Down the Bric Road
Posted by Suzanne Nossel
In a world where China and India and, to a lesser extent, Brazil, Russia and others enjoy mounting economic and political power, where does that leave the United States? On Friday the Century Foundation and the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton convened a seminar on this topic, gathering a small group of academic experts, policymakers and diplomats - including representation from China, India, Japan, North Korea and Mexico - to debate the topic. While the acronym BRIC is used as a shorthand for Brazil, Russia, India and China Here's what I conclude:
- BRIC's UP, U.S. DOWN? - Though Friday's participants danced around this, realistically the ascent of all these countries has to come at the expense of some existing powers, including the US. While our absolute influence may not diminish, our relative preeminence will be less as others rise. While it is only the Chinese that stand to potentially rival us militarily, conventional military power no longer affords the final say that it used to. Bottom line: assuming we dig out of the foreign policy hole dug by the Bush Administration, the world we'll find will not be the world we left on 9/11
- WHAT WE DON'T LIKE NOW AT THE UN SEEMS BOUND TO GET WORSE - There was a fair amount of discussion on how institutions like the UN will change as new powers ascend. While there may not be much in the way of major structural change, it seems likely that the things that madden the US Congress and, to a lesser extent, the public - - the resistance to reform, the emphasis on development over security issues, the privileging of national sovereignty over humanitarian concerns, the efforts of the many powerless to rein in the powerful - - will only intensify. What Americans view as the UN's faults are not, for the most part, incidental. Various actors have a vested interest in keeping things that the US doesn't like - - certain developing countries resist reforms that may curb pet programs; most of the world cares more about economic development than terrorism and would like to see the UN's budget priorities follow suit; the Chinese and Russians champion sovereignty for reasons of their own national interests; and almost everyone likes to stick it to the US from time to time. It seems safe to say that as these countries rise at the UN, so will the US's blood pressure.
- UN SECURITY COUNCIL REFORM WILL CONTINUE TO STAGNATE - There was lots of talk of when and how the UNSC may be enlarged to reflect shifting power dynamics on the global stage. With Russia and China already enjoying permanent membership, though, the impetus that derives from the rise of new powers is less than one might think. The two countries whose permanent membership the US has championed - Germany and Japan - are not among the world's fast growing economies. I concluded, as I have pretty much anytime I've focused on the question of UNSC reform, that the situation remains checkmated in multiple places at least insofar as the expansion of permanent members is concerned. Mexico and Argentina won't want to see Brazil let into the club. China won't want Japan. Japan won't want India unless it gets a seat too. Italy will resist Germany. Everyone will resist a third European seat . . .
- TOLERANCE FOR US FIAT WILL ONLY DECREASE - As a handful of countries gain more weight to throw around, the US will meet more tangible forms of interference with what it may regard as its superpower prerogatives. The original UN Security Council vote on Iraq was the beginning of this: no one supported us just because it was the US, not even Mexico. If we want backing, we'll need to build support the old-fashioned way - through persuasion, bargaining, and retail diplomacy.
Excellent news for unhegemonics (?) and thanks for the status exposition. Understanding these new dynamics is essential and your contribution to our understanding is much appreciated. More!! But what's this that crept in at the end?
Iraq was the beginning of this: no one supported us just because it was the US, not even Mexico.
Could it have been that no one supported the US because the US was demonstrably wrong in Iraq, and not that they disliked the US? That the US refused to believe the UN inspectors because it obviously intended to invade another state in violation of the UN Charter? In other words, as the world situation changes we should always consider that maybe, just maybe, they're right and we're wrong. Call it a humble exemplarism.
If we're smart we'll begin to think more like Congressman Ron Paul, candidate for president:
"I believe our founding fathers had it right when they argued for peace and commerce between nations, and against entangling political and military alliances. In other words, noninterventionism.
"Noninterventionism is not isolationism. Nonintervention simply means America does not interfere militarily, financially, or covertly in the internal affairs of other nations. It does not mean that we isolate ourselves; on the contrary, our founders advocated open trade, travel, communication, and diplomacy with other nations."
Posted by: Don Bacon | April 01, 2007 at 10:19 PM
Yeah, great sum up. But I tend to agree with Mr. Bacon on this one. It's time US decision-makers started to look at the rest of the world as partners instead of problems to be managed and/or instruments to be used for US gain. As you seem to suggest, US credit needs to be rebuilt. The earlier the better.
