(A metaphor)
If all the predictions are true, China will overtake American economy in roughly thirty years. At the rate things are going I would have thought that may have already happened, but that's why I'm not in charge. But all of that is significant because the balance of power is changing in Asia. China has already overtaken Japan as an economic power and the only one standing in the way at the moment is India.
As part of ABC Radio National in Australia's Late Night Live show, Philip Adams devoted a goodly chunk of an hour last week (July 26th) interviewing John Mearsheimer, professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. As an International Relations Theorist, Mearsheimer offered a few insights as to what the current state of affairs is shaping up to look like and what the future may hold.
John Mearsheimer: “The question I often pose to people is ‘why do you think that the United States and India have become close friends over the past twenty years?’ And most people will say ‘that’s because they’re both democracies’. But the fact is that both countries were democracies during the cold war, and we had very cold, if not hostile relations with India during the Cold War.”
Philip Adams: “Well more than that, they were spectacularly non-aligned.”
Mearsheimer: “Correct. And they were deeply resentful of American behavior around the world. So there was no close relationship. But that all changed over the past twenty years and especially in the last ten years, and you see it in this recent nuclear deal between the United States and India. So the question is what’s going on there? And basically, this is the beginning of an alliance between India and the United States that’s aimed at China.”
And you thought all of this was a coincidence? 'Fraid not. Remember that the next time you call Tech Support.
Since Mearsheimer also has a few words about the current state of the Middle East and nuclear capabilities, I just let the whole interview roll. Mearsheimer is not particularly well regarded amongst the cabal of neocons. This might offer some insight.
Lots of ground covered. Sad we don't get those kinds of interviews here.
