The New Asian Hemisphere - The Irresistible Shift of Global Power to the East
Kishore Mahbubani
(Published in the United States by PublicAffairs,
ISBN 978-1-58648-466-8)
(Published in the United States by PublicAffairs,
ISBN 978-1-58648-466-8)
Introduction
While reading The New Asian Hemisphere I found myself intrigued with Kishore Mahbubani's ideas. Within his first paragraph he states "[t]he rise of Asia will bring about an equally significant transformation." I couldn't help but wonder "will this transformation be bad?" Media, stories my parents told me, and other negative information about Asia made me feel pessimistic towards the future.
My father, born in China, told me stories about his childhood. He said he didn't own any clothes until he was 6 years old. I was also told that in China some children would be kidnapped by other families. Those children's limps would be cut off and the child would be thrown onto the streets so they can beg for money. I was horrified when my parents told me that.
So I was skeptical towards Mahbubani's enthusiasm about Asia's development. However I thought: "if China reduced it's poverty from 6 hundred million to 2 hundred million, that must mean SOMETHING, right?" Mahbubani's book continued to assure me that there's nothing to fear about Asia becoming more powerful. As Spiderman's uncle once said: "with great power, comes with great responsibility." It seems like Asia is following along with that quote.
Mahbubani then looks through the West's prospective about the Asia's development. He points out that through Western's eyes we can only "see dark images" about the future. He states several quotes from the West's government officials such as:
"We have so many challenges to take up at the same time, in this world which is dangerous, unstable, and in disarray."
-Michel Barnier, February 2005 Quoted from page 6 in the New Asian Hemisphere
From how Mahbubani organized and wrote his book so far, it made me wonder "what's so dangerous about Asia?" Even my parents are enthusiastic about the changes in China.
If Asia is so dangerous, why did the West help trigger the Asian March to Modernity? Why is that 88% of the world's population delightedly open their arms to the changes while the other 12% (the West) are having doubts about the future?
Mahbubani quoted a sentence from Clash of Civilizations to explain the West's reaction.
Mahbubani presented the word "crisis" in Chinese, which is a combination of two Chinese characters: "danger" and "opportunity." I agree with Mahbubani's opinion that too many Western minds are looking at the danger; not enough is looking at the opportunities. I have read several news articles regarding to problems occurring in the Asian countries. But these issues have not prevented Asia from looking at opportunities to improve. So what should it prevent the West?
Although it's just the introduction of the book, I'm quite excited to read what else Mahbubani has written. I'm delighted by the idea of gaining a better understnd about the non-Western's views.
While reading The New Asian Hemisphere I found myself intrigued with Kishore Mahbubani's ideas. Within his first paragraph he states "[t]he rise of Asia will bring about an equally significant transformation." I couldn't help but wonder "will this transformation be bad?" Media, stories my parents told me, and other negative information about Asia made me feel pessimistic towards the future.
My father, born in China, told me stories about his childhood. He said he didn't own any clothes until he was 6 years old. I was also told that in China some children would be kidnapped by other families. Those children's limps would be cut off and the child would be thrown onto the streets so they can beg for money. I was horrified when my parents told me that.So I was skeptical towards Mahbubani's enthusiasm about Asia's development. However I thought: "if China reduced it's poverty from 6 hundred million to 2 hundred million, that must mean SOMETHING, right?" Mahbubani's book continued to assure me that there's nothing to fear about Asia becoming more powerful. As Spiderman's uncle once said: "with great power, comes with great responsibility." It seems like Asia is following along with that quote.
Mahbubani then looks through the West's prospective about the Asia's development. He points out that through Western's eyes we can only "see dark images" about the future. He states several quotes from the West's government officials such as:
"We have so many challenges to take up at the same time, in this world which is dangerous, unstable, and in disarray."-Michel Barnier, February 2005 Quoted from page 6 in the New Asian Hemisphere
From how Mahbubani organized and wrote his book so far, it made me wonder "what's so dangerous about Asia?" Even my parents are enthusiastic about the changes in China.
If Asia is so dangerous, why did the West help trigger the Asian March to Modernity? Why is that 88% of the world's population delightedly open their arms to the changes while the other 12% (the West) are having doubts about the future?
Mahbubani quoted a sentence from Clash of Civilizations to explain the West's reaction.
"The West in effect is using international institutions, military power and economic resources to run the world in ways that will maintain Western predominance, protect Western interests and promote Western political and economic values" (page 7)
That's quite depressing to learn that the West is quite self-centered. What happen to promoting the idea that people are masters of their own destiny?
As Mahbubani continues to elaborate on the West's point of view, I was left with the impression West is frightened that it will no longer be the most powerful nations in the world. Instead, it will find itself in the position that Asia is in now: learning and improving. I am frightened too. Not frightened by the idea that Asia will become more powerful, but by the consequences that may occur due to the West's ignorance.
As Mahbubani continues to elaborate on the West's point of view, I was left with the impression West is frightened that it will no longer be the most powerful nations in the world. Instead, it will find itself in the position that Asia is in now: learning and improving. I am frightened too. Not frightened by the idea that Asia will become more powerful, but by the consequences that may occur due to the West's ignorance.
Mahbubani presented the word "crisis" in Chinese, which is a combination of two Chinese characters: "danger" and "opportunity." I agree with Mahbubani's opinion that too many Western minds are looking at the danger; not enough is looking at the opportunities. I have read several news articles regarding to problems occurring in the Asian countries. But these issues have not prevented Asia from looking at opportunities to improve. So what should it prevent the West?Although it's just the introduction of the book, I'm quite excited to read what else Mahbubani has written. I'm delighted by the idea of gaining a better understnd about the non-Western's views.
