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Gran Leon Books - The Post-American World
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List Price: $25.95
Our Price: $17.13
Your Save: $ 8.82 ( 34% )
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Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 303.49
EAN: 9780393062359
ISBN: 039306235X
Label: W. W. Norton
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 288
Publication Date: 2008-05-05
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Studio: W. W. Norton
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Editorial Reviews:
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“Zakaria . . . may have more intellectual range and insights than any other public thinker in the West.” —Boston Sunday Globe “This is not a book about the decline of America, but rather about the rise of everyone else.” So begins Fareed Zakaria’s blockbusting bestseller on the United States in the twenty-first century. How can Americans understand this rapidly changing international climate, and how might the nation continue to thrive in a truly global era? Zakaria answers these questions with his customary lucidity, insight, and imagination.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: An excellent perspective on the new world order
Comment: "Post-American World", the title in itself incites curiosity. From the cover it seems that the author is writing about American downfall, that it has reached its apogee and we are now witnessing its decline. I, on the other hand, found this book to be one of optimism and what America still has a lot to look forward to. The author is talking less about the fall of America but rather about the rise of India, China and other nation-states in the world, creating a new world where unilateralism or bilateralism will no longer work, and multilateralism will be the new order.
The author strategically presents his arguments in well divided chapters. The beginning presents the arguments for the changing world. For the last twenty years, ever since the fall of Russia, America has been the sole power in the world. It showed its muscles in the early 90s with the six day gulf war or the war in Bosnia, but it did not really show unilateral might until it invaded Afghanistan and then Iraq under the Bush regime. America, in the new world, failed miserably at creating a lasting coalition for these wars. It is not because America has become weak, but because the other countries have become stronger. Kowtowing America is not the only path to success. Some other simple examples that he gives are that tallest building, largest mall, largest casinos, beautiful bridges and highways, which were all hallmarks of the American economy, are now all outside America in countries Dubai, China or Singapore. Immigrants, long considered the backbone of the US economy have started spreading all over the world, with huge numbers moving to Canada, Australia, and UK. Each of these countries has created their skilled immigrant visa program attracting talent from all over the world. In essence, other countries are catching up now. Ironically, America has been the role model for the success of all these countries. Economically, socially and politically, these countries have followed the model created by America. In that regard America, must be given due recognition.
In the successive chapters, Mr. Zakaria aligns China as the new global competitor and India as the new ally. China has been growing 5% or more for the last thirty years. It has lifted almost four hundred million people out of poverty in the last 30 years. It has moved with inexplicable speed and efficiency to create state of the art infrastructure and an environment where the economy can flourish. In the past, norm has been that the greater the size of the population the stronger the country is. The Romans, Greeks or Arabs all conquered large swaths of lands as a sign of strength. However that trend changed with colonialism, where 40 million people in England were controlling almost half the population of the world. It then changed to imperialism, of America, whereby 5 percent population of the world, was controlling or using up to 40 percent of the resources in the world. It seems that the trend might change again. Strength may once again be exerted through size of the country. The huge markets of China and India will be focus of this century. These are the unexplored masses. The consumers have yet to assert their demands. Mr. Zakaria, considers China a competitor and India an ally purely on cultural basis. For India, he uses language one of the main reasons. A large percentage of Indians are fluent in English and thus can interact with the Americans on a personal basis. Also, the large numbers of Indians residing in America have created a favorable image of America in the minds of Indians. In case of China, a language barrier continues to exist. Americans are unable to understand China. And given the global aspirations of China, Americans are skeptical of them. However, that has not prevented almost every fortune 500 to open offices in China. Given the current environment, there is no such model of friend / foe being applied to these three countries. Alliances are struck on issues rather than on ideology. US provided India with nuclear reactors whereas US companies, like GE or Wal-Mart, are active in China and have large factories and stores there as well. In my opinion, the alliances are going to be struck on issues rather than ideological nationalistic issues.
