The Rise of the Rest

http://www.newsweek.com/id/135380/output/print

A very long but interesting article about globalization and the rise of the rest of the world written by Fareed Zakaria of Newsweek who was named one of the 100 most influential young policy makers in the world by "Foreign Policy" magazine.

His article is a response to the recent poll in which 81% of Americans responded that they think the country is on the "wrong track". Zakaria argues that rather than defining this era as the decline of America, it should be looked at as the rise of everyone else. He points out that Americans have been pushing for globalization for decades, and now that it is being realized, we are upset at the prospect of losing power. The article presents interesting perspectives on terrorism and global economics and ultimately makes the argument that although we may lose the power to dictate, we still have the power to lead the world; however, in order to do so, we have to join the world first.

Excerpt from the closing paragraphs of the article:
"To bring others into this world, the United States needs to make its own commitment to the system clear. So far, America has been able to have it both ways. It is the global rule-maker but doesn't always play by the rules. And forget about standards created by others. Only three countries in the world don't use the metric system—Liberia, Myanmar, and the United States. For America to continue to lead the world, we will have to first join it.

Americans—particularly the American government—have not really understood the rise of the rest. This is one of the most thrilling stories in history. Billions of people are escaping from abject poverty. The world will be enriched and ennobled as they become consumers, producers, inventors, thinkers, dreamers, and doers. This is all happening because of American ideas and actions. For 60 years, the United States has pushed countries to open their markets, free up their politics, and embrace trade and technology. American diplomats, businessmen, and intellectuals have urged people in distant lands to be unafraid of change, to join the advanced world, to learn the secrets of our success. Yet just as they are beginning to do so, we are losing faith in such ideas. We have become suspicious of trade, openness, immigration, and investment because now it's not Americans going abroad but foreigners coming to America. Just as the world is opening up, we are closing down.

Generations from now, when historians write about these times, they might note that by the turn of the 21st century, the United States had succeeded in its great, historical mission—globalizing the world. We don't want them to write that along the way, we forgot to globalize ourselves."

Thoughts?...