Politics & Government
![Fareed Zakaria - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B00MX3NMTI.jpg)
The Post-American World: Release 2.0
The New York Times bestseller, revised and expanded with a new afterword: the essential update of Fareed Zakaria's international bestseller about America and its shifting position in world affairs.
Fareed Zakaria's international bestseller The Post-American World pointed to the "rise of the rest"―the growth of countries like China, India, Brazil, and others―as the great story of our time, the story that will undoubtedly shape the future of global power. Since its publication, the trends he identified have proceeded faster than anyone could have anticipated. The 2008 financial crisis turned the world upside down, stalling the United States and other advanced economies. Meanwhile emerging markets have surged ahead, coupling their economic growth with pride, nationalism, and a determination to shape their own future.
In this new edition, Zakaria makes sense of this rapidly changing landscape. With his customary lucidity, insight, and imagination, he draws on lessons from the two great power shifts of the past 500 years―the rise of the Western world and the rise of the United States―to tell us what we can expect from the third shift, the "rise of the rest." The great challenge for Britain was economic decline. The challenge for America now is political decline, for as others have grown in importance, the central role of the United States, especially in the ascendant emerging markets, has already begun to shrink. As Zakaria eloquently argues, Washington needs to begin a serious transformation of its global strategy, moving from its traditional role of dominating hegemon to that of a more pragmatic, honest broker. It must seek to share power, create coalitions, build legitimacy, and define the global agenda―all formidable tasks.
None of this will be easy for the greatest power the world has ever known―the only power that for so long has really mattered. America stands at a crossroads: In a new global era where the United States no longer dominates the worldwide economy, orchestrates geopolitics, or overwhelms cultures, can the nation continue to thrive?
Fareed Zakaria's international bestseller The Post-American World pointed to the "rise of the rest"―the growth of countries like China, India, Brazil, and others―as the great story of our time, the story that will undoubtedly shape the future of global power. Since its publication, the trends he identified have proceeded faster than anyone could have anticipated. The 2008 financial crisis turned the world upside down, stalling the United States and other advanced economies. Meanwhile emerging markets have surged ahead, coupling their economic growth with pride, nationalism, and a determination to shape their own future.
In this new edition, Zakaria makes sense of this rapidly changing landscape. With his customary lucidity, insight, and imagination, he draws on lessons from the two great power shifts of the past 500 years―the rise of the Western world and the rise of the United States―to tell us what we can expect from the third shift, the "rise of the rest." The great challenge for Britain was economic decline. The challenge for America now is political decline, for as others have grown in importance, the central role of the United States, especially in the ascendant emerging markets, has already begun to shrink. As Zakaria eloquently argues, Washington needs to begin a serious transformation of its global strategy, moving from its traditional role of dominating hegemon to that of a more pragmatic, honest broker. It must seek to share power, create coalitions, build legitimacy, and define the global agenda―all formidable tasks.
None of this will be easy for the greatest power the world has ever known―the only power that for so long has really mattered. America stands at a crossroads: In a new global era where the United States no longer dominates the worldwide economy, orchestrates geopolitics, or overwhelms cultures, can the nation continue to thrive?
Editorial Reviews
Fareed Zakaria is the host of CNN's flagship international affairs show, Fareed Zakaria GPS, as well as weekly columnist for the Washington Post, and the best-selling author of The Post-American World and The Future of Freedom.
Readers Top Reviews
Franco-Antonio Garcí
I bough this book, expecting a mind-opening revelation on a post-american world. Nonetheless the arguments given by Zakaria, are rather superficial, without truly reaching the real depth of the arguments. It is an interesting book, if one does not have any idea of the current international order, though with some previous knowledge, this book ends up being a list of simple ideas, that can all be summarised in the first sentence of the book: "the rise of the rest".
This is extremely well supported with fact based arguments and logical conclusions on how the current 'state of play' is likely to progress. Given that it was written before the Trump phenomenon continues playing out, it portrays American leadership as positive to world order which is now open to further debate.
John Sikes
This new revision of this important book is essential reading for anyone who is interested in world affairs and America's role in them. It looks at a number of issues that have major implications for America's position in a changing world,e.g. the emerging powers & rise of nationalism in those countries and how their views of the US (and political interaction with America) have changed as they have become more powerful. The author puts the jihadist threat into perspective, offers some fascinating background on China and he brings perspective to numerous other issues of great importance for America's position in the world as the world continues to change. His writing is clear and concise.
Hari K Rajagopalan
An excellent book walking us through the idea of America and how we should look at the post American era
fjnessRichard E. Men
Zakaria's book is a bit dated given the events since 2016. Nonetheless, his points stand and the book is a short read that should be read by those who feel any mention of America's loss of power and consequences is somehow immoral or unpatriotic
