CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Global Inequality, Imperialism, and Injustice

Using the Perspectives

Sean Collins, journalist for Spiked Online (an online commentary magazine), reviews the recent book The Post-American World by Fareed Zakaria.

Collin writes "By 'post-American world', Zakaria refers to the erosion of US pre-eminence as the sole superpower. The end of the Cold War and the 'bipolar duopoly' of the US and the Soviet Union led to an 'American imperium, a unique unipolar world'. However, with the recent emergence of China, India and others--what Zakaria calls 'the rise of the rest'--the situation is now changing: 'At the politico-military level, we remain in a single-superpower world. But in every other dimension--industrial, financial, educational, social, cultural--the distribution of power is shifting, moving away from American dominance.' A sign of declining American influence, is how the rising countries pay less attention to the US: 'The world is moving from anger to indifference, from anti-Americanism to post-Americanism.'"

1.  From a critical theory perspective, why might this backlash against America be occurring?
     

Collins notes that Zakaria is right to note that recent global development is quite exceptional. According to Collins, Zakaria explains recent history as being the beginning of a third phase in global development. Collins writes, "according to Zakaria, the first was the rise of the Western world, from the fifteenth century to the late eighteenth century; the second was the rise of the US, from the late nineteenth century until about 1990; and the third is the 'rise of the rest' over the past two decades. . . .

"Zakaria points out that economic prosperity has brought real benefits. For example, in China alone growth has lifted more than 400 million people out of poverty. But he is quick to point out that this growth is also problematic. One expression is how increased demand from China and India has increased oil prices generally. This price rise has also filled the coffers of America's oil-state foes, such as Iran and Venezuela. But, as Zakaria notes, 'the most acute problem of plenty is the impact of global growth on natural resources and the environment'. He cites water shortages and climate change, among other issues."

2.  Why is growth problematic according to Zakaria?
     

3.  How does this fit into the critical theory perspective version of dependency theory?
     

Collins takes issue with Zakaria's view of growth and development. He writes, "in viewing growth as problematic and potentially destructive, Zakaria raises a common theme of our time. Rather than celebrate the benefits of growth, such as a reduction in poverty, Zakaria and others emphasise the downsides that accompany development. This gloomy outlook reveals more about the commentator than the reality on the ground. Zakaria refers to the predicted increase in the number of cars in China from 26 million to 120 million in 2020 as an environmental problem rather than a cause of celebration, as the Chinese people gain greater freedom of movement. In doing so, Zakaria joins in with today's growing China-bashing chorus."

4.  Which perspective is Collins writing from?
     

5.  Do you agree more with Zakaria or Collins? Why?
     

http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/5450/
Sean Collins, "The Truth About our Post-American World," Spiked Online, July 11, 2008.