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Mahububani substains that the global process don't depend only by American policy. This process is more complex because it is determined also by China and India.Islamic world don't be homogeneous. Pakistan is a traditional State, Singapore has a modern economy, India has many chances in the future.Those countries must learn the West traditions, but also the West must understand the islamic activity when they are democratic.Muhabubani explcates thousand particulars to increase our attention for those phenomena.Will be a great power first China or India. This fact don't be so interesting as to understanding the cultural differences between these countries.
Mahbubani posits that Western countries attempt to export democracy through a system of international institutions that allow the Western minority to dominate the global majority. A professor of public policy at the National University of Singapore, Mahbubani is one of Asia's most prominent intellectuals. Kishore Mahbubani's examination of the rise of Asia and its implications for the world is most notable precisely because it is an Asian examination. For Westerners, such viewpoints may be acutely uncomfortable, but understanding them is indispensable for those who wish to make sense of the emerging world order. His debunking of ideas that he diagnoses as Western myths and assumptions is trenchant and thought provoking. The book is at times controversial, circular and often repetitive, but always interesting. This book offers a pertinent, important perspective on changing geopolitics. getAbstract recommends it to anyone seeking an insider's informed analysis of Asia's global role.
Hypocracy dominates here. Although some parts of the book is not comfortable with me, this book is generally insightul and fun to read. It is no longer new that China and India has been rising regardless of the US and EU's economic conditions as evidenced by their steady growth during global financial crisis. Moreover, I agree with the author's view of western incomepentence in managing international order, specifically on foreign aid. I expect that once the new voice comes in the governance of the int'l organizations, the thinking and behaviour inside those organizations will start to change: from rhetoric to results. According to IMF's World Economic Outlook in April 2009, China and India would grow by 6.5% and 4.5%, respectively in 2009 when the US and the Euro Area suffers from the negative growth.
Why. I gave four star because there are some lacking in details for many European & Asian countries, hard evidence, sometimes biaded Singaporean view and only focusing on American readers. They announced many committments on global issues, which have not fulfilled and even the multilateral institutions like World Bank did not look really caring about the poor. It is remarkable since it proved its strength against so-called coupling view of their dependence on the US and Western Europe. Considering their proportion of 16.2% in 2008 over World economy, which is larger than combined portion of four Euro area countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain), I think it is obvious that they should have more voice in international organizations like UNSC, IMF & IBRD, etc while shrinking Europe in terms of economic size should recede as recent G20 summit suggested. The governance matters.
I find this somewhat surprising for such an author and such a book. In the second half of the book, there are a few instances where it seems that the author falls in the same trap of stereotyping, he criticises the "West" for.
I found this analysis most impressive; a true eye-opener. The book starts with a detailed analysis of the (possible) courses of action for the "West" in its future relations with Asia.
Based on the fact that the book is mainly intended for a "Western" audience, the author could have spent more attention on some of the criticism that can be heard in the "West" against China. The author does an excellent job in explaining the background to the often opposite views of the "West" and Asia on the international level, highlighting the often too important role of short-term political opportunism in "Western" decision-making.
The author is a strong supporter of China. One example: an unfortunate diplomatic incident is used to support the conclusion that "all Europeans view Asian culture with disdain.".
Still, I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in "globalisation" and wants to go beyond Thomas Friedman.
I would only rate this book with 2 stars as the author's main aim was to protect asia.I doubt that Asia would be able to take the lead within this crises as there are Wars with north korea and Iran that has a great impact on Asia ,So great that Asia has no place within its capacity.Asia ideas with what Kishore has wrote does not work with this modern age as anciently the author is incapable of his definition on Asia.Asia is still largely dependant on the US and Europe for its resources and as years to come it could be paralysed within its scope to reach its maximum limit.I dont agree with the authors definition and his views.The reason why asean students are making it big in the US is because of his economy change,and not because of his ideas and brains whom he defines as a contribution to being asean in a western country.Even a Bangladesh student can graduate in a American university with ease.
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