In the final chapters of the book the author delineates a role for America in this new multilateral world. That America should stop acting as the enforcer and start acting as the broker. It should not impose its ideology on nations, but provide support to democratic forces in these nations. It argues that America must redefine itself and a large part of that change will come from the change in Washington. Unfortunately this book was written before Obama's election, so he could not discuss that impact. It shows a picture of America that is strong at its grassroots level. The infrastructure, the technology and the intellect of the American people are far superior to any other nation in the world and it will continue to be so. But America needs to redefine itself to the world, especially to the Muslim world.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A lucid explication of a complex, global idea
Comment: An intelligent book that looks at trends in globalization, modernization of developing countries, and what it all means to the United States. Zakaria is clearly adept at gathering, processing, and synthesizing vast and seemingly unrelated bodies of information about a subject. I guess that is what makes him such a talented reporter.
At any rate, if you're interested in the significance of China's and India's growth, the ramifications of the communications boom, or how rising and current national powers will interact and relate as power continues to diffuse, you should read this book. I find it fascinating to learn about the interplay of countries and how they affect one another. Questions surrounding modernization - what does it mean, why does it happen, how does it happen, and is it a good thing - have popped in my head from time to time. This book does a superb job of educating me and addressing my curiosity.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading for the Obama administration
Comment: Zakaria's book is a very thoughtful, well researched, historically accurate look at how America has responded to internal affairs and world affairs. With an understanding of our own history, it is possible to see a path for America that can move the world.
Zakaria chooses language that is very clear. This is a very readable book.
It should be required reading for every member of the Obama administration at every level.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Rise of the Rest . . .
Comment: There are few commentators, "speaking heads," who I respect more than Fareed Zakaria. Most have little of value to add to the so called "news" of the day and ask what seems to me to be pretty inane questions much of the time. Zakaria digs in; and this book is no exception to his professional pursuit of a new view.
What I liked most about the book was Zakaria's point that the decline of America, while being exacerbated by some of our choices, is more a result of "the rise of the others." This is not a gloom and doom portrayal of a superpower gone amok as much as it is an explanation of why the rest of the world will be soon getting its chance at growth. While growth of the global economy is not entirely a zero sum game, surely the industrialized nations will need to share the wealth with the up-and-coming nations.
Of course China is a huge economy with which the rest of the global economy must come to grips. America, as always, is dazzled by size and China therefore holds a particular fascination for us. For now, the mutual needs of each country have led to a wise collaboration. Yet, we cannot forget the "old ally," India.
Many visitors consider India to be "not very pretty." Much of the infrastructure of the country is dilapidated and in dire need of attention. India (much like Portugal and Greece) has a GDP Profile comprising 50% service revenues, 25% manufacturing revenues and 25% agricultural revenues. While India is moving forward to address the infrastructure issues, they will hopefully not fall prey to the illusion of its impact on GDP. It may look good for visitors, but it doesn't necessarily add to the GDP and may well add to the overall cost of providing services.
America may still be the world's only superpower for some time to come. It should aggressively plan for the day when the economic power passes to one or several of the main players in the global economy. Meanwhile, we should put our economic house in order and reign in spending beyond our means. We must pay attention to education and raising the next generation of innovators to provide the grist for the global manufacturing mill. We must maintain then extend our lead in being the world's invention machine.
This is a well thought out presentation in clear and concise prose that will be very valuable to anyone dealing in the new global economy. I guess these days, that's just about everyone.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Some interesting points but overall not much substance
Comment: The Post American World by Fareed Zakaria is one of three books I have read recently in order to gain a better understanding of the changes occurring in the world today. By far the best is James Kynge's China Shakes the World. Kynge, a former bureau chief for the Financial Times in China, has lived there since 1982, is fluent in Mandarin and well connected. This is the ONE book to read on China. The Elephant and the Dragon, Robyn Meredith's examination of India and China, is also worthwhile, although somewhat superficial. Meredith, a foreign correspondent for Forbes magazine, gets the big picture right, but is a poor writer and lacks an insiders perspective on these two countries. Zakaria's book is the most ambitious, seeking to cover not just the "big two" but the entire non-American world. He fails for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that 240 pages is not nearly enough to cover such a grand topic (Actually the book is shorter since Zakaria uses a large type and line spacing compared to the other works--30 lines per page versus 33 and nine versus 10 words per line on average compared to Mederith's book) Zakaria is the editor of Newsweek International and as such is as much concerned with political as well as economic issues, thus making his book more subjective than the other two.
