing wasted effort on my part and those who made it.
Turning to the "noble savage" of the third world for insight is a reflection of an inner desolation and confusion due to losing the way from the reality of the path of Christ.
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