Mahbubani: The Rise of Asia -2/6

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

[RoniCMaster]

@KashifHKhan Isn't there already well over 300 million Chinese middle class? I think you misheard. If I'm not mistaken, he mentioned that by 2030, there will be 300 million more Chinese middle class than Americans. Which should put it at around 700 million. A 300 million-strong middle class was already reached a few years back.

[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.

[TheBigFatDude]

He is right about it, China has done somethings extremely well! Even if they had an advantage of a totalitarian govt. their growth is exceptional.

Of course we can't copy them as our geopolitical scenario is way too different, but we can certainly learn the things they did right, even if we have to achieve the same goals differently!

[rzuhler]

if they contain goodness, and live with meaning in whatever they are doing; only then will their success last.

[MUURCHOTI]

ITS THE BEGINNING OF THE GOLDEN AGE.