Analysis of Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power by Robert D. Kaplan - Book Report/Review Example

Book Review: Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power INTRODUCTION The monsoon winds belonging to the Indian Ocean from immemorial time had been regarded as the reliable energy sources that unsurprisingly motivate sailing crafts of distinct sizes as well as forms throughout vast distances. In this similar context, the capabilities that are assumed in this present day sailing can be apparently observed by looking into the contribution made by the original sailors of the Indian Ocean towards moving sailing crafts in varied distant places throughout the globe. It is strongly believed that the dissimilar activities performed by the sailors belonging to the Indian Ocean had certainly raised the prospects of conducting trade efficiently throughout varied continents. Evidently, the author of the book “Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power” named Robert D. Kaplan highlighted the maritime activities conducted in the Indian Ocean in earlier times and the impact of the same on worldwide maritime associations in this 21st century. It can be asserted in this similar concern that the Indian Ocean is regarded as the third biggest oceanic division in the entire world, which covers nearly 20% of water on earth’s surface. Apart from this, the author also endeavored to decipher the future of American power in the context of enhancing its role specifically in emerging out as a superior ‘cold war’ worldwide maritime warrior towards protecting the distinct self-interests of the Americans at large. By taking into concern the various significant aspects as mentioned in the book, it can be affirmed that the book provides a brief understanding about the maritime activities performed in the Indian Ocean in earlier times and their impact on global maritime connections in this contemporary society (Kaplan 5-349). THESIS STATEMENT By considering the above discussed aspects, this particular book report intends to review the book “Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power” written by Robert D. Kaplan. In this respect, various important aspects including the major ideas as well as the themes deciphered in the book are critically evaluated. MAJOR IDEAS AND THEMES OF THE BOOK While elaborating the major ideas and themes of the book “Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power” as presented by the author Robert D. Kaplan, it has been earlier mentioned that the author portrayed maritime activities conducted in the Indian Ocean in earlier times and the impact of the same in future. Apart from this, the author also attempted to determine the prospect of American power particularly in developing worldwide maritime associations in this modern era. It is worth mentioning in this similar concern that the portrayal of both socio-political and historical perspectives relating to the ‘Cape of Good Hope’, which is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the world renowned ‘Indonesian Archipelago’, bordering by the Pacific Ocean, is one of the major ideas of the book. According to the author of the book, these perspectives based on socio-political and historical aspects will significantly aid in recognizing the maritime activities performed in such regions, resulting in determining the outlook for global maritime associations (Kaplan 5-349). Apart from the above stated idea, the idea of raising the question about who will be taking the place of America. Is it China or India? Based on the viewpoints of the author, this particular question was raised because of the diminishing role of America as a superior ‘cold war’ worldwide maritime warrior defending the American way by a considerable extent. Specially mentioning, the author in the book portrayed the emergence of America as a new world power during the 20th century, which was often referred to European century, whose navy used to patrol different seas. However, the author also highlighted the fact that in this modern era i.e. 21st century, the position of America as a new world power is seemed to be diminishing and transforming from the west to the east, particularly in the nations of China and India. This is the other major idea, which has been presented by the author in the book (Kaplan 5-349). Apart from the presentation of major ideas, certain significant themes have been also highlighted in the book by the author. In this regard, one of such themes can be apparently recognized as providing significant lessons for Canada. This can be justified with reference to the fact that from a Canadian standpoint, according to the author, the Atlantic Ocean seems to be quite in ‘twentieth century” as compared to the Indian Ocean, as this may make the nation to lessen its varied obligations at large. It has been anticipated that in this modern day context, the domestic economic pressures will certainly make the US to act as superior ‘cold war’ worldwide maritime warrior in the form of justifying varied expenditures. This could be regarded as one of the prime themes of the study. Apart from these, the other major theme depicted by the author in the book can be apparently identified as the outlook for defining Canada as a ‘maritime’ country. This can be made possible if the nation i.e. Canada needs to visualize itself further than the paradigm of political “coast, to coast, to coast.” Evidently, in this similar concern, only a single coastline is found to be prevalent within Canada (Kaplan 5-349). It is worth mentioning that the portrayal of the past, existing as well as growing maritime trends in varied regions of Canada can be duly considered as the other important theme, which has been mentioned by the author in the book. In this similar perspective, it can be comprehended that the future trading alliances and several new citizens emerge from this nation by a considerable extent, which in turn aids in formulating effective maritime strategies. In addition, the cultural representation of Islam, as highlighted by the author in the aforesaid book, is also regarded as one of the major ideas as well as themes, which can be taken into concern for making any debate. In this regard, according to the author, Islam was mainly developed in the Far East i.e. in the tropics and duly considered to be a cosmopolitan