Book Report on The Future is Asian

The Future is Asian
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The Future is Asian
Parag Khanna’s The Future is Asian is an interesting read that makes one of the boldest predictions of the 21st century. The book simply says that if the 19th century belonged to Europe, the 20th century to the Americans, then the 21st century belongs to Asia. This is a bold claim, but Khanna does offer a fair share of evidence to support his assertions. Asia’s rise Khanna notes is the result of what he calls “technocratic governance” and this is coupled with the West’s “mounting debt, rising inequality, political polarization, and culture wars” (2019). He appears convinced that Asia is indeed destined for greatness and looking at the current trajectory of the region, one cannot be faulted to share the same sentiments.
China, through the Belt and Road Initiative, is trying to leave its footprint all over the world. Araya (2019) notes that BRI “stretches across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, and represents the largest infrastructure project in history.” Khanna is well aware of this project and appears thrilled as he calls it the “most significant diplomatic project of the twenty-first century” (2019). He continues to say that China is “establishing an Asia-centric commercial and diplomatic system across the Indian Ocean to Africa.” Apparently, the BRI is only the beginning of what is to come. The world should expect more from Asia. Even though China has taken the leading role, Khanna is adamant that it will not lead alone, but that other countries like India, Japan, Russia, Au...