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The Post-American World

by Fareed Zakaria

3.82 · rating details · 3,178 ratings · 665 reviews

"For Fareed Zakaria, the great story of our times is "the rise of the rest" - 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. As these trends continue, the pu...more

Audio CD, 1st Edition, 109 pages

Published May 1st 2008 by Simon & Schuster Audio (first published January 1st 2008)

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Dec 07, 2008

Dale rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction, politics

I'll say at the outset that I like Fareed Zakaria. He's articulate, reasonable, moderate, and optimistic. And he is the successor to George Kennan and Zbigniew Brzezinski in the role of theorist for US corporate imperialism. I will not be surprised if he gets an appointment in the upcoming Obama administration as, for example, Assistant Deputy Director of strategic Analysis for the State Department.

Zakaria takes it as an obvious given that the era of US hegemony is drawing to a close...moreI'll say at the outset that I like Fareed Zakaria. He's articulate, reasonable, moderate, and optimistic. And he is the successor to George Kennan and Zbigniew Brzezinski in the role of theorist for US corporate imperialism. I will not be surprised if he gets an appointment in the upcoming Obama administration as, for example, Assistant Deputy Director of strategic Analysis for the State Department.

Zakaria takes it as an obvious given that the era of US hegemony is drawing to a close. The US will be overtaken as the world's largest market by 2040, according to Goldman Sachs (and we have no reason in this case to believe that they are wrong), and we have already lost our position as the leader in technology and manufacturing. But, don't worry, the US still has a role to play, and can even thrive in the new multipolar world; we just have to make some 'adjustments'.

Zakaria claims that the US has been a liberalizing and modernizing force, striving always to bring the virtues of democracy and liberal market economies to the world. And this is where the fundamental flaws in Zakaria's analysis are most obvious. Zakaria continues the western intellectual tradition of portraying history as the interplay of nations, ignoring the class structure within those nations. To claim that the US strives for democracy is contradicted by the facts - in fact there is a high correlation between US support for foreign states and the incidence of human rights violations in those states. Iran 1954, Chile 1973, Nicaragua 1935, 1950s, and 1980s, South Vietnam in the 1960s, Guatemala and Honduras in the 1980s, ongoing support for Saudi Arabia, financial and military support for Saddam Hussein throughout the 1980s, the propaganda attacks on Venezuela today - all these are the counter-examples that Zakaria passes silently by. The theory that the US now and in the past has worked for democracy is simply false. An alternative theory, that the US government works at all times and in all ways to advance the interests of US corporations (and now international corporations) fits the facts much more closely and without the obvious and embarrassing counter-examples.

Trade policy, the tail that wags the foreign policy dog, is equally poorly treated by Zakaria's flawed theory of history. He claims, apparently without irony, that the US has worked tirelessly to teach developing countries the virtues of 'free trade'. But to sustain this argument one must ignore the fact that 'free trade' for the US has always meant that developing countries must give up their indigenous farming and industry in order to form a cadre of virtual slave labor for whatever enterprise is desired by US corporations, whether that enterprise is industrial or agricultural in nature. And, of course, it means that whatever natural resources the developing country has must belong to those US corporations. Any country that sees such an arrangement as unjust, Venezuela for example, is attacked bitterly by intellectuals like Zakaria. Nowhere does Zakaria admit the possibility that US trade agreements are not in the interest of US workers or of workers in the other countries. He can't admit this possibility because class plays no part in his analysis or in his thinking.

Sadly, as likable as Zakaria is, he has written a worthless book, another in a long line of theoretical tracts by ruling class intellectuals. If you want to understand the world in a more consistent way, in a way more consistent with reality, read Chomsky.

(less)

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Sep 11, 2008

Eamonn Gormley rated it

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This is the kind of work that makes a body wish President Bush would read books. The author's point is that diplomacy is America's strength, and it should be used first with force held as a last resort, especially in a world where the US is not the only superpower anymore due to the growing influence of countries in the developing world.