religion. Justifiably, the religion i.e. Islam was duly considered a cosmopolitan religion owing to the reason that it was spread in a gradual manner by certain sophisticated traders. As per the viewpoints of the author, Indonesia is regarded as the future of Islam, while Iraq to be the past. This may be due to the fact that Indonesia seems to be getting equipped with future multi-polar system, which in turn will aid the nation to emerge as a benevolent and an indispensable outside power (Kaplan 5-349). Specially mentioning, one of the themes, which deciphered by the author in the book concerning the emergence of China as the new world power provide a brief understanding about the activities of the nation towards the attainment of its predetermined goals. In this similar concern, the prime goals of the nation i.e. China can be apparently noted as making its economic as well as military and most vitally naval bases more non-hegemonic and benevolent as compared to others. In order to attain these specific goals, the country had been found to perform the activities like constructing quality, effective along with technological ports in diverse regions for delivering considerable level of financial as well as military aids (Kaplan 5-349). Thus, it can be evidently asserted that the activities perform by China in accomplishing the aforesaid goals will certainly aid the nation to emerge as the new world power as compared to America, which was considered the same in 20th century. CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE BOOK A critical evaluation of the book ascertained that the book constructed a profound case for the mounting significance of the Indian Ocean as the innovative geo-political base of the developing world. It can be apparently observed that the book has been segregated into diverse sections based on dissimilar nations as well as regions and attempted to inspect the history about how these nations along with regions developed during the transition phase of 20th to 21st century. It can be critically argued that the author in the book focused on recognizing the growing value as well as weight particularly of the Indian Ocean in transforming the prevalence of existing geo-political climate and sufficing the energy requirements of India and China. This particular notion can be better evaluated by considering the statistical information provided by the author in the book. In this similar context, according to the author, India has posed to emerge as the third biggest oil importer next to China and the US with transiting 90% of its oil in the Indian Ocean. On the other hand, it has been critically argued that similar to India, China is also in the procedure with transiting 85% of its oil through the Indian Ocean. It will be vital to mention in this similar concern that both India and China have made deliberate efforts in the form of varied effective strategies towards safeguarding the energy routes of the Indian Ocean by a considerable extent (Kaplan 5-349). The author Robert D. Kaplan argued about the fact that individuals need to find out new and fresh ways for visualizing the world in this 21st century, wherein major transformations in every study field due to certain crucial factors can be apparently noted. In this regard, the above stated factors may include increased level of urbanization along with industrialization, gaining momentum of globalization and incorporation of advanced technologies among others. By taking into concern the rapid developmental pace of these critical factors, the author remained much focused on elaborating the conception of the “new Great Game”, which now unfolds throughout the Indian Ocean. In this regard, the author elaborated the fact that China is fundamentally liable for setting such game into motion with the intention of accomplishing the aforementioned objectives. In this similar concern, the author in the book claimed that the raising involvement of China in dominating the energy markets globally would pose no crucial problems, which may eventually affect the supply as well as demand of energy. As presented in the book, the author stated that particularly Beijing, tend to become a worldwide leader in the global energy market through various ways. Notably, these ways included constructing own naval power base and looking for substitute supply routes among others (Kaplan 5-349). While critically evaluating the major facts, issues and themes that have been deciphered in the book affirmed that the book provided certain historical evidences regarding the appearance of certain East Asian regions like China and India as a new world power. It has been earlier mentioned that certain transformations can be generally observed between 20th and 21st century with regard to the upliftment of the nations as a new world power. This can be explained in an elaborated manner by observing the fact that in early years or during the 21st century, America raised as one of the significant new world powers throughout the globe. However, in this present day context or in this 21st century, with the incorporation of certain crucial factors like increased level of internationalization and gaining momentum of globalization, transformations in the same can be seen when India and China emerged as the new world powers as compared to America. In this similar context, the author strongly believed that the above stated transformation might support in taking place the aspects like energy independence, religious freedom and combat in favor of democracy among others. According to the viewpoints of the author, by taking into concern the position of America, the nation will not be able to act as a solitary hegemon longer in this 21st century. Rather, based on the understanding of the author, the nation i.e. America will act as amid the numerous world great powers that will significantly support in organizing as well as managing worldwide governance (Kaplan 5-349). In addition, the readings in the book comprise special mixture of concise as well as short historical sketches, travel writing based on first-person and broad ranging planned analysis. With regard to the travel writing, which is primarily based on first-person, it can be apparently noted that the author visited varied coasts as well as points belonging to Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh