Author(s): Kishore Mahbubani

Politics / Current Affairs

One of Asia's leading intellectuals illuminates what will be on the agenda as Western domination ends and the Asian renaissance impacts world politics, markets and history. For centuries the Asians (Chinese, Indians, Muslims and others) have been bystanders in world history. Now, they are ready to become co-drivers. Asians have finally understood, absorbed and implemented Western best practices in many areas: from free-market economies to modern science and technology, from meritocracy to rule of law. They have also become innovative in their own way, creating new patterns of cooperation not seen in the West.Will the West resist the rise of Asia? The good news is that Asia wants to replicate, not dominate, the West. For a happy outcome to emerge, the West must gracefully give up its domination of global institutions, from the IMF to the World Bank, from the G7 to the UN Security Council. History teaches that tensions and conflicts are more likely when new powers emerge. This too may happen. But they can be avoided if the world accepts the key principles for a new global partnership spelled out in this book.