The world is turning over the page of American dominance when it controlled global economy, orchestrated geopolitics and its icons were looked upon by people of other countries as heroes and pioneers, the Newsweek says in its new edition.

"We are living through the third great power shift in modern history," writes famed reporter, columnist and foreign policy analyst Fareed Zakaria.

"At the military and political level, we still live in a unipolar world. But along every other dimension — industrial, financial, social, cultural — the distribution of power is shifting, moving away from American dominance."

Zakaria believes that the demise of US dominance is evident around the world, repeating the pattern of falling empires throughout history.

"In almost every industry, in every aspect of life, it feels like the patterns of the past are being scrambled," he says.

"For the first time in living memory—the United States does not seem to be leading the charge."

He notes that the tallest building, biggest dam, largest publicly traded company, biggest refinery, largest passenger airplane, biggest movie industry, largest investment fund, and even the biggest gambling casinos and shopping malls are outside America.

"Only ten years ago, the United States would have serenely topped almost every one of these categories."

Zakaria notes that while Americans are still debating the nature and extent of anti-Americanism other people have moved on and are now far more interested in other, more dynamic parts of the globe.

"The world has shifted from anti-Americanism to post-Americanism."

National Heroes

The famed American reporter and analyst sees a whole new world being reshaped not just a few countries emerging on the world scene.

"This is something much broader than the much-ballyhooed rise of China or even Asia," he says.

"It is the rise of the rest—the rest of the world."

In each of the new rising powers, there is a trend of nationalism and disinterest in American icons and heroes.

Zakari, born in India, recalls that during visits to his homeland in the 1980s Indians were fascinated by American business magnate Donald Trump.

"He symbolized the feeling that if you wanted to find the biggest and largest anything, you had to look to America.

"Today, outside of entertainment figures, there is no comparable interest in American personalities."

Zakaria notes that there are dozens of Indian businessmen who are now wealthier than the Donald.

"Indians are obsessed by their own vulgar real estate billionaires. That newfound interest in their own story is being replicated across much of the world."

He explains that the economic growth is always accompanied with a new sense of national pride.

"Imagine that your country has been poor and marginal for centuries. Finally, things turn around and it becomes a symbol of economic progress and success. You would be proud, and anxious that your people win recognition and respect throughout the world."

Can America Adapt?

Zakaria contends that all traditional mechanisms of international cooperation need an overhaul.

"The UN Security Council has as its permanent members the victors of a war that ended more than 60 years ago.

"The G8 does not include China, India or Brazil — the three fastest-growing large economies in the world… By tradition, the IMF is always headed by a European and the World Bank by an American," he notes.

"This 'tradition,' like the segregated customs of an old country club, might be charming to an insider. But to the majority who live outside the West, it seems bigoted."

The question that remains, according to Zakaria, is how would the US, the longtime sole power of the world, fit in the new world order.

"Americans — particularly the American government — have not really understood the rise of the rest.

"Washington has gotten used to a world in which all roads led to its doorstep."

But now in the new post-America world, Zakaria believes, the US ought to go forward as being the "chairman of the board."

He says that "the American parochialism" - particularly evident in foreign policy – would also need serious checking.

"If the world that's being created has more power centers…Rather than narrowly obsessing about our own short-term interests and interest groups, our chief priority should be to bring these rising forces into the global system.
"To bring others into this world, the United States needs to make its own commitment to the system clear."

He believes the "flexible" American society can adapt with the new globalized world.

"But can the American government?"




Source: IslamOnline.net