'The Rise of the Rest' is what Mr Zakaria uses to refer to the economic and political growth in developing countries, principally (but not limited t...moreThis is the kind of work that makes a body wish President Bush would read books. The author's point is that diplomacy is America's strength, and it should be used first with force held as a last resort, especially in a world where the US is not the only superpower anymore due to the growing influence of countries in the developing world.

'The Rise of the Rest' is what Mr Zakaria uses to refer to the economic and political growth in developing countries, principally (but not limited to) India and China. Globalization and the opening of international trade has generated great improvements in living standards lifting many millions of people out of poverty across the globe. India and China have been most noticeable because of their sheer size, accounting for over a sixth of the human race between them. India's and China's stories are, of course, slightly different. China has a lot of advantages (from their government's point of view) in that they can ride roughshod over the wishes of its people in the interests of achieving economic goals, whereas in democratic countries such as the UK, people have more freedom to object to development that will adversely affect their standard of living or property values. A proposed expansion of Heathrow Airport meets many obstacles in the form of objections from local residents, whereas in China it's possible for the government to just build an entire airport and sweep anyone out of the way who gets in it. India also has similar checks and balances as Western countries in that great public works projects are subject to objection from local people, and so their growth isn't quite at the same breathtaking pace as China's, but it is still impressive nonetheless.

However strong their performance on the economic stage, it will be a long time before China or India reach the same levels of domination as the US has today. Nor do they seem to want to. China certainly has no interest in becoming the world's policeman. Ending centuries of self-imposed isolation, China's main interest for now is in securing its own borders, reining in runaway regions, and protecting its own interests. Similarly, India is more interested in continuing to build its own prosperity than imposing its own democratic values on the rest of the world. The USA is likely to remain the only major power wishing to export its values as well as its goods.

While international political structures are useful, some of them, like the UN Security Council, are hopelessly out of date. Japan and Germany are among the world's biggest economic powers but still don't have permanent seats on the council just because they were on the losing side in the second world war. Nevertheless, the USA remains the power that people go to in search of a diplomatic solution to international disputes, and that is likely to remain the case for quite some time.

Zakaria goes on to discuss the complexities of nuclear proliferation and to make suggestions on how to deal with this and other problems. The Iraq war is touched upon, remarking on how it is sign of America's unchecked power that it was able to launch an unprovoked war on Iraq and dupe other countries into helping it. The author approves of the end result of ousting of Saddam Hussein, but disapproves of the botched post-invasion occupation and the sheer incompetence of it.

The overall tone is non-partisan and contains none of the childish and heated conservative/liberal bombast that pollutes so much of the bookshelves these days. This writer doesn't fall neatly into the liberal/conservative pigeonholes that some commentators seem determined to push everyone into. The facts are there, the bibliography is extensive, and the case is made very well. If only work of this caliber were more widely read.(less)

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Feb 15, 2009

Sally rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: to-buy, not-for-everybody

I finished this last night and I must say that although it starts off strong I grew very weary. Zakaria could have accomplished the same purpose with a feature in a magazine, in 2000 words. I'm glad I read it, I'm working on broadening my perspective, and there is much about the international finance world I never even began to imagine. It never hurts to be told something more than once - just around time eight or ten I grow weary. Good stuff, though. Time not wasted.

1/30: So fa...more

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Jun 17, 2008

Matthew rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Those who detest fear

Fareed Zakaria's new book, "The Post-American World," shines a bright light on the hand-wringing and defeatist lies about the state of America that are used by neo-conservatives and anti-globalist leftists to support their radical positions by infusing Americans with fear. Indeed, Mr. Zakaria decisively shows that America is the sole ideological superpower in a world that has wholesale adopted our culture and economic values. We are now witnessing a global transformation that is the re...moreFareed Zakaria's new book, "The Post-American World," shines a bright light on the hand-wringing and defeatist lies about the state of America that are used by neo-conservatives and anti-globalist leftists to support their radical positions by infusing Americans with fear. Indeed, Mr. Zakaria decisively shows that America is the sole ideological superpower in a world that has wholesale adopted our culture and economic values. We are now witnessing a global transformation that is the result of the most dramatic export of culture in the history of the world. We won.

