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    The Post-American World
    The Post-American World
    The Post-American World
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Post-American World

    Written by Fareed Zakaria

    Narrated by Fareed Zakaria

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    A Prophetic Assessment of America's Changing Place in an Increasingly Global Age

    For Fareed Zakaria, the great story of our times is not the decline of America but rather the rise of everyone else -- the growth of countries such as China, India, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Kenya, and many, many more. This economic growth is generating a new global landscape where power is shifting and wealth and innovation are bubbling up in unexpected places. It's also producing political confidence and national pride. As these trends continue, the push of globalization will increasingly be joined by the pull of nationalism -- a tension that is likely to define the next decades.

    With his customary lucidity, insight, and imagination, Zakaria draws on lessons from the two great power shifts of the past five hundred years -- the rise of the Western world and the rise of the United States -- to tell us what we can expect from the third shift, the "rise of the rest." Washington must begin a serious transformation of global strategy and seek to share power, create coalitions, build legitimacy, and define the global agenda. None of this will be easy for the greatest power the world has ever known -- the only power that for so long has really mattered. But all that is changing now. The future we face is the post-American world.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateMay 1, 2008
    ISBN9780743576864
    The Post-American World
    Author

    Fareed Zakaria

    Fareed Zakaria is the host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, bestselling author of The Post-American World and The Future of Freedom, and a columnist for The Washington Post. He lives in New York City.

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    Reviews for The Post-American World

