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Many Americans know in their heart that
something has gone wrong in America's relations with the
world. But they don't quite know why. Or what triggered
this. A thought-provoking and deeply insightful book, Beyond
the Age of Innocence explains the complex story of America
and the world, and the seismic shifts that have taken place,
unnoticed by many Americans.
The curious paradox is that America has
done more than any other country to change the world. Yet
Americans are among the least prepared to cope with the
world they have changed. Without intending to, America has
entered the lives of most people on earth. By sharing the
American dream globally, America has sprinkled the stardust
of hope into billions of eyes. By refusing to make the mistakes
of European colonists, it has liberated hundreds of millions,
accumulating huge reservoirs of good will. Tragically, when
the Cold War ended, America did a U-turn, walked away from
the world, displayed indifference to the plight of others,
and unwittingly alienated huge populations. A majority of
the 1.2 billion Muslims are clearly angry with America.
Many cheer Osama. Similarly, America has been imprudent
in its dealings with the 1.2 billion Chinese. Reservoirs
of good will have been replaced with reservoirs of anger
and resentment.
But all is not lost. There is hope. Kishore
Mahbubani is an old friend of America. Growing up in Singapore,
on the other side of the world, his life has been powerfully
influenced by the American era. In this urgently needed
book, he sets out to explain both the global enchantment
and disenchantment with America and what America can still
do to save the situation. American power remains the single
most influential force on the globe. Wisely used and administered,
it can both make the world a better place and protect America's
long-term interests.
There is an accumulated pool of wisdom within
the American body politic that has enabled America to become
the most successful society in the history of man. This
wisdom has been little tapped in recent years. The founding
fathers wisely believed that America should show a decent
respect for the opinions of mankind. This book explains
how this can be done today.
Kishore Mahbubani has served two terms
a Singapore's Ambassador to the United Nations, based in
New York. Currently he is Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School
of Public Policy in Singapore, where he lives with his wife
and three children. He is the author of Can Asians Think?
and a regular contributor to American newspapers and journals,
including Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy.
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