along with the off-shores of East Africa. By considering this particular aspect, it can be asserted that the book has provided a brief understanding about the altering blends of cultural diversity, political turmoil, economic dynamism, ecological strain and ethnic tension among others. Arguably, the writer of the book demonstrated that the Indian Ocean, being the third-biggest water body throughout the globe, often acts as the worldwide energy interstate. This can be justified with reference to the fact that approximately fifty percent of container traffic and 70 percent of petroleum product belonging to the entire world travel through this particular water body. Moreover, apart from considering this significant fact, there also lay certain information based on which, the writer argued about the water body i.e. the Indian Ocean to serve as global energy expressway. This information can be related to the assumption that the Indian Ocean is the place, wherein the political future specifically of Islam will be mainly determined in the form of various ways. These ways may encompass promoting cultural beliefs as well as emotions, strengthening the factor of ethnic diversity and approaching the legal along with cultural attitudes among others (Kaplan 5-349). On the basis of evaluating the facts presented on the book, it can be identified that there are certain significant facts that can be determined. In this similar concern, one of such important facts can be determined as the emergence of America towards a dynamic and exceptional global power after the end of World War II. However, the writer argued in this regard that the position of America is incessantly transforming from the aforesaid segment due to the rising power of certain East Asian regions like China and India. It will be vital to mention that these two nations are emerging as global power as compared to America due to their initiatives of making substantial investments and embracing latest as well as pioneering technological tools among others. Apart from this, the other major fact, which portrayed by the author in the above stated book is emphasizing one of the biggest water bodies throughout the globe i.e. the Indian Ocean towards dealing with the entire world without concerning much about the ill-effects of globalization. It is worth mentioning that the writer identified certain potential reasons for which the nation is emerging as one of the super world powers in this modern day context in comparison with America as well as other nations of this modern world. In this regard, one of such reasons identified by the writer in the book is the attempt made by China in constructing deep-water ports in varied parts across the entire world. These regions mainly include Chittagong located in Bangladesh, Hambantota situated in Sri Lanka, Gwadar positioned in Pakistan and Kyakphyu located in Burma among others. Most importantly, it has been earlier mentioned that apart from building such deep-water ports in distinct regions of the entire world, the nation is also attempting to construct state-of-the-art ports with the incorporation of making substantial investments in executing advanced technological tools and offering financial aid to such nations wherein China tends to build such ports (Kaplan 5-349). Thus, in this context, the writer in the book critically argued that China is emerging as one of the dynamic and effective global powers in this 21st century as compared to other nations like America. Based on the above portrayal readings of the book, it can be affirmed that the author presented certain historical evidences regarding the maritime activities performed by different nations throughout the globe in the 20th century. By taking into concern this particular fact, certain dissimilarities can be pointed out between the conduct of maritime activities in earlier years and the same that are performed in this 21st century. It is worth mentioning in a similar concern that a brief and better understanding about the above discussed subject matter will eventually aid in determining the maritime activities conducted by distinct regions of the entire world in future and their impact on the nations’ economy as well. Additionally, the author of the book presented the idea that natural surroundings are changing with time for the growth as well as development of the present world with respect to technology and economic conditions (Kaplan 5-349). CONCLUSION From the above analysis and discussion, it can be concluded that the book is mainly concerned about focusing on the Indian Ocean in the context of determining the position of America in this 21st century as a global power. While determining this significant fact, the writer compared two of the nations i.e. India and China with America, which eventually deciphers a clear and straight notion about the above stated fact. It can be apparently observed in this similar concern from the readings of the book that the position of America in earlier century was quite better as compared to the present 21st century. This can be justified with reference to the fact that China with its attempts of making substantial investments in constructing varied upgraded ports in different parts of the world and embracing the execution of advanced technological tools ultimately supported the nation to emerge as global power in this modern day context. In terms of critical evaluation, it can be stated that the book provides a brief idea about the dissimilar faces of Islam by providing utmost focus on determining better ethical perspectives and effective trading practices. By taking into concern various readings, perspectives and arguments presented in the book by the author, it can be affirmed from a broader understanding that the book is deemed to serve as a preamble for the acceptance of American establishment in its lessening role as a ‘cold war’ worldwide maritime warrior. From the book, an essential question regarding who will be taking the place of America: China or India generally appears, which in turn, aids in determining the distinctions prevailed between these two countries and America in the approach of becoming a global power in this 21st century. Work Cited Kaplan Robert D. Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the Future of American Power. US: Random House Publishing Group, 2010. Print. Read More