Mr. Zakaria was born in Mumbai, India and attended Yale University, where he was tapped for the elite senior fraternity Scroll and Key, a club whose members included my former boss Bobby Shriver and his father Sargent. He is currently the editor at Newsweek and is considered a moderate realist. His writings promote his vision of a world that moves towards liberal democratic societies with free markets. His latest book makes a persuasive case that the world is moving in the right direction, that the world is less violent than anytime in human history and that United States should utilize its strengths to keep a strong position in the world while realizing that a multi-polar world is at hand in the coming decades.

Mr. Zakaria notes that most nation-states are transforming their societies into relatively open societies that mimic the Anglo-American classical liberal philosophy and are aggressively implemented free market principles. The transformation is paying off and vast swaths of humanity are rising out of poverty and mimicking our consumer oriented economy. America is not declining. The rest of the world is rising.

Instead of pissing our pants in fear, we need to accept the fact that the world is becoming more like us and, as a result, nations like China, India, Russia, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia will capture a larger share of the world's economic pie. This transformation is a sign that we won the idealogical war. Mr. Zakaria argues that it is in America's interest to take a collaborative approach to foreign policy that restores a sense of respect (instead of fear) to the growing economic nations. He advises that America should look more to a Bismarkian foreign policy that ensures every nation has better relations with us than any other competitors. Instead, we have spent the last eight years buying into the imperialist mindset of 19th Century Britain that operates by fiat.

Finally, Mr. Zakaria notes that America is not the lost cause that naysayers seem to portray. Our higher education system is the greatest in the world, by many magnitudes. Further, the conventional wisdom is that our elementary and high schools are dismal. In fact, America's educational system produces graduates who are less adept at rote memorization but with creative thinking skills that enable American workers to innovate and adapt far quicker than our Asian and European competitors. The problem is not quality but access for more young Americans. According to Mr. Zakaria, America is a successful economic power. Our weakness lies in our political system that is unable to make relatively minor changes that will strengthen our position of power (e.g., health care and retirement funding).

I hope that thinking Americans will read "The Post-American World" and that right and left-wing fear-mongering will release its hold on our still great nation.(less)

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Jun 13, 2008

Raghu rated it

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This is an important and optimistic book about America and its future. While it is fashionable now to predict gloom about America's future as an economic and political power and over emphasise the rise of China and other powers, Zakaria brings a balance thru his analysis and says that there is no need to push the panic button. On the contrary, he shows the many positives about America as well as the world today. For example, in spite of the terrorism and violence, he shows that the past 20 years...moreThis is an important and optimistic book about America and its future. While it is fashionable now to predict gloom about America's future as an economic and political power and over emphasise the rise of China and other powers, Zakaria brings a balance thru his analysis and says that there is no need to push the panic button. On the contrary, he shows the many positives about America as well as the world today. For example, in spite of the terrorism and violence, he shows that the past 20 years have been some of the most 'peaceful' - relatively - period of the world.
The main theme of the book is that the US is not in decline but that 'others are rising'. And that is actually for the good and that it is the result of the active spread of globalization that the US championed. Zakaria advances a good deal of statistics and analysis to back his contention.
He also advances his contention that the Chinese political leadership is circumspect and moderate in the sense that it wants to rise peacefully rather than aggressively. This is a contention that is probably more his belief than a forcefully argued conclusion. The author cites examples of other Asian countries becoming democratic as a result of their crossing the threshold of $5000 in per capita GDP. China is currently at $2500 but he does not speculate whether the same will happen with China.
However, he feels that the political system in the US is not keeping pace with the changes that are needed. He says: "As it enters the 21st century, the US is not fundamentally a weak economy or decadent society. But its politics is highly dysfunctional.The political system is antiquated and is captured by money, special interests and a sensational media."
Zakaria says that the changes in the political system, if at all any, have not kept pace with the needs, ambitions and goals to be the leading nation in the world. In this sphere, Zakaria seems to accept what seems to be apparent to everyone. Whereas on the economic or cultural front, Zakaria digs deeper and shows that what seems to meet the eye at first glance is not the reality but that the reality is actually more positive and hopeful. Is the same thing possible even about the political system if one digs deeper and find that the political system, even though it may not be ideal, is probably keeping pace with the needed changes? He talks at length about Indian democracy. After all, the political system in India started out differently after independence in 1947 but one saw that gradually, the politicians in a democratic set up gradually saw the writing on the wall and changed to accommodate reality. One can see how the systems in the neighbouring countries in the Indian subcontinent refused to change with the times and paid the price or still keep paying the price.
He also draws upon the decline of Britain as a superpower. He says that despite some eerie parallels between the position of the United States today and that of the British Empire a century ago, there are key differences. Britain's decline was driven by bad economics. The United States, in contrast, has the strength and dynamism to continue shaping the world -- but only if it can overcome its political dysfunction and reorient U.S. policy for a world defined by the rise of other powers.
It is a book that brings much for discussion and is well-researched. I enjoyed reading it and found it thought provoking.
(less)

