Fareed Zakaria:// “The Post–American World.” And, ‘The Rise of the Rest.’ —[Doyle c.2009/ ‘Research Writing’/ Review c.2013]

An author by a number of other titles such as; “The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad”, “From Wealth to Power: The Unusual Origins of America’s World Role”, as well as the co–editor for “The American Encounter: The United States and the Making of the Modern World” — CNN news correspondent Fareed Zakaria, offers up an interesting and, unparalleled perspective the modern world, the current state of affairs and also a bi-partisan view into America’s shifting geopolitical position in the world of tomorrow.

When we look to his book, The post-American world, at the very start, Fareed cites an appropriately selected quote found in A Study of History by Arnold J. Toynbee that may as well serve as a preface towards the following pages within:
“Growth takes place whenever a challenge evokes a successful response that, in turn, evokes a further and different change.  We have not found any intrinsic reason why this process should not repeat itself indefinitely, even though a majority of civilizations have failed, as a matter of historical fact”(    ).

In the beginning, perhaps Fareed introduces this particularly thought provoking quote so as to avoid any confusion in the first few chapters.  As an aside, Zakaria’s book is still, at present, a microcosm of the circumstances beset on all sides upon this world at the time it was previously written in 2008; not much appears to have changed since then.… now, only a year later.  In essence, it is basically the subject of his book in a nutshell.

With the first chapter, Fareed writes about many of the major accomplishments we have made in the United States of America as a Unified whole.  However, our progress is becoming pale in comparison to others, or at least it seems like it.  Although we may think we are on top of the world when it comes to money, power and, influence as Americans.  According to Fareed Zakaria we must be warned of the simple fact that we may be nearer to our peak than we think and it is fast approaching; other global nations and economies are rising quickly to meet us.  The only difference is whether or not they will surpass our, “golden standard,” if they haven’t already.

By the end of the second chapter, Fareed explains that, far unlike what one might think, matters of physical national security lay not with protecting our borders but with securing financial insurance with the globalization of economies and business trade sales.  Furthermore, contrary to common belief, by way of expanding our markets into other world industries and outsourcing jobs, to its advantage, America has been able to maintain a competitive edge.  However, as Fareed would say, it is by our actions and the resulting consequences that have caused the “rise of the rest”.  Ironic as though it may seem, we all depend on each other to up the ante and raise the bar in order to make progress.

In the chapters after the first few, Fareed moves on to talk about the obstacles we face in the near future including but not limited to policy changes and foreign relations.  The rest of it is as follows, firstly, there is “The Challenge”, and it includes China in the whole of its entirety.  As a result of our American consumerism, China has grown quite a great deal and a considerable amount in a relatively short amount of time.  China represents a potential threat to the harvesting and distribution of resources.  Unless the U.S. and China, were not already cooperating, it might otherwise have turned into another cold war.  Fortunately, in–so–far, China has chosen to maintain a form of “soft power” in its “peaceful rise” to join us near the end of the top.

Next then, is of course is India, another rising power.  Not far from the reaches of China, it too possesses the means necessary for expansion and globalization of emerging markets.  With business booming in “Bollywood,” human resources and telecommunications capabilities, India is also of some concern.  Secondly, he refers to India as “The Ally”, although in many different aspects it is much the same way in many of the industries as the United States.  However, its politics and world-views, like China, vary distinctly from that of our own. In any case, it seems as though from the readings he suggests we might still be able to align ourselves with India as well to maintain the order and progress between them.  Since we are already in good standing with each it should not be hard to do in order to strike a balance.

Lastly, there is really only one other determining factor as to which side takes the cake and that, is education.  Zakaria speaks of the virtues of academics and a competitive market.  While the Asian schools’ system stagnates and children are unmoved, unmotivated and, uninspired to learn, the American collegiate industry flourishes with foreigners flocking to their doors day in and day out.  He calls it an “information economy,” where the more you know, the better, and unless you know, you don’t go, anywhere.  The trouble is there is really no telling where it would go from here.  Whether or not international students take up residency in America or take their knowledge and education with them back home to contribute to the benefit of their homelands best interest.

All in all, after having read his book it makes sense to me in that he addresses these things in this way.  His thoughts and viewpoints are certainly agreeable from a multitude of perspectives; whether or not you live inside or outside the U.S. it is hard to deny that the rest of the world is competing on a global scale economy and that it is most certainly all interconnected.  Although it was quite a bit alarming in the beginning to hear that, what with all the facts and figures about how America is doing, as compared to the rest of the world, in the end it proves to be quite a bit more reassuring.  Zakaria’s book offers a unique perspective outside our own, for those of us who have been born and raised in the United States of America.

I would most definitely recommend this book to anybody who is seeking an alternative view point, other than that of our fellow Americans as it is often very difficult to gain a whole new perspective on your homeland unless you have first seen it through the eyes of another.  Despite our economy, and the current state of affairs, I believe there is still hope.  It might not be now, it might not be soon; but, with little more effort than the classic American gumption, ingenuity, willingness to take risks in creativity — I am almost certain that we can give it the good ’ole college try and positive we may yet still be able to come out ahead; or, at least…. that is to say, right along side with everybody else to achieve this effort, this global endeavor internationally worldwide.