Rise of the east in a new clash of civilizations

I was thinking oof writing on the similar lines for quite a long time but could not because of various reasons and wow!!!! I found this article in newspaper. I am copying here the same with all due regards to the author
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/all-that-matters/Rise-of-the-east-in-a-new-clash-of-civilizations/articleshow/7165562.cms


As this adolescent century unfolds, four competing civilizations will shape it. This new contest of civilizations could determine the balance of power between nations and regions for generations.

"The longer you can look back," Winston Churchill said, "the farther you can look forward." Though in decline, western civilization will continue to influence global policy and culture. The rise of China will establish a powerful Confucian counter-civilizational force with strong roots in history and a sphere of influence arching from the Pacific to Africa. The third major civilization, again deeply rooted in history, will be driven by India's growing hard and soft power. 


My Comments: I agree with the part of rise of China but just to consider China a Confucian civilization is mistake that many people make. China is much more than that it has highly developed philosophy which give space to open mind but at the same time that space has been misused by the greedy people within the system. Similar story unfolded in India in 18th and 19th century and both of us feel from the place we deserve in this world. Like we have so many philosopher starting from Krishna himself and beyond that time to Buddha, Mahavir, Shankracharya and our tradition of shashtrartha (discussion and debates about right path) and DHARAM (righteousness not misinterpret it as religion), similarly Chaina also have rich philosophical heritage. But yes this culture is much more rich and diverse than some of its compititors that are constrained by philosophy of single book.

Strong demographics, a far-flung diaspora and the world's third largest economy will impel India to play a global role unmatched since the golden thousand years between the fifth century BC and fifth century AD when the subcontinent produced two prophets (Buddha and Mahavir Jain), two emperor-statesmen (Ashoka and Chandragupta) and two epics (the "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata" ). 


My Comments: Yup, its poetic way of writing. In fact India produced much more than that. So many books, great poets like Kalidasa and Kalahan and lets not forget Sangam literature of south India, so many scientific advances. We were knowing radius of earth and so many other things when others were not anywhere near it. But then somewhere something went wrong and we lost not only all that lead but we receded and that was all because of this disease of caste system in this country which became stronger over the period of time. Where we denied the access to knowledge to large part of our population. In fact something similar is happening in west now through this patent regime, although not exactly same but quite similar. I am not against intellectual property rights but the way things are in US it is definitely heading south.

The fourth civilizational strain set to compete for space and salience this century is Islam. Though spiritually tethered to Mecca, Islam has not had a centre of gravity since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1917 and the abolition of the Caliphate by Turkey in 1924.


My Comments: Its not because they lost center of gravity its more because they got stuck in one book of faith. And that book is good but the problem is interpretation. They have left it to some very ineligible people. West (Christians) are also people of one book but they have overcome some parts of that book which became irrelevant over the period of time and thats what we call renaissance. It did not reduce the respect of majority towards the book or its philosophers but they opened the door of their mind to knowledge (something that Indian and Chinese had always strive to do since ancient times). Hence Islam need a renaissance, they need to open the doors for knowledge, otherwise they are going to pit against everybody else. And then I do not know who will save them from west once the dependence of west is over on these countries for oil. 

The west is propelled by American and European values, China by its ethnic homogeneity, India by its ancient religions and philosophy. Each has a clear geographical anchor. But Islamic civilization, whose worldwide influence is strong and growing, is as much at home in East Asia ( Indonesia and Malaysia ) as it is in the Arab Middle East, non-Arab Turkey and Iran, the Central Asian republics ( Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan), Eastern Europe ( Bosnia , Albania), North Africa ( Morocco, Libya) and, of course, the Indian subcontinent. Islam transcends nations – both a strength and weakness. 

How will the four competing civilizations engage each other as the 21st century unravels? Consider first their relative economic power. 

According to the IMF, Asia (led by China, Japan and India) will account for 34% of global GDP by 2015. By 2030, Asia's GDP will exceed the combined GDP of the United States and Europe. This is not a shift in the balance of global economic power but a restoration of the status quo. Till 1775, China and India accounted for 50% of global economic output. 