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Jul 30, 2011

Tim Weakley rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 50-book-challenge-2011, e-books

I am always a little hesitant to read books about current political events because they are so easily partisan. I think the author has avoided this trap for the most part with The Post American World. He delivers a broad look at what is happening outside of the western sphere of influance that makes me want to learn more, specifically about China and India and the political climate of today. I don't think this is an anti-American work. I think it's done with an attitude of enlightenment for the ...more

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Mar 21, 2011

Rob Haas rated it

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Shelves: politics, philosophy

This book is probably the most timely book on world economics and political dynamics that you can find. It updates a lot of old statistics and misconceptions all while leaving a really nice taste in your mouth for whats to come. I would recommend this book to everyone who wants to know what's behind the goings-on in the world. Despite the title Zakaria continues to remind the reader that America still plays a vital role in the world and where the United States is able to have the largest impact....more

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Jun 28, 2011

Jorge Bazan rated it

· review of another edition

Simply a good insight of the upcoming international system ahead of us, i recommend it to anyone interested in knowing why the USA should not fear the rise of countries like Russia, China and India today.

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Aug 06, 2011

Chris rated it

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Shelves: real-world

A very timely read. Can't tell where this revision differs all that much from the earlier book. Given the latest debacle of our government over the debt ceiling and the subsequent downgrade of our credit rating by S&P, this book is quite prescient in talking about the failure of our political system. Zakaria compares and contrasts America and Great Britain as superpowers. While Britains's decline was due to economic weakness, they were able to stall it for 70 years due to superior diplomacy and ...more

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Nov 27, 2008

Honor rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: those interested in economics, politics, history, sociology, etc., academics & infohounds.

First, as a good faith disclaimer, let me say that I tend to love this kind of book. Any book that provides a cup running over with information and data is sure to win my heart early on, and as editor of international editions of Newsweek, Mr. Fareed Zakaria certainly has access to the kind of fact-feed and data sources that make me go all warm and mushy inside... And he shares nicely. :-)

Second, for those who's sense of patriotism might be goosed by the title, let me offer the expl...moreFirst, as a good faith disclaimer, let me say that I tend to love this kind of book. Any book that provides a cup running over with information and data is sure to win my heart early on, and as editor of international editions of Newsweek, Mr. Fareed Zakaria certainly has access to the kind of fact-feed and data sources that make me go all warm and mushy inside... And he shares nicely. :-)

Second, for those who's sense of patriotism might be goosed by the title, let me offer the explanatory quote from very early on in the book... "This is not a book about the decline of America, but rather about the rise of everyone else." Current financial crisis aside, our economy is still a world leader, and can be for some time... But, as other nations follow our lead and rise to their own model of capability and prosperity, our position relative to them will level somewhat.

