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| The Post-American World | 
 enlarge | Author: Fareed Zakaria
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $15.45
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Avg. Customer Rating:  158 reviews
Sales Rank: 150
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.6 x 6.2 x 1.3
ISBN: 039306235X
Dewey Decimal Number: 303.49
EAN: 9780393062359
ASIN: 039306235X
Publication Date: May 5, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
America and the rise of the rest of the world in just 250 pages August 2, 2008
The author covers an amazing amount of ground in just 250 pages. Many vast topics are dealt with in summary fashion in order to get to the main point, America's role in new multi-polar world. At times this leads to over simplification and misleading impressions. Just one example. On page 153 Fareed Zakaria provides a thumbnail sketch of Hinduism and the essence of is that: "Nothing is required, nothing is forbidden." But just a television knowledge of India could cause readers to question that by asking: What about the Holy Cows? It is forbidden by Hinduism to to kill these sacred beasts. It is certainly not practical (the author also writes that Hindus are practical) to allow them to wander all over the place in great numbers. And traveling there I read signs warning that non-Hindus are forbidden entry into Hindu temples. In Nepal Buddhist Stupas were open to everyone. And Hindu nationalists, in the name of their religion, do carry out bloody attacks on Christians and Muslims.
Is Hinduism really as easygoing as the author indicates? The rising of the rest might be accompanied by more turmoil than the author expects.
Inconsistent details were sacrificed to time and space and perhaps the author's sweeping vision but the overall effect of the book was enlightening.
 Unipolar to multipolar - but what are the poles? August 5, 2008
From the end of World War II until 2003 there was one nation that exceeded all others in economic prosperity, military strength and cultural power. That was further exemplified in 1989 when the Berlin Wall came crashing down and Hasselhoff sang for freedom. Yet, in 2003 the US's position as sole superpower - economically, politically, militarily and culturally - began to crumble.
Zakaria sees this change from a unipolar to multipolar world. While the rising powers - China, India and the EU - may not eclipse the United States in these areas, their relative power will rise (and have risen) to a degree that the United States cannot merely ignore them.
In his comparison between British Power of the early 20th century and American power, Zakaria introduces a contrast between the two. The UK had lost economic power but maintained political power - both hard (military) and soft (cultural and general good will). In the end the economic problems - of both loss of secondary and tertiary industrial dominance, and the sheer size of the new powers, the US and USSR - caused the UK to be eclipsed. Yet for a while the UK maintained a political role, through both lingering power and clever diplomacy. Zakaria shows how the current American situation is reversed. It has a loss of power - both militarily and politically (largely because of the adventure in Iraq) - but maintains its power economically.
Is it too late for the US? Zakaria thinks not; the next administration can rebuild some of the bridges the old has burnt and continue building the relationships the Bush started (i.e. with India - one of the only foreign policy situations I, personally am in agreement with the Bush Administration). Furthermore, the base of the American economic system, its financial architecture and its flexible superstructure (Zakaria does not use these nomenklatura, but that's what he means), will also allow the US to continue its economic power. What the US must do, according to Zakaria and for which I am in agreement, is build on the post War architecture of the Bretton Woods and UN systems of international organizations to create responsive procedures to new challenges - global warming, terrorism and energy security. This can be done either through the creation of new organizations directly charged with such sectors or through the broadening and deepening of powers already charged to such organizations.
While Zakaria appears to see what are the new challenges, his role in creating the current crisis in political power is glossed over at best. On pages 223-224, his mini mea culpa on the Iraq War attempts to avert some of the blame that can be laid upon him. But, he does not cover how his (and Christopher Hitchens') support of the Iraq adventure, allowed others from the center-left and the caviar gouche to not do their homework on the war before expressing support. While I have long felt Zakaria has a great grasp of the "big picture" and this book furthers that opinion, his myopic views of smaller pictures leaves much to be desired. (I am discussing not only his support for the Iraq imperialism but also such things as his attack on the left and center-left detractors of the Free Trade Area of the Americas without understanding their issues). This book fits well into his largely coherent and correct vision of the big picture. I would suggest anybody from IR geeks to casual observers pick this one up.
excellent, poignant, and prescient August 7, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book should be required reading for us all. It brings together the thoughts of many of the great minds to illustrate the needs, opportunities, and challenges facing America in a world which it can no longer dominate, ignore, or control.
The Post American World August 16, 2008
Excellent and thought provoking view as to how the world is likely to look in the 21st century. It should be considered compulsory reading for the President of the USA.
Oustanding in every way August 19, 2008
Zakaria presents an intelligent, well-informed, and well documented outline of the challenges American foreign policy faces with the rise of the rest of the world. He is too wise and too sensible to take extreme positions and shows how a more balanced American approach could benefit the country and the world. This is a book that should be widely read and saluted for its good sense.
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