Five Roads to the Future: Power in the Next Global Age By Paul Starobin - Book Report/Review Example

The trouble with American leadership psychology is that it is not willing to settle for the second place in any area and craves to remain as the Kingmaker in all situations, at all times and at all costs. The future possibilities visualized by Starobin are: 1. Chaos: He strongly advocates that the process or realignments of power blocs is already in the offing. This churning process may continue for an unspecified period. Personal empowerment takes precedence; the state will suffer, thanks to the support of technological revolution. 2. A Multipolar World: The super powers will have a tough time in dealing with the regional powers whose economic might is taking rapid strides.

Traditional nationalism will have the strong bearing in global power structure. The traditional powers will be challenged by situations of checks and balances and will have to act cautiously. They cannot accept the support for granted from the regional power blocks. Colonial powers with the fond remembrance of their bygone heydays in the countries in which they once dominated will now try to exert influence through economic and military baits 3. A Chinese Century: The Chinese challenge is the fact of life for America; the process of dislodging America from position number one is in full swing.

America can never hope to match the manufacturing base of China; the present drawback with China is its manufacturing activity is dependent on the exports, with no solid domestic market. The Chinese currency is on the ascendancy and the dollar faces volatility and will be relegated to the second place in the years to come. A peculiar situation exists in China. The Chinese leadership is not interested in democratic ideals and so are majority of the Chinese people. Their goal is to secure economic supremacy.

America and Allies are busy fighting wars in one country or the other. Presently American army is involved in Afghanistan, and also in Libyan troubles. Starobin rules out domination of Islamic Countries on account of their poor leadership and fanatical approach to all issues. Such countries are the architects of their own doom and to an extent this is a welcome feature from American point of view. 4. An Era of Global City States: This argument of Starobin seems more like a myth than a tangible reality.

He creates a picture of termination of the nation states and foresees global metropolises, and powered by their economic strength they will occupy the centre stage. This is a vague proposition. How city councils can perform functions like military deployment, maintain international relations etc are not explained. They can at best be strong economic power centers and influential lobbies impacting the national politics. 5. The Universal Global Government: This is the second myth conceived by Starobin.

With small countries on the economic ascendancy, it is doubtful whether they will accept the hegemony of super powers. The UNO experiment is in existence since the World War and it has achieved limited success and the Super Powers have always acted according to their will and interest, circumventing the UN procedures. The clash of interests and ideology of the Super Powers is also an important point. The Chinese concept of World Government and that of the Western Powers headed by USA differs in substance.

This proposition is unworkable. Strengths and Weaknesses Starobin (2010) articulates that great civilizations have their absent flows and cyclic rhythms. His view of the