In this book, Mr. Zakaria touches on the relevant history of our current socio-political situation and then addresses some of the finer points of the history, culture, influences, and policies that will shape the actions of other nations such as China and India. In truth, one wouldn't be far off base to say this book is at least in large part -about- China and India, but anyone who can look at the current world situation and not see why that's appropriate and relevant probably isn't paying attention.

This book isn't about the doom and gloom of no longer being the sole world super-power, it's about how others are advancing, the directions they are likely to take, those areas where we still have a substantial lead, and how we can best maintain and develop them.

If you're the kind of person who enjoys knowing a bit more about what's going on, and what's going on behind that, than you are likely to get out of the daily news papers or broadcasts, you should read this book. You'll learn from it and enjoy it.

If you're the kind of person who is frequently looked to by friends for a little more depth and insight on national and international policy events, it's probably already on your reading list... If not, it should be.(less)

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Jun 19, 2008

Tripp rated it

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Fareed Zakaria's new book, the Post-American World is a book I hope both presidential candidates read. It is a brief book that tells Americans we need to re-think our view of the world. We need to jettison the idea of the world's policeman and hyperpower and replace it with the world's trusted third party. In this his says we need to be less Britain than Bismarck, which I rather like. We need to de-emphasize military power and re-consider economic competitiveness. We need to spend less time worr...more

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Dec 29, 2008

Nat rated it

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Recommends it for: terry burger

Another book by a journalist. Zakaria give you something you don't expect from the title of the book. You might expect it to be simple America-bashing. In fact, it is a gentle warning with suggestions as to how America can continue to be a major player as economic and other power shifts globally in the 21st century. A well-thought-out and well-written book. A must read for anyone interested in the future role that American can play on the global landscape.

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Feb 27, 2010

Mahlon rated it

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Recommends it for: Anyone interested in current events.

Recommended to Mahlon by: Donna Krasnow, Pat Mcananey

Contrary to what one might think, The Post-American World isn't about the decline of America, rather it's about the rise of the rest of the world, specifically India and China, and how the U.S. should react to it on a policy level. The author is surprisingly optimistic that America can keep pace. Of course, the book was published in May 2008, one wonders if he'd still be as optimistic given the current state of our economy.

The book can become tedious at times, especially if you've r...more

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Jul 02, 2008

Laura rated it

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Shelves: read-2008

I loved this book! It helps that I read Zakaria's columns in Newsweek all the time and really like his global outlook and the openness and collaboration amongst nations that he promotes. It was also an interesting read - not boring or stuffy like what we had to read in college. I studied both India and China briefly in college, taking poli sci, history, and globalization courses but it was nice to get a 5 year update :)

Whether you'd like to brush up on the current state of world...more

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Jun 02, 2008

Dylan rated it

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He defends the book's basic thesis really well, which isn't hard to do. He does a great job with his discussion of history's many narratives, and the placing of America's current situation in historical context. My problem with the book is how drastically Zakaria overvalues GDP and productivity as the value of a country. He never seems to question the construct of world powers, and tends to value countries too much on their global power and too little on how their citizenship is faring. As Jonat...more

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Aug 03, 2011

Abu Fantaye added it · review of another edition

This is an excellent book even though it seems to state the obvious with a sense of discovery. In spite of its rather provocative title it is actually a rather good left of center view of current events and the world economy, with only a couple of swipes at Bush. It starts with a positive view of capitalism which is surprising considering how the current attitude in the media and intellectual circles of America is moving away from Capitalism and toward the failed policies of Socialism. Zakaria p...more

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Feb 26, 2009

Frank rated it

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I liked what I read in the beginning and felt it would be a good read for certain politicians in Washington to understand a world perspective that goes beyond a very limited American perspective. With that said, I was also surprised and happy that this was not a "blame America" or "bad America" book. I was impressed by Zakaria's ability and fairness to point out the good and the bad of what America means to and has done for the world (culture). On the down side, after having ...more

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Dec 17, 2011

Ben rated it

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Fareed Zakaria takes stock of the present and the future in his book The Post-American World. Zakaria chronicles the decline of Western influence, and America's role in the world to come. There are some who have painted this book as sensationalist and others have called it anti-American. The former obviously didn't grasp the concept of the book and the latter definitely didn't read it.