The colonization of Asia and Africa, the Atlantic slave trade and the invasive settlements of the Americas and Australasia wrenched power from east to west. That process is now being reversed by strong economic growth in the east and relative stagnation in the west. 

Each of the four civilizations that will shape this century has threads going back millennia. Ancient Greece and Rome are the precursors of the US-led west. Chinese and Indian civilizations date back to 3,500 BC. Islam, of course, is the youngest of the four civilizational strains but, geographically , it too has predecessors in antiquity: Mesopotamia (today's Iraq), Persia and Egypt. 

While Christian Europe clashed repeatedly with Islam from the eighth century onwards, the west began its slow ascent in the 13th century. Education was the key. Oxford, Cambridge, the Sorbonne and Heidelberg -the great universities of the west-were all founded around this time as seats of ecclesiastical learning. Soon, they evolved into centres of science, arts and the classics. The scientific and industrial revolution that followed the Renaissance in Europe enabled the west to lay the foundation for modern nationstates. 

India and China, meanwhile, lay dormanttwo ancient and weary civilizations in decay. Each was reshaped by contact with the expansionary west and Islam. But their approach to outsiders was markedly different. China's martial dynasties, confident in their 'middle kingdom' self-image of being the centre of the world, treated upstart 17h century British and Dutch emissaries with disdain and remained largely free of western influence (except in coastal Hong Kong). India, fragmented and directionless, was plucked, piece by piece, first by Islam and then by the British Empire. Like a sponge, it absorbed them all and remade them in its own mould. 

Where do Russia and Latin America fit in as world power moves from west to east? Latin America will remain in the west's sphere of influence. So will Russia, though competitive pressures over the Caucasus will be a continuing source of intra-Europe friction. Russia's sharply declining birth rate and population will weaken it. Most of western Europe too will be impaled by ageing and falling populations. 

Throughout history, civilizations have clashed over territory and faith. The 21st century has moderated some of those primal ambitions. But it is in the nature of man to compete for power . The west is weakening, but will remain a global technological and cultural force for much of this century. China and India will be restored to their historical pre-eminence. Islam will have to change from within to compete successfully with other civilizations. It will have to modernize and adapt-hether in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq or Somalia. 

As a young nation but an ancient civilization, India stands out for its diversity and democracy, the two markers that will determine which civilizational strand emerges strongest in an era of contesting but collaborative global values. 

Read more: Rise of the east in a new clash of civilizations - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/all-that-matters/Rise-of-the-east-in-a-new-clash-of-civilizations/articleshow/7165562.cms#ixzz19fHCDAuy


Now I am adding some of the relevent user comments that were there on the post. It shows that there are people out there who understand it all.


Saratchandran (Australia)
29 Dec, 2010 01:21 PMGun boats and colonization of, knowledge and resourse rich countries in the past, made the West rich,powerful and knowledgeable. The concept of passport and visa is an invention of the West. The purpose of it is to keep the 'loot' for themselves without any thought of sharing. The exploitation has not ceased yet. The dollar based world economic structure,agencies such as the IMF and World bank are symbols of West's need to cling to power as long as it will be possible. Needless to say, we are entering the golden age of the 'Tiger and the Dragon'.


Fazil (London)
26 Dec, 2010 04:22 PMThe big change that will happen with the rise of India and China will be a gradual shift in global politics from the more beligerent Abrahamic faiths (Christianity, Islam and Judaism) to the more tolerant eastern faiths and philosophies of the East (China and India). Islam will need a serious internal debate and reform (which could be traumatic) before Islamic countries are in a position to face the new global balance of power driven by the West, India and China. However, the story will be played out sooner than later with the dwindling of the oil reserve and the new global powers (the West, China, India) going for the grab (in Middle-East)


