The Post-American World

It is uncanny how accurate Zakaria is in his assesment of the current relative financial positions of the world's major economic powers in light of the world financial meltdown. THE POST-AMERICAN WORLD is an eye-opening informational treasure. Most Americans see the interaction of America with the rest of the world through special lenses. This book reveals the lenses used by the other contries seeing America's actions as they are affected. The idea of sitting down at the table with another country as opposed to putting them in their place is an idea we all need in the worst way to learn. This book makes that position tenable.

Zakaria presents an excellent, balanced view of the future of American unipolarity and the impact of the Big Two - China and India, on America's future. Instead of doomsday predictions and worry about how China and India will take over, he presents a pragmatic view of how these and other countries are rising - not that America is necessarily failing.

Zakaria also outlines a realistic roadmap for how America can avoid continuing as an international pariah and retain its influence, by realizing it is the most powerful part of a multipolar system, but the other parts add up to far more than its power. His repeated statements of how we live in fear rather than pride strike a powerful chord and should make all Americans focus on what we've done right rather than what we are told to fear.

This is an excellent book with a few very minor flaws, but if a reader had only time for a quick read he/she would do well to turn to the chapter called "American Purpose" and read Zakaria's six simple guidelines for what operating in the "new world" would look like. He suggests that America:
1. Choose.
2. Build broad rules, not narrow interests.
3. Be Bismarck not Britain.
4. Order a la carte.
5. Think asymmetrically; and realize
6. Legitimacy is power.
His explanation of each of these guidelines is thought provoking.

The greatest weakness of the book comes in the final pages as he uses his own experience of coming to America in 1982 to convince the reader that 'openness' may be America's greatest strength. I was not convinced.

Our US Presidential candidates should take time to read this important analysis of America's flawed foreign policy and economic weaknesses. They and their Vice Presidential candidates would do well to consider how they intend to face the challenges and lead America back to a position of strength as a reliable and legitimate world power.

It is a pity that this book was not available as a text book for Ms. Condoleezza Rice, whose foreign policy and State Department seem to have been diametrically opposed to every reasonable position advocated by Zakaria in his excellent book.

Fareed Zakaria has really given a great deal of thought to globalization and its larger meaning, and it is obvious for almost all to see. His thoughts on how the U.S., India, China, and Russia should interact are spot on. His use of statistics is pretty much a welcomed blessing because it helps remove many of the doubts that critics can present upon hearing his core idea. It flies starkly in the face of the notion that U.S. power is diminishing due to globalization. This nation according to Zakaria is as strong/relevant as it ever been, meaning that we ultimately decide what our nation's fate will be. A must read for those of us that are not buying the Lou Dobbs, O' Reilly xenophobic non-sense!!

A fascinating, quick read which argues that America must ready itself for no longer being the dominant player in world affairs - not because of American decline, but due to the inevitable rise of the rest fo the world. He argues persuasively that not only will this happen, but it is already well on its way to being a reality. To me, it seems an obvious argument, but many do not seem to think so. Zakaria brings in the facts to buttress his observations and instincts, and puts it all together in a coherent, well reasoned presentation.

The one drawback is also a strength. He does not delve as deeply into many matters as I would like, but this is so the whole argument can proceed forward mroe quickly and gracefully. The book is aimed more at the casual (but intelligent) reader, rather than the world scholar.