The Post-American World

After someone sent on that photo of President Obama carrying this book, along with the screed about it being a book gloating over America's downfall, I checked out the reviews here and decided to order it. I'm frankly glad our President has read this book. It is not about America's downfall at all, it is about how we are going to have to share the stage. For decades to come we should be a major, if not remaining the major, player -- but the days of unipolar ascendancy have come to an end, more because nations like India and China are claiming, by sheer size and growing economy, a good portion of the spotlight. Zakaria is no "liberal" -- his views can span the spectrum from conservative to moderate to progressive, but he's not writing to inform us of his opinions; he's taking a realpolitic view of current events, as well as demographic and economic projections of the major world players, and melding it into keenly insightful observations of what we here in the US have to do to remain (or in some cases, regain) a respected major player. It won't suffice to make unilateral choices for other countries any more. We will no longer be alone as we had been since the breakup of the Soviet Union. It is his goal to let us understand that when other nations rise, and rise they will, how we and they handle the global outlook WILL matter. It need not involve another Cold War. Cooperation focusing on our own interests is going to be the best long-term strategy. The author is a pragmatist, not an idealist. Zakaria writes from the perspective of someone who has lived a formative period outside of the US, and who is a dedicated naturalized American. He can step outside the box. He's a keen observer, and this book is a good jumping off point for the sort of discussion this country (and other countries) so desparately need. I don't necessarily agree with all his points, and some elements of the economics discussion are not anything I'm expert at, but I like his style; his discerning eye on how the Chinese and the Indians view their own culture, history, and connection to other peoples; and his reluctance to play the hate-monger. He makes strong criticisms of the George W. Bush administration, but he also gives that administration credit where credit is due. He rightly decries our current political descent into anti-bipartisanship, believing both sides have much they can bring to the table. The book was published too early into the Obama administration for him to make comments here. I think any candidate for national office should be commanded to read this book. At the very least, it will be much more helpful than knowing all about, say, Russia, because you can see it from your window.