uv (Mumbai) 
26 Dec, 2010 04:09 PM
Civilizations determined by geographies have always had a cyclical role - some dominant at some time followed by fall at another time. This is a never ending cycle. The key point however historically is that each region had a different model for society construction and that made each society indeed different from another. What is different this time though is that thanks to globalization, both externally as well as internally, there is hardly any differentiation in the society model construct. Whatever label a society may profess through its constitution, the core today for all societies remain chasing for economic prosperity. There are however no role models for any society, no respect for any person or institution in any society and might is right remains the common motto that binds the entire world together as one family as no other time. However, this explosion in interaction between people has also led to huge enhancement in consciousness and given people freedom of choice/ expression in a manner that possibly history never gave any society. Accordingly, to look at the future using the same prism of old-age civilizational construct is dated. The key point is whether modern societies will enhance understanding of purpose of life through new ideas. For the first time after a long time, such new ideas may however come from cooperation amongst societies rather than on a solo basis. These ideas will thereby bind societies in the future rather than geography-based approach

Read more: Rise of the east in a new clash of civilizations - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/all-that-matters/Rise-of-the-east-in-a-new-clash-of-civilizations/articleshow/7165562.cms#ixzz19fdjlINH

Rise and fall of great powers

This blog is generated from the incidental comment that I was making on the facebook status of one friend (Nandi), which is as follows
Looks like US can't compete :)
FT.com / Global Economy - US accuses China of illegal wind power aidhttp://bit.ly/idS93h


Sad fact for US is that it can not compete and for that matter most of the imperial powers of the past (I am saying most and not all)....and that is the precise reason why balance of power move from richer to poorer countries throughout the history

Starting from Egypt in Western sphere to greeks to Romans Turks to Spain to Britain and by that time world was more or less well connected physically (I mean u could travel larger distances in lesser time and now we are in an age where distance does not matter)

In Eastern Sphere it was India and China (but they were divided by mighty Himalayas. Then Kushans, Arabians, Mongols and by this time Europeans started entering Eastern sphere, in between there were three empires or states in East which have seen more or less continuous prosperity and these three are again India, China and Iran but the tables were turned in the fag end of 18th century, 20th was really the dark age for these
Now is the time for rise of these nations again (although I am Skeptical of Iran and the factor that is inhibiting it I dont want to name that), so the cycle is over for US and we are living in times of great Change like invention of Magnetic compass (with this Columbus travel to Americas and Europians are able to destroy a civilization that was far ahead of them except in power of destruction. As a result of this Spain became superpower of west) defeat of Spanish Armada (British become supreme power outside of Asia which they dont dare to enter for the time being), American Civil war (that was the beginning when foundations were laid for USA to be world power, and process was completed by WW-I)
This time it is return of Asia in the form of India and China (China more than India at least for the time being). And if westerns are looking for a traitor Gorbachov in China, I dont think they will get one.


And yes as for wind power aid whole world can blame US of grabbing petroleum all over the world and starting petroleum wars. Moreover their social security system is rotten and they need a shake up. In fact God has given them a man in the form of president Obama but they are not listening even to his wise words therefore they are already on their path of doom. By the time they will realize this fact it will be too late.

Wind power is power of future, but Americans are too busy  in their petroleum wars that they are ignoring this fact. I believe all the countries in this world should start invest more and more in renewable resources so that future of the planet is saved. Now the countries like USA are accusing others of doing something unfair rather than learning.

Radia is another B____h of Congis

Once we go through these lines any sane person can understand how these lobbyists and hired keeps of media rae trying to create the mistrust in the only opposition party. They understand that regional parties are communal and caste based like Congis so they are in same game, but BJP is formidable chellenge, so they want to drive the wedge between top leadership.

RADIA: Nahin, mein tujhe 5 baje ek news doongi, tu uss se pehle nahin de sakti (I will give you some news at 5 pm, you can’t telecast it before that).

NK: Accha, bata de naa yaar, mein nahin kar rahi kisi ko (Okay, please tell me. I am not reporting it).

RADIA: Nahin, tu phir Arun Jaitley ko phone karke bol degi, na (No, you will call and tell Arun Jaitley).

NK: Nahin bolungi, yaar (No, I won’t).

....

RADIA: Basically there is a revolt which is starting in the BJP against the top leadership which includes Rajnath, includes Advani, includes Venkaiah, and that whole group of people close to Advani.

