Brand New and Fast Shipment
Just like a book from Barnes & Noble. Perfect Quality. No issues. No complaints. Delivered before it was supposed to be and arrived early. Great!

education...again
From the Publishers Weekly review: "America will stay strong, buoyed by a stellar educational system"...

Really? "stellar"?

What's this reviewer smoking?

How to account for this statement?

Help, someone?

Surprisingly Positive
I expected The Post-American World to be dedicated to the notion that the United States is in decline, soon to be replaced as the world's only superpower, with negative consequences for it and for the world. Actually, Fareed Zakaria's latest work is an overall optimistic view of the US position at the beginning of the twenty-first century. There are challenges to be overcome, many of them of our own making and the consequences of our own arrogance and shortsightedness, but Zakaria assures us that our economic and political power can pull us through.

The most interesting parts of this book are the chapters dealing with the two countries seen as most likely to be American rivals in coming years: China and India. Zakaria does an excellent job describing their many accomplishments and fantastic development, but he also points out that both have weaknesses and that neither can fundamentally overtake the United States for many years to come. I also enjoyed the chapters in which Zakaria compares the United States to the British Empire. This is a favored subject for many doomsayers nowadays, but Zakaria, while drawing some important lessons from the British experience, also clearly delineates the differences between London and Washington. His final chapter giving six simple guidelines for American policy is one that I hope the Presidential candidates will read before November.

Most balanced analysis on the subject yet
This is the best book on the subject since The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers. Zakaria's analysis is balanced and insightful unlike After the Empire: The Breakdown of the American Order (European Perspectives: A Series in Social Thought and Cultural Criticism).

Zakaria benchmarks the U.S. outlook against England in the 19th century. England faded because of economic exhaustion as it became nearly bankrupt because of WWI when its debt reached 136% of GDP and interest payments amounted to 50% of its Budget. By 1945, the U.S. GDP was 10 times England. But, England extended its influence by facilitating the rise of the U.S.

The U.S. situation is different because it is a leading economy. Since the 1880s, it has been the largest economy steadily accounting for 25% of World GDP. Over the past 25 years, U.S. GDP growth has averaged 3% vs only 2% for Western Europe. While defense spending broke England's back, it accounts for only 4.1% of U.S. GDP. The U.S. Current Account Deficit (CAD) at 7% of GDP is not a concern when coupled with low unemployment, high productivity, and a world savings glut. He mentions the Smiley curve where the U.S. leads in product innovation (the smile left side) and in branding (the smile right side) where profits are generated. China leads in low cost manufacturing (the bottom of the Smiley curve) where profits are slim. Long term forecasts rank the U.S. GDP per capita way ahead of others. The U.S. is a technology leader dominating nanotech, and biotech. It invests 2.6% of GDP in higher education vs only 1.2% for Europe and Japan. In any discipline, U.S. universities routinely account for 7 of the top 10 worldwide spots.

Demography is another U.S strength. Europe is aging rapidly. This will increase its fiscal stress, shrink labor force, and slow economic growth. Many Asian countries are in the same situation. By 2010, Japan will have 3 million fewer workers than it did in 2005. But, the U.S. workforce will keep growing because it readily assimilates immigrants. The `Rise of the Rest' will mainly grab market share from Japan and Europe and not the U.S.

The U.S. has many challenges. Globalization has increased international competition. The U.S. has now one of the highest corporate tax rates because everyone lowered theirs. Due to a more efficient regulatory infrastructure London has bypassed NY as the top financial center. Jobs are going to places with well-trained workers with efficient benefit costs. U.S business can save $6,000 in health care costs per worker by moving operations to Canada.

The "rise of the rest" means mainly the rise of China and India. He dedicates chapter 4 to China (`The Challenger') and chapter 5 to India (`The Ally'). Those two economies are different. One is a top down government organized one (China). The other is a bottom up private sector driven one (India). The Chinese model creates superior infrastructure. India's model makes for superior capital allocation, and better managed companies.

China's GDP has grown by 9% p.a. for three decades. It is the world's low cost producer and is the emerging second world power. Its challenges include rapid environmental degradation, misallocation of capital due to a corrupt banking system. Its per capita GDP is still only 1/25th the U.S.

India has been the second fastest growing country, behind only China, growing at 8.5% during the 90s. But, its GDP per capita is only half China's. And 800 million Indians still live on only $2 a day. Its infrastructure is really poor. However, India's advantages include a thriving private sector with independent courts, and Rule of law. Also, unlike China it has a young population that will provide masses of able workers.

But, the growth of both China and India will test environment sustainability. Over the next 6 years China and India will build 800 coal-fired power plants with CO2 emissions five times the total savings of the Kyoto accords.

Zakaria thinks the U.S. dysfunctional Government represents the greatest threat to its economic supremacy. Policies should be implemented to boost savings, expand training in science, secure pensions, streamline immigration process, and improve energy efficiency. Yet, the entailed negotiated compromises between the parties appear impossible because of polarized politics.

Zakaria envisions we are entering the "Post-American World." There has been three major power shifts in the past 500 years. The first one was the rise of the West in the fifteenth century that produced the Italian Renaissance, Enlightenment, scientific method, and the industrial revolution. The second one was the rise of the U.S. in the 19th century leading the world in economics, science, and influence. We are transiting to the third major shift into the "Post-American World" where many nations share power. Zakaria suggests that just as England did not resist the advent of the U.S. in the 19th century, the U.S. should do the same with China and India. This would entail reforming international institutions such as the IMF, G-8, and the UN Security Council. Those institutions should reflect the new world order. If the U.S. can facilitate this transition, its influence will last longer.

He recommends the U.S. extricates itself out of the 8th century AD conflicts between Sunnis and Shiites and refocuses on China, India, and Brazil. The U.S. should develop good relations with all powers including Russia, and China. It should combat terrorism in non-military ways to avoid harming itself economically and politically by overreacting. The U.S. has to reestablish legitimacy. "It is one thing to scare your enemies; it's another to terrify the rest of the world" Today among European countries, up to 80% oppose U.S. foreign policy. For America to succeed amid the rise of the rest, it needs to remain an attractive place for immigrants.

If you enjoy this book, I also recommend his very lucid The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad, Revised Edition

Global perspective
The author presents a thoughtful analysis of our changing world. His wide ranging background adds depth to his discussion particulary in the the areas of the recent rapid changes in India and China that have so quickly impacted America. His advice to get used to our new position in the global market and social structure makes a whole lot of sense.