    4/5

    37 ratings22 reviews

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    • 2/5
      The book title suggests that perhaps it's predicting the demise of America. But instead the book is generally optimistic about the future and predicts that other nations will rise in importance relative to the U.S. However, America will continue to be a global player on the international scene. This book was published in May 2008 prior to the recent meltdown in the financial world. I found myself speculating about what the author would say differently if the book were written after the current flury of bailouts and the collapse of Lehman Brothers. On page 205 the author says, "New derivatives based on underlying instruments like stock or interst-rate payment are increasingly important ..." He goes on to say that the London financial exchanges sell more derivatives than the New York exchanges with the implication that this is an indication of the strength of the London markets. In think the author would want to word things a little differently today if he had a chance. But still it is my guess that the author would view current conditions as part of expected cycles in the world's economy. The book covers some of the same ground covered by Friedman's The World Is Flat. Both books spend considerable time discussing the rise of China and India on the world scene. Zakaria's writing is perhaps a bit more subduded and business like than Friedman's book (and perhaps less interesting to read as a result). I found the parts of the book that are critical of the United States to be the most interesting parts. The following is a quotation from the book I found interesting: "More people will graduate in the United States in 2006 with sports-exercise degrees than electrical-engineering degrees," says General Electric's CEO, Jeffrey Immelt. "So if we want to be the massage capital of the world, we're well on our way." The book maintains that the American educational sytem is better than many think. Worldwide testing always shows the students from Singapore with top scores in math and science. So Americans might conclude that our schools should be more like theirs. It is interesting to see from the following quotation from the book what the educational officials in Singapore think of the American educational system: "Tharman Shanmugaratnam, until recently Singapore's minister of education, explains the difference between his country's system and America's. "We both have meritocracies," Shanmugaratnam says. "Yours is a talent meritocracy, ours is an exam meritocracy. We know how to train people to take exams. You know how to use people's talents to the fullest. Both are important, but there are some parts of the intellect that we are not able to test well - like creativity, curiosity, a sense of adventure, ambition. Most of all, America has a culture of learning that challenges conventional wisdom, even if it means challenging authority. These are the areas where Singapore must learn from America."" Read in December, 2008
    • 4/5
      Americans are used to having their country lead the world; we got in early on the Industrial Revolution and did well by it. Now India and China, each with a billion-plus population, are starting to catch up. Zakaria examines the current state of affairs, how we all got there, and where it's going, and recommends ways for America to lead in a world where no nation dominates.
    • 5/5
      A surprisingly uplifting and hopeful book about the end of the American Empire. Zakaria presents lost of data to refute some "common sense" notions about things, although he seems to take a heavy enconomic slant to things.
    • 5/5
      Fantastic read! Gave me a new perspective of America in the world!!
    • 4/5
      Excellent book. Patriotic in just the right way, confident in America's potential to be a positive force, even as other countries thrive and emerge.
    • 3/5
      Didn't read all of it, but it was a good introduction to the impact of globalization on world politics.
    • 5/5
      Fascinating and clear overview of the international system that we face today and the one we may face tomorrow
    • 5/5
      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 strenght. He does not delve as deeply into many matters as 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.
    • 4/5
      Indeholder kapitlerne "Preface to the Paperback Edition", "1. The Rise of the Rest", "2. The Cup Runneth Over", "3. A Non-Western World?", "4. The Challenger", "5. The Ally", "6. American Power", "7. American Purpose", "Notes", "Acknowledgments", "Index".Indeholder "Preface to the Paperback Edition", " The Fastest Race Car in the World", " The Problem of Debt", " Hurtling Toward the Post-American World", " All Hang Together", "1. The Rise of the Rest", "2. The Cup Runneth Over", " The Islamic Threat", " The Great Expansion", " The Three Forces: Politics, Economics and Technology", " The Problems of Plenty", " The Rise of Nationalism", " The Last Superpower", "3. A Non-Western World?", " Strength is Weakness", " Is Culture Destiny?", " The Spoils of Victory", " Westernization", " Modernization", " The Death of the Old Order", " The Mixed-up Future", "4. The Challenger", " Central Planning That Works?", " Hiding Its Lights", " Good and Foreign Policy", " Too Big to Hide", " The Dragon and the Eagle", "5. The Ally", " Bottoms Up", " The Necessity for Government", " Blind and Toothless", " The Eagle and the Cow", " The Hindu Worldview", " Nuclear Power", " A Geographic Expression", "6. American Power", " Britain's Reach", " Britain's Descent", " The Strange Rise of British Power", " Good Politics. Bad Economics", " America's Long Run", " The Future Is Here", " America's Best Industry", " Learning to Think", " America's Secret Weapon", " The Macro Picture", " Everyone Is Playing the Game", " A Do-nothing Politics", "7. American Purpose", " The Virtues of Competition", " This Time It's Different", " New Rules for a New Age", " 1. Choose", " 2. Build broad rules, not narrow interests", " 3. Be Bismarck not Britain", " 4. Order ? la carte", " 5. Think asymmetrically", " 6. Legitimacy is power", " Fear and Loathing", "Notes", "Acknowledgments", "Index"."Preface to the Paperback Edition" handler om at velstandsstigningen efter anden verdenskrig og den amerikanske centralbanks vellykkede kamp mod inflation gav en fornemmelse af at risiko generelt og ikke bare den politiske risiko var aftaget. Det gav masser af risikovillig kapital, der gerne gik ind i subprime boligl?n til n?sten samme rente som amerikanske statsobligationer. Den fejl blev straffet, for ?konomien er som verdens hurtigste racerbil og der er ingen, der ved hvordan man reelt styrer den. Amerika l?ner i Kina og de to lande er bundet til hinanden for amerikansk v?kst er bygget p? kinesiske l?n og kineserne kan ikke anbringe deres handelsoverskud bedre end i amerikanske obligationer. USA skylder i 2008 10 * 10^12 dollars v?k i statsg?ld og Kina har 2 * 10^12 dollar i dollarg?ldsbeviser. Her i 2017 er amerikansk statsg?ld ved at n? 20 * 10^12 dollar."1. The Rise of the Rest" handler om Vestens opblomstring i 1400-tallet og frem, USA's fremkomst, v?kst og dominans og hvordan resten af verden er p? vej med p? vognen."2. The Cup Runneth Over" handler om at p? trods af krig og ufred, s? g?r det godt."3. A Non-Western World?" handler om at Kina fra 1430 til ca 1830 vendte verden ryggen og aktivt fjernede muligheden for opdagelsesrejser. Det er en helt anden m?de at t?nke p? end vi er vant til i Vesten."4. The Challenger" handler om Kina, der holder en lidt lav profil, men p? grund af st?rrelsen alligevel har store effekter p? omverdenens politik og ?konomi. Kina vil bare vokse og ypper ikke kiv eller g?r opm?rksom p? sig selv."5. The Ally" handler om Indien, der har oplevet en kraftig ?konomisk v?kst, s? de kan holde p? deres egne talenter. Det er selvforst?rkende."6. American Power" handler om Storbritanniens fald fra tinderne. 