Mahbubani: The Rise of Asia -1/6

Kishore Mahbubani - Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore and author of the acclaimed "The New Asian Hemisphere" - explains the ongoing rise of Asia and the concomitant decline of the West.

PLEASE READ MY COMMENTS ON THE VIDEO BEFORE WATCHING.

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[KashifHKhan]

PART 8:

If the West is serious about protecting its long-term interests, it must give emerging powers a stake in global system. No way can 12% of world population continue to control destiny of remaining 88%. This would involve overhaul of existing multilateral institutions such as IMF and Security Council (SC) as well as formation of new institutions with emerging power participation. (eg. SC members are WW2 victors while an Asian cannot lead IMF despite massive Asian forex reserves.)

-Kashif

[KashifHKhan]

PART 7:

Mahbubani is correct in asserting that the West does not understand Asian notion of "freedom". For most Asians "freedom" is not about voting, but about making personal choices. (No offense to Indians who are justifiably proud to be part of the world's largest democracy). Similarly, after 9/11, Western policy of exporting freedom is beginning to sound hollow - even hypocritical - due to massive violations of civil liberties of its own citizens. The West has failed its own test.

-Kashif

[KashifHKhan]

PART 6:

The West is also guilty of serious mistakes in Iraq. In fact, it appears to have forgotten its own lessons from WW2. The US did not put Japanese emperor on trial in 1945 in order to ensure social stability by preserving a key institution. In Iraq, on the other hand, it arrogantly engaged in de-Baathification that decimated the middle-class, the glue that holds a society together. By contrast, Japanese allowed British colonial officers to continue during occupation of Singapore.

-Kashif

[KashifHKhan]

PART 5:

I agree with explanation of Western decline and description of its recent failures. Current Western generation is used to being at the top and has lost sense of the "struggle" that marked Western ascent; it only prefers to lecture others. Similarly, the West misjudged its success against Soviet Union as a triumph of its political system. In reality, success was due to its economic system. China correctly focused on its economy while Russia foolishly focused on political system.

-Kashif

[KashifHKhan]

PART 4:

It is interesting to hear Mahbubani correct two popular misconceptions: (a) "Europe's past is Asia's future", and (b) "China's rise is a threat to its neighbors." Asians have studied European history and will avoid war at all costs; SE Asia is already moving in direction of EU federation. Similarly, China has made a policy to "export its prosperity" to neighbors via free trade agreements. This marks an exception to historical rule of tensions accompanying rise of a new power.

-Kashif

[KashifHKhan]

PART 3:

I fully agree that is very difficult for Westerners to appreciate the change in psyche of Asians from ongoing economic transformation. Tradition held that "birth was destiny"; hence people accepted their circumstances and rarely took initiative to improve their lot. This was especially true in India because of the ancient caste system. Globalization - and ensuring economic growth - has now "awoken" people to grab opportunity and make financial and social strides via education.

-Kashif

[halowarrior510]

in 2050, the 5 largest economies of the world will be:China, USA, India, Brazil, and Mexico. Latin America, and Asia will become the next economic hubs of the world.

[KLguy133]

wow a self conversation congrats LOL

[zxcvbnm7644]

The asian mind has a non conventional, non linear way of thinking and has been a big factor in rapid development. Because of the old thinking of the west: 1+1=2 the financial and economic system collapsed.The west is fear mongering about the "danger" that will arise. The west with its superiority complex seeing the rise of asia as the "danger" they are talking about i guess.

[zxcvbnm7644]

Your comments on kishore mabhubanis's intervieuw about rising asia, was pleasant to read. note 1 : 3 asian markets out of the 4 will be asian in 2050 on the top: This is based on linear thinking. Living in a rapidly growing worldmarket , we will see this earlier. taking non conventional factors into consideration, it will happen sooner than the rise of the west as big power. It took the west 300 years to come at this point.