Product Description

At the end of the Cold War, we found ourselves living in a world with one superpower, the United States. Now, at the start of the twenty-first century, Parag Khanna argues powerfully that the moment of American supremacy is over, brought about by the increasing influence of what he terms the Second World: Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South America, the Middle East and East Asia. Travelling from Azerbaijan to Venezuela, China’s hinterlands to Gaddafi’s Libya, Parag Khanna explores these countries and their global significance. For as the three superpowers – the US, the EU and China – compete for influence in the Second World, citizens of these countries can already feel the these imperial forces exerting their influence and affecting the global balance of power. In a bold and provocative style, The Second World makes clear what’s at stake, for whoever dominates the Second World will lead the twenty-first century – or become a part of the Second World itself.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #131217 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-30
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

Review
'Fascinating... elegantly combining historical analysis, political theory and eye-witness reports on the battle for primacy between the world's new empires' Mark Leonard, author of 'Why Europe will run the 21st Century' 'The Second World takes us to a whole series of important places ... and gives us glimpses of life on that messy borderland between the second world and first ... [a] great feat of reportage' - Niall Ferguson, The FT 'This is the sort of reporting that newspapers can no longer afford to send correspondents to do ... [Khanna's] book is compelling and exciting' The Telegraph

Review
'Wonderful vignettes...gives us glimpses of life on that messy borderland between the second world and the first ... [a] great feat of reportage'

Review
'This is the sort of reporting that newspapers can no longer afford to send correspondents to do, and his [Khanna's] book is compelling and exciting'

Customer Reviews

wide-ranging, well-written and enjoyable
Parag Khanna has been to a lot of countries. Frankly, I envy him, but I also found his wide-ranging knowledge and insight into the approaches of second-world countries (think Turkey, Mexico or Iran) are interacting with our current 'superpowers', sometimes working in union, sometimes playing these powers off against each other. Khanna defines these as America, China and the European Union - which is interesting in itself, as is his argument that America could slip back into the second world. Well-written and enjoyable to read.

Highly Recommended
This book provides an original view of how geopolitics and globalisation may play out in the coming years and decades, starting now. Khanna identifies three diplomatic styles, competing to lead the world in the 21st century: USA (coalition), EU (consensus) and China (consultation)

The key to success for the three superpowers lies in what Khanna calls the `Second World' countries. He then proceeds to provide excellent profiles of more than fifty countries in South America, Eastern Europe, Central and East Asia and the Middle East. There are some fascinating insights within these country profiles - historical, cultural and economic. It is the relationship between these Second World countries and the three superpowers that will have a huge impact upon the world and the global balance of power in the 21st century.

The successful superpowers will be flexible and pragmatic, seeing the world as it is, not how they might want it to be (whether we like it or not). For example, important questions (and dilemmas) about the spread of democracy across the world are raised.

It is a truly fascinating book, very well written and I highly recommend it.