NK: Okay.

RADIA: Aur Jaswant Singh shuru karega usko? (And Jaswant Singh is going to start it?)

NK: And then it will be taken up and…

RADIA: And Arun Jaitley also.

NK: Against Arun Jaitley, or Arun Jaitley will also be a part of it?

RADIA: Nahin, Arun Jaitley ka toh… dekho na (you see)… Narendra Modi, Arun Jaitley, Ananth Kumar, Venkaiah Naidu… yeh sab tohcoterie hai na Advani ki (they are all a part of Advani’s coterie)

NK: Good good good, they need it.

RADIA: They need some shake up.

NK: They need some thrashing of issues.

RADIA: Haan, Sudheendra Kulkarni… basically jo coterie hai.

NK: Hmm

RADIA: The idea is… they are saying there is no democracy in the party. And between Rajnath and his own group, and between Advani and his own group, Arun Jaitley and Narendra Modi, they have destroyed the party.

NK: And Jaswant Singh will put it together? (Laughs)

RADIA: Maybe he won’t, but the question is somebody is leading the revolt naa, to shake up the system… what is the outcome of that, how is he interested?

NK: That should be very interesting. Very interesting, at least BJP will hit the headlines even if for the wrong reasons, the way they used to…

RADIA: Lekin 5 baje ke baad hoga, hun (But it will happen after 5 pm)?

NK: Haan haan, mein nahi kar rahi (Yeah, I am not doing it).

RADIA: Usko pehle ghusne de andar, phir mein tujhe batati hun. Uskaletter circulate… mere paas aa jaayegi, toh mein tujhe de dungi… tere ko toh mil hi jaayegi tere doston se wahan se (Let him enter the office, then I will let you know. Let the letter circulate… it will come to me, I’ll give it to you. You will get it from your friends there).

NK: Theek hai, theek hai, mein karwati hun (Alright, I’ll get it done).

RADIA: Please par Navika.

NK: Nahin 5 baje se pehle nahin (no, not before 5).

RADIA: Tu Arun Jaitley se baat na karna please (Please don’t speak with Arun Jaitley).

NK: Mein bilkul bhi nahin kar raha (I am not going to do that at all).

RADIA: Because I will never be given information again after that.

NK: No, no, no, I will not. See if it was big, I would have pleaded with you to let me do it. Even then, I would not have betrayed [you] and done it, but this one, I will wait for it to happen.

All this should be acutely embarrassing for the BJP. But like so many others, the party too seems to be in denial. “The BJP is a cadre-based party. There can never be a revolt in the party. There was no revolt,” (And these hired bi---es want to show that somehow BJP is like all others who play caste and religion politics, by reminding just everybody in the name of minority and playing with their fears) asserts Ahluwalia, “Questions about how she knew about the letter should be addressed to her.” Of the thousands of questions that alert Indians now have on their mind, that might slip through.

Comments on report- ‘KGB paid Congress, CPI, media’

http://www.indianexpress.com/storyOld.php?storyId=78398

Following comments pertain to above news report.

There is nothing new to it. Congress was controlled from Moscow, moreover this is just the tip of iceberg.

Just imagine why Mukherjee Commission report regarding Subhash was not placed even in parliament, because it concluded that he did not die in Japan, most probably he died in some Soviet labour camp at the instruction of Nehru, rot started from there itself, these revelations are pertaining to later part only. All world power wanted puppet govt in third world country and Nehru was best suited for that, nobody wanted somebody like Bose who could challenge and defeat even Gandhi in Congress itself. Nobody wanted strong leadership in India.

Fortunately we got some good statesmen and we got saved somehow.

Look at the irony of this country we have a puppet PM controlled by master puppet (read Sonia Meno aka Gandhi). Just think with some little common sense, what is easy to have so many puppets or have a master puppet in a sycophant political party and in a country where personal loyalties are more important that loyalties to countries (this phenomenon is more prevalent at the top, common Indian are patriotic). Of course choice of master puppet is better its easy to control and work more efficiently than hotch-potch of so many puppets. You just have to take care of master puppet. That is what has happened in this country.