The book is described as "The rise of the rest," implying that it is concerned with the rest of the world. But in fact, after a short introductory chapter, there is a chapter on China, one on India, two on the United States...and that's all. Further, Zakaria tries to use numbers to make his points sometimes without effect. For example, in making a claim for the superiority of the American system of higher education as an asset for America he states on page 91, "In India, universities graduate between 35 and 50 Ph.D.s in computer science each year; in America, the figure is 1,000." However, a few pages later (page 198) he notes that foreign students account for "65% of the doctorates in computer science." Maybe they get the degree from an American university, but increasingly Chinese, Indian and other foreign students are taking those degrees back to their native country and using that knowledge to compete more effectively against the U.S. He also writes on page 200 that, "Harvard University's Richard Cooper even argues that the American savings rate is miscalculated, painting an inaccurate picture of massive credit card debt and unaffordable mortgages." Well, we all know how that one turned out! To be fair, Zakaria does admit that America has problems, but he downplays them so much that his whole argument seems specious. Zakaria also makes dubious statements such as, "the United States has better relations with almost all the major powers than they have with each other." France? Russia? In fact outside of the British "lapdogs" America's relations with the other major powers reached rock bottom under Bush over the Iraq War.
But there is value in reading Zakaria's book. For one, he makes points that are generally not realized by most people. To illustrate, he points out that World War II was largely fought and won by the Russians (but it was the Americans and British who claimed the credit). For example at the time the Allies were liberating Sicily from 55,000 Germans, Russia was engaged in the battle of Krusk, the largest battle in history in which some1.5 million Germans and Russians fought. Yet this battle is largely unknown to Westerners. This Western slighting may help to explain Russia's now assertive behavior which demands respect and recognition.
Zakaria also points out that the present time is one of the most peaceful in human history and at the same time one where economic development has grown at an unprecedented pace. Technical advances make it possible for any negative event to get instantaneous and expansive world coverage. Thus a terrorist attack in which a relatively small number of people are killed receives extensive coverage, whereas in the past mass murder such as in Cambodia and the Congo received scant attention. Moreover, while most people are aware of the economic progress made by China, the "Asian Tigers," and more recently, India, Zakaria shows that economies have taken off all over the world--in South America and even Africa. For example, between 1990 and 2007 the global economy grew from $22.8 trillion to $53.3 trillion and global trade increased by 133 percent. Two additional important points are that the U.S. system of education stresses creativity, problem solving and teamwork as compared to rote learning that is prevalent in Asia and other parts of the world and that there is far more conflict in the current U.S. political system as compared to the recent past, less willingness to compromise.
Zakaria's book is also far more politically oriented than the other two. For example his chapter on China stresses the political implications behind China's efforts at international trade. For example, he mentions that China's economic policies toward Africa are affected by the fact that six African countries still recognize Taiwan--and China has its eyes on all that Africa oil. South Africa, for one, switched to support the One China policy as a result of an infusion of aid from China.
At the end Zakaria makes a number of obvious and simplistic suggestions for America's future--have priorities, build broad rules, not narrow interests, be Bismark, not Britain, etc. Finally it is his rah rah America attitude that puts me off. This country has real problems that need hard answers, not a cheerleader. But as Zakaria himself acknowledges, "I came to America as a young man, fell in love with the country, and built a life and family here. Good for him, but such a person is hardly capable of making the kind of hard-nosed, objective assessment of what the world is like today and what America needs to do in response..
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