Has the West Lost It?

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The West's two-century dominance as a global powerhouse is concluding, giving way to a new world order led by China and India. In this timely polemic, Kishore Mahbubani argues that the West must abandon its presumption of imposing its ideology and stop intervening in other nations' affairs. He critiques significant missteps, such as the humiliation of Russia post-Cold War, which contributed to Putin's rise, and the Iraq invasion after 9/11, which destabilized the Middle East. Mahbubani emphasizes that while the West's constructs of democracy and reason are vital for global peace, they should be promoted through diplomacy rather than military force. He advocates for engagement through multilateral institutions like the UN, urging the West to acknowledge its shifting status and focus on influencing rather than dominating. This perspective serves as a crucial reminder for the West to adapt in order to maintain a significant geopolitical role. Fareed Zakaria describes Mahbubani as a highly intelligent and persistent critic, suggesting that this work offers essential analysis and observations for reviving the West.