Can Asians Think - Kishore Mahbubani

I think I'm neither the target audience (the book is more geared towards a Western audience) and many years have passed since much of the contents of the book was first published (abt 8 years ago). However, I do find the book a pretty good read - there are many ideas within which are relevant. It took me some time to get through the book through - I can't say foreign affairs and geopolitical issues interest me that much.

But anyway! Here are some of my takeaways:

1. Economic growth and cultural renaissance. The former usually precedes the latter. In this regard, the western's dominance of the cultural complexion of the world (the music, dressing, language, etc) is a result of the economic progress that the west has made over the last few decades. I wonder when we would start seeing the asian culture begin its flourish? Right now, it feels like asia has been trying to beat the west in their own game, but I think that I might be able to see some unexpected changes in my lifetime.
2. Economic growth precedes political transformation. This is probably not a concept that's unfamiliar to students of political science and economics (I think) but I had a little "oh yah hor" moment when I read this. The model that the west had been trying to establish in various countries - immediate creation of democracy without first stabilising the economic situation of the country concerned, has led to rather disappointing results.
   
3. Issues with a "free press". The book makes the point that the free press in the US enjoys too much power and although it has passionately embraced the role of being a moral police for the Government (and other famous people), it seems immune from any moral wrongdoing whatsoever. As one group (the other being financiers of parties) that influences political and policy outcomes greatly, it seems dangerous that they themselves are not in turn checked by another force. In addition, with reference to the earlier pt above, economic progress and political stability have to be present first before a free press can be "unleashed". Even then, we have seen in several asian societies how a wild press can lead to more social issues.
   
4. China and soft power. This was the part that I found the most interesting. The book argues that China has exercised more sophisticated foreign policy than the west had in recent years, and its soft power is slowly beginning to take effect. As a large market for many of its neighbouring countries (even those that are not neighbouring), it wields great influence over the actions of the other countries, which it had used intelligently. The book also argues that China takes a longer term view in terms of its international strategy, while the US is increasingly focused on the short term (which might be the result of how its Government is structured). Another reason is that the west might have been clouded by its arrogance about how much it can use force as a solution to global issues, even though the dynamics of the participants have started to change some time ago.