The first few chapters of the book deal with the affluence of America and the culture that has been c...more

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Oct 09, 2011

D Books rated it

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This was not an easy read for me, but I felt that I needed to read this book. I wanted an "outside looking in" perspective on America's place in the future and I think Mr. Zakaria hit right on target. It appears that the researched material in this book is well layed out and leads the reader to take a thought provoking journey. The journey down a road that is sure to lead the reader to believe that at the end of this journey America will be in a different economic and poliitical pos...more

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Jul 30, 2011

BHodges added it · review of another edition

"This is not a book about the decline of America, but rather about the rise of everyone else," Zakaria notes at the outset of "The Post-American World." The rest of the book discusses how the United States is dealing with this rise. Thus, the book is brief and thoughtful overview of the political place of the United States in the world. The "rise of the rest" indicates how other countries continue to advance economically and technologically, thus taking up more spac...more

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Jul 05, 2011

Ari rated it

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Shelves: read-in-2011

Superior food for thought laid out in a concise manner. "The task for today is to construct a new approach for a new era, one that responds to a global system in which power is far more diffuse than ever before and in which everyone feels empowered." (pg. 231) EVERYONE FEELS EMPOWERED. To me that is key. Reading about the hypocriscy and arrogance of American diplomats made my blood boil. But it's not all bad, there is hope and I think (although I'm biased) with President Obama's focus ...moreSuperior food for thought laid out in a concise manner. "The task for today is to construct a new approach for a new era, one that responds to a global system in which power is far more diffuse than ever before and in which everyone feels empowered." (pg. 231) EVERYONE FEELS EMPOWERED. To me that is key. Reading about the hypocriscy and arrogance of American diplomats made my blood boil. But it's not all bad, there is hope and I think (although I'm biased) with President Obama's focus on soft power (i.e. diplomacy first) there may be a lessening of anti-American sentiment. But then again America is still very much a "Do as I say not what I do" kind of country. The author takes great care to explain that it is not that America is declining but that many other countries are catching up to us, they are fully committed to playing the capitalist game. We have to accept that fact. We also need to think much more globally. I understand that the way our political system is organized is such that it's all about instant gratification, instant results but our lawmakers really do need to think with a global attitude and they need to encourage all other Americans to do the same.

"A more organic international system in which problems are addressed through a variety of different sturcutres and solutions can create its own kind of layered stability." (pg. 244) I think that is a very strong arguement for the continued need for more people to study policy, international relations, politics, and other forms of social sciences. We DEFINITELY need more people entering engineering, medicine and other sciences & technological careers but we need policy wonks too and people to come up with creative solutions to certain problems because not all problems can be solved with science. "America is also much more than its government. And here there is more promising activity. Foundations, universities, charities, and private individuals are working more deeply and effectively abroad. Washington should learn more from these groups, work more with them, and engage other Americans to get involved" (pg. 247). Again, the need for a strong civil society, the urge for people (who have the luxury) of spending time reflecting and then working to improve the world's problems. I appreciated the author spending special focus on China (a country that many Americans worry incessantly about and while I admit China's growth does concern me, I also think it's a good thing for us. Competition makes everyone better) and India (a new ally and a country taht really amazes me with how fast it turned around. I want to know more). I found the comparison to Great Britain during its peak absolutely fascinating and something I never would have thought of were it not for this book. An exceptional read and I can't wait for the sequel (especially since I don't understand economics at all so I'm curious to see how badly hit our global economic power was hit by the recession).(less)