22. juni 1897 var Diamond Jubilee for Dronning Victorias kroning. Dvs 60 ?rs dagen og den blev beh?rigt fejret. Blot 2 ?r senere startede Boerkrigen. England vandt krigen, men tabte alle deres venner undervejs. F?rste verdenskrig ruinerede England. Faktisk toppede England i ?rene 1845-1870, hvor deres 2% af verdensbefolkning sad p? 30 procent af det samlede bruttonationalprodukt og 40 procent af tekstilhandelen. USA sidder p? fl?sket nu og demografi og uddannelsessystem hj?lper til at holde dem der, i alt fald i forhold til EU. Men det er lidt farligt at v?re p? toppen, fx er amerikanere v?nnet til at de ikke beh?ver at l?re sprog. Men n?r nu alle andre i verden, har amerikansk som andetsprog og desuden har et meget stort lokalt marked?"7. American Purpose" handler om en slags forpligtelse til at l?se udenrigspolitiske problemer, fx mellem Marokko og Spanien i Gibraltar, selv om USA objektivt set kunne v?re ligeglad. 9/11 angrebene den 11 september 2001 viste klart at USA har evnen til at gribe ind globalt. Men er de bedre end Romerriget eller Det Britiske Emperium til at holde sig ved magten?"Notes" er ca 15 henvisninger pr kapitel til baggrundsmateriale"Acknowledgments" handler om hvem der har hjulpet"Index" er et ret omfattende opslagsregister. Meget nyttigt.Verden er ikke farlig. Det ser bare s?dan ud p? tv. Terrorangreb er sm? og ?konomien bliver ikke skadet af dem. Terror virker ikke, n?r folk ikke bliver bange. Forfatteren kigger p? Kina og Indien, og ja, det kan v?re at de l?ber i samme problemer som Japan, men det vil vare l?nge. Hyperinflation er v?rre end recession, for det udrydder alle v?rdier. Heldigvis har vi stort set kun Zimbabwe som eksempel for tiden.Forfatteren er inder og har blik for at USA tidligere, n?r det gjorde tr?lse ting i udlandet, faktisk b?d de samme udl?ndinge velkommen til USA, hvor de blev v?rdifulde borgere i det amerikanske samfund. Men er det mon nu ved at ?ndre sig?Forfatterens tese er at USA er en supermagt, nu den eneste og at det nok vil forts?tte. Lidt sjovt (og skr?mmende) at l?se efter Trump og Brexit har skudt noget af globaliseringseuforien ned. Han hylder globalisering og frihandel, og n?vner stort set ikke klima og milj?.
    • 5/5
      An essential book to read if you want to have a grasp of current global affairs. Release 2.0 is worth reading even if you read the original 2008 edition of Zakaria's book. Very highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      It is interesting reading this in 2017 with the hindsight of three presidential elections and the 2008 economic crisis. In the end, I think most of Zakaria's conclusions hold up well, although some of the economic ones require updating. My rating would be higher if It weren't dated in several places.
    • 5/5
      Exceptional Fareed is a truth teller in 2008 and 2022. Listen to this book so you can understand why the 2022 midterms will not be the most important election since 2016. Sure we want to do well as Midwest Americans from Ohio. And we can if we could just digest the lessons that Zakaria tells us about.
    • 4/5
      Excellent, incisive insight into current state of the world. Maybe not correct in all elements, but worth reading.
    • 5/5
      Amazing book. A must read for anyone who cares about the world
    • 3/5
      Interesting (though not very fresh nor original) take on globalization and the role of the US in the future of economics.
    • 4/5
      Maybe it takes a Bombay-born immigrant like Zakaria, who went from Yale to Harvard and now to the top of International News, to remind the USA of its unique and enduring strengths. A must read for everyone!
    • 2/5
      Thought I'd like this more than I did. It's not at all about the title...it's about American globalization and how the USA can succeed in the changing world economy. This book came out early in 2008 so it must have been written in 2007; it's dated. The book reads like a series of thoughts, not necessarily stuck together. In the end, he doesn't say much...just blather. I did not toss it--read it to the end. But, should have given up after just a few chapters. Glad it came from the library and I did not pay for it.
    • 4/5
      the rise of the rest of the world economies and the need for the US to take the lead in the causes for global warming
    • 5/5
      This is a 2008 book, and the only reason I do not give it five stars is that so much has happened since it was written that it is not as curent as I wish it would be. The author says much which makes good sense and shows that many of the loud voices now speaking on foreign affairs do not make such. His stricturres on the George W. Bush administratioon resonate with good sense. The book is clearly written and its points are well-reasoned.
    • 4/5
      Great book with a positive view of a Post-American world. Insightful history of how policy and decisions of other supper powers affected their rise and fall. He allowed me to see the US from the developing worlds point of view and how the developing world sees each other.
    • 5/5
      Zakaria's book is an easy read but it is am important look at the state of the world and the options open for the U.S. It should be required reading for all politicians, most especially his last chapter which offers six very well conceived guidelines for policy makers.
    • 5/5
      This was a great book and in its way, very comforting and uplifting. The author argues that Americans have spooked themselves into a posture of fear about the rest of the world. Actually, our world has rarely been more peaceful and prosperous than it is now. Why the fear? Media and politics share the blame. While our politics is failing us, economically the US is diverse and strong. Zakaria says we need to rethink our place in the world order. While we are still the most powerful nation, we must improve our image overseas and share some of the power with our allies to insure world peace. We should not see rising powers India and China as threats to our power, but work to accomodate them into the world power structure. A major theme is that America is not sinking, the developing world is rising.