Posted by: Leo Martin | April 02, 2007 at 10:45 AM
My friends and I like to buy kal geons, because the kal gold is very useful to upgrade equipment. Only your equipment becomes better, then you can win this game. In kal online geons, you can buy everything you want in this game. Yesterday is my birthday, so my friends bought me some kal online gold as gifts. I am so happy.
Posted by: kalonline Geons | December 25, 2008 at 02:12 AM
we don't think it is reasonable to spend hundreds thousands dollars to buy a decorating watch. you can use those money to invest in other industry which will return you good profit.
here you just need to spend 100-200 dollars to buy a replica rolex watches.
IWC replica watches are made by the rating 1:1 according to the original watches, and you can't distinguish the original and the fake watches when you look at the surface of the watches.
Posted by: IWC replica watches | January 05, 2009 at 10:18 PM
he usually can win a lot of rs gold
Posted by: buy runescape | January 07, 2009 at 12:08 AM
I hope i can get rf online gold in low price.
i buy rf money for you.
Posted by: rf gold | January 20, 2009 at 12:35 AM
Once I played 12sky, I did not know how to get strong, someone told me that you must have twelve sky Gold. He gave me some 12sky gold.
Posted by: 12sky gold | February 16, 2009 at 05:44 AM
or you buy flyff penya. If you get cheap penya, you can continue this game.
Posted by: buy flyff penya | March 20, 2009 at 03:24 AM
Once I played 12sky
Posted by: or you buy flyff penya | April 18, 2009 at 01:44 AM
or you buy flyff penya. If you get cheap penya, you can continue this game.
Posted by: Fake Christian Dior Bags | April 18, 2009 at 01:46 AM
or you buy flyff penya. If you get cheap penya, you can continue this game.
Posted by: Fake Christian Dior Bags | April 18, 2009 at 01:46 AM
Posted by: fake Gucci Bracelet | April 28, 2009 at 01:32 AM
I am so with you,rolex watch
luxury watch
Posted by: luxury watches | May 23, 2009 at 01:00 PM
Booklets printed by China printing is very good quality and good prices.
Plastic products made by plastic injection molding services with low costs and supeior quality
Shoring scaffolding for construction is a very useful tool.
Posted by: injection molding | June 18, 2009 at 04:23 AM
Thank you for your sharing! I like i very much!
Posted by: cheap coach handbags | January 29, 2010 at 08:38 PM
If you have PANERAI Watches , I still have my idea to achieve.
Posted by: rado watches | February 26, 2010 at 10:17 PM
"The combination of Bryant and Artest at the wings….Danny Granger Guccl handbags got eight shots when we played in Indiana," O'Brien Fendi Bag said. "It's because it was like a tag team. They had Chanel Bag one guy or the other on him and they got under his chin." dfsssfdaaadftt
Posted by: dfa | March 07, 2010 at 02:22 AM
"Do I think there are some changes in people's Christian Louboutin online possibility? Yes, I said:" House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. "I think Christian Louboutin online store it is because it will be a different bill is in addition to the House of Representatives and the Senate. dfsssfdaaadftt
Posted by: dfa | March 07, 2010 at 02:24 AM
In a last-ditch manolo blahnik shoes attempt to craft a bipartisan health care reform bill, President Obama will release a Christian Louboutin shoes new proposal Wednesday that will include Republican ideas on tort reform and health manolo blahnik sale savings accounts, according to Democratic officials familiar with the plans. dfsssfdaaadftt
Posted by: dfa | March 07, 2010 at 02:26 AM
I do not like war, I like healthy
Posted by: hcg diet | March 22, 2011 at 11:05 PM
We must never do thing that are not good for us. Better try to do thing that can bring peace.
Posted by: choose a finance degree | August 20, 2011 at 04:01 AM
Nice to learn so much from the post. Thanks for updating.
Posted by: sites for mba | September 08, 2011 at 01:21 AM
Although of lot of up and down in life, we must always have a positive attitude.
Posted by: nurse practitioner programs online | September 21, 2011 at 05:22 AM
If you wish to be the best man, you must suffer the bitterest of the bitter.
Posted by: justin bieber supra | October 21, 2011 at 08:38 AM
"He said yourbrain has rebooted, and you're cool to go out there again."Linebacker Colin McCarthy missed a second straight day with aknee problem and will be evaluated Saturday to see if he can playSunday. He is listed as questionable along with linebackers GeraldMcRath (hamstring) and Barrett Ruud (groin), who both practicedFriday. Receiver Nate Washington was added to the injury reportwith an illness and is probable. Tweet
Posted by: Jon Beason Jersey | November 21, 2011 at 12:51 AM