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Jun 19, 2011

Karen rated it

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Fareed Zakarias is well-known now to American television audiences, but it is important to remember what a breakthrough broadcasting success he was when he started his international affairs show. For most of us Americans he was the most prominent Muslim-American we had ever seen on television. Indeed, friends have suggested he could be our first Muslim-American Secretary of State. I appreciated that his was the first Sunday talk show to consistently, week-after-week, bring an international pan...more

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Feb 22, 2011

Tony rated it

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A refreshing read when one considers the typical ignorant American response to globalization- blame China, India, and the immigrants for our economic downturn. Zakaria offers a straight-forward assessment of how the rising global powers view America. Are they Anti-American or could they care less about America? Outside of pop-culture and technology, the world is moving on and the playing field is leveling. America's dominance in the global economy is still strong, although waning at a fast p...more

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Feb 02, 2011

Skipr rated it

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Shelves: kindle

I enjoyed this well-written forecast of the future. Zakaria is persuasive as he describes the "rise of the rest," particularly China and India. His optimism seems a little overdone. Written just as the economy was going in the tank, he certainly didn't foresee the depth and breadth of the recession. On the domestic front, Zakaria is also too sanguine about the problem of American debt. I think he's mistaken when he argues that the checks and balances established by the founders hamstri...more

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Jan 22, 2011

Sean rated it

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"The Post-American World" by Fareed Zakaria is one of the many books which has come to examine the concept of what the 21st century will look like, including the place of America within this new global order. But what makes this book stand out above the re...st is that it is concise, well-written, and shows a profound intellectual depth sorely lacking in international commentary today. Instantly accessible, this book should be placed high on everyone's list, especially those who wish t...more

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Jan 16, 2011

Halahy rated it

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VISLUMBRES, DESAFIOS Y ESTRATEGIAS EN UN NUEVO MUNDO POST-AMERICANO
POR: ALEJANDRA MENESES

THE POST- AMERICAN WORLD
BY FAREED ZAKARIA. NEW YORK: W.W. NORTON, 2008. 292 PP.

El planteamiento principal del libro no es el declive del poder hegemónico de los Estados Unidos en las próximas décadas, sino la demostración del surgimiento y la emergencia de nuevas potencias, en los diferentes continentes, que causan de una u otra manera, una difusión del poder y de la autoridad. ...more

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Sep 05, 2010

David rated it

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Shelves: political-science, current-events

This was a good book...if a little uneven.

His strength lies with marshaling numbers and statistics which are little known and under-appreciated.

Zakaria's weakness comes with cultural/historical analyses. An example of this is when he states that America is the world's first truly international society. What of Singapore, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Britain, etc.?

But his vision of a world, informed by Thomas Friedman's theory of a flat world, that is rapidly deve...more

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Aug 03, 2010

Ian Mchugh rated it

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A thought provoking and well written critique of America's current position in the world, and an outline of the possible/probable future dynamics of international politics.
This books freshness is its strength. "Finally!", I thought whilst reading, "a book from America that questions American's past decade of hubris." This book is not an attack on American policy but it IS an examination of how America's view of its self may hinder its ability to adapt to a changing w...more

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Oct 04, 2009

Jafar rated it

· review of another edition

The books starts off with a quote from the historian Arnold Toynbee about how there are no intrinsic reasons why a civilization (read an empire) should not go on forever, in spite of all the previous ones having failed or faded. It immediately reminded me of a similar line about how aging is not one of the laws of physics and the possibility of curing it.

Zakaria is an editor for Newsweek International, and this book reads like a series of Newsweek articles. Sticking to the style of ...more

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Jul 29, 2009

Allisonperkel rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: history, politics, global

Mr Zakaria has written a book that attempts to hold up a mirror to the US and its place in the world. He mostly succeeds. Being a short 259 page book, all one can do is provide broad brush strokes and that's what makes this book work and, at times, not work.

