The Post-American World

Our final examination of Zakaria's book started with a rapid discussion of India, focusing on its economic growth and the fact that it started nearly 20 years after that of China. India is still on a growth curve and will continue to move towards being the third largest economy in the world by about 2050. Beyond this second example of the rise of the rest (and a country we will study this fall in depth), Zakaria lays out what he sees as the major problem with America today...not cultural decay or economic decadence...but what he refers to as a "can do" country with a "do nothing" political system. Our problem is, according to Zakaria, that our political system has been hijacked by partisan politics, partisan media, special interest groups, and an economic elite who not only can't get anything done...they don't want to. The final chapter of The Post-American World lays out some rather simple routes for us to not only survive as the world moves forward, but routes to even greater prosperity. We are, after all, still the world's largest economy and will be for year's to come. His main point is that while we are the superpower...the one hegemon in the world...we are not the only country in the world. We have a responsiblity to the world to use our power to mediate and solve problems, not cause them through unilateral decisions that fly in the face of the international community. Our politicians and diplomats feel no need to listen to other countries point of view...we are the world's strongest country, but we are stronger than the rest of the world. Zakaria believes the path to continued success in The Post-American World is working with the growing world and the groupings of power (such as the European Union) to use our power to pursue peaceful resolutions that are fair to all. Being a better neighbor and friend, according to Fareed Zakaria, is the key to prolonged greatness for the United States.