China and the U.S.

-->

I think there are a few reasons why China is seeking a larger global presence but is not seeking to become a world superpower. Firstly, it is human nature to want to improve and continually move forward. I feel that in order for China to grow as a country, improving their environment and working conditions of their people, they would do well to be put on a metaphorical “global pedestal”.

China has made an effort to learn from the mistakes of other world powers. Part of China’s goal to become a world presence has made them focus extensively on analyzing other countries' failures and learning from them. Thus, within the past decade China has gone from being a closed society to being a global helping hand, improving their image around the world, including with the U.S.

“Each time a new problem surfaces, China looks for advantage in it, assuming that it must adapt to the world, not shape the world as it wishes. America believes the opposite.”

Mahbubani argues that “the international political of the 21^st century will for the first time in human history constitute a system that is simultaneously global in scope and less than wholly western in character. The decisions that affect the world can no longer be made in a few Western capitals, as new cultural and political perspectives are entering the scene.” I think this is a reflection of how technology has brought the world together and brought third-world countries into consideration. More and more, geopolitical decisions will be discussed by world powers other than the U.S. An eastern influence will become present. I also think that as our generation grows into a group of professionals who are more socially and globally aware than their baby boomer counterparts, they will be more comfortable making these decisions overseas as new cultural and political perspectives come into play.

And while the chapter was decidedly biased in its assessment of the U.S. during 9/11 and the crisis-swept years that followed, I don’t think Mahbubani is completely off-based when he criticizes the U.S. for its foreign affairs policies during those years.

“American never misses and opportunity to miss an opportunity.”

I think it is natural for a country that wants to improve their image to take an opportunity to do so if they can.