Even with the broad brush strokes he manages to make some very pertinent points. One chapter shows how the demise of the US is greatly exaggerated. For example he dissects the number of engineers and scientists really graduated b...moreMr Zakaria has written a book that attempts to hold up a mirror to the US and its place in the world. He mostly succeeds. Being a short 259 page book, all one can do is provide broad brush strokes and that's what makes this book work and, at times, not work.

Even with the broad brush strokes he manages to make some very pertinent points. One chapter shows how the demise of the US is greatly exaggerated. For example he dissects the number of engineers and scientists really graduated by schools and finds the US system is still among the best. He also does some debunking on the state of US schools. For the curious, the better US school systems are as good as they get but we have a good number of schools that are truly horrid. And he shows its not so much the US is slipping as the rest of the world is rising. And that really is a great thing.

From there he launches into the benefits and issues facing the next two great world powers: India and China. I was very glad to see his fairly well balanced views of each nation; he is neither too gung ho nor too doom and gloom. This is a nice change from the traditional books on these two nations.

Finally he does talk about the US vis a vis the British Empire. The compare and contrast does point out the weaknesses that the US currently has and, for the most part, I think his analysis is quite trenchant. Quite possibly the most controversial point he makes is for the US to re-embrace immigration as this is one of the core strengths of the US. I tend to agree with him. Immigration is what has led to the US becoming what it is today and its my hope for the future of the US.

There are weaknesses though. The brush strokes can be so broad as to detract from his statements. I find these most true when it comes to India, China and the British Empire. Additionally, he's very pro India and while I personally have no issue with this, in fact I also agree with him here, his discussion does have a slight feel of nationalism. Again, this is perfectly understandable but in this case I do feel that Mr Zakaria isn't as detached as he is in the other sections. Finally he does make some excuses for China's human rights policy. I'm not sure I agree with him here but his point is that the US trying to make a huge point of this is not only a case of pot calling the kettle black, but the way its done is potentially destructive is valid and should be listened too. Still, excuses for the Chinese regimes' actions against non Han citizens isn't something that is easy to overlook. Still this is nit picking.

This is a very well done overview that truly tries to give an honest overview of the world today and speculate on where it will go in the near term. I applaud Mr. Zakaria for walking that line and walking it well.(less)

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About Fareed Zakaria

Fareed Zakaria was named editor of Newsweek International in October 2000, overseeing all Newsweek's editions abroad. The magazine reaches an audience of 24 million worldwide. He writes a regular column for Newsweek, which also appears in Newsweek International and fortnightly in the Washington Post. He also hosts an international affairs program, Fareed Zakaria GPS, which airs Sundays worldwide o...more

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Books by Fareed Zakaria

The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad

From Wealth to Power: The Unusual Origins of America's World Role

The American Encounter: The United States And The Making Of The Modern World: Essays From 75 Years Of Foreign Affairs

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“We have not noticed how fast the rest has risen. Most of the industrialized world--and a good part of the nonindustrialized world as well--has better cell phone service than the United States. Broadband is faster and cheaper across the industrial world, from Canada to France to Japan, and the United States now stands sixteenth in the world in broadband penetration per capita. Americans are constantly told by their politicians that the only thing we have to learn from other countries' health care systems is to be thankful for ours. Most Americans ignore the fact that a third of the country's public schools are totally dysfunctional (because their children go to the other two-thirds). The American litigation system is now routinely referred to as a huge cost to doing business, but no one dares propose any reform of it. Our mortgage deduction for housing costs a staggering $80 billion a year, and we are told it is crucial to support home ownership, except that Margaret Thatcher eliminated it in Britain, and yet that country has the same rate of home ownership as the United States. We rarely look around and notice other options and alternatives, convinced that "we're number one.” — 12 people liked it

“...foreign policy is a matter of costs and benefits, not theology.” — 7 people liked it

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