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.
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'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
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'Wonderful vignettes...gives us glimpses of life on that messy borderland between the second world and the first ... [a] great feat of reportage'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
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.
By James Ward
Format:Paperback
To my mind, this is a super in-depth look at the current state of the world. It doesn't really require anyone to subscribe to the author's (actually rather plausible) view that there exists a "second world" of countries just outside the orbits of the big three trading empires of the 21st century: China, the US and the EU. Rather, it simply looks at global trends and propensities, and supports them with pertinent historical narrative, as appropriate.
By and large, you get a very good sense of the state of the world right now. Khanna takes the globe continent by continent, country by country. Once I'd got a sense of what was going on, I found myself coming up with hypotheses of my own. And I do think that's the hallmark of a good text in this field, whether it sets the reader thinking and whether he feels he has to keep it physically nearby for the immediate future, just to re-check significant facts and figures.
I would recommend buying this book in conjunction with Whitaker's Almanack 2013 so that you can check the author's assessment of the different countries he examines. He is quite positive about Kazakhstan, for instance, but the country does have its critics. According to my recent copy of Private Eye (#1338), "Nazarbayev centralises power, rigs elections and nobbles the judiciary". Not nice at all.
This, of course, only shows that when it comes to something as complex as international relations, you can't do with just one book. Khanna's text has come in for quite a bashing from one reviewer on here, and it's almost certainly dated in places now, but I don't know of any text that does a comparable or better job of fulfilling the same brief in as readable a way.
By and large, you get a very good sense of the state of the world right now. Khanna takes the globe continent by continent, country by country. Once I'd got a sense of what was going on, I found myself coming up with hypotheses of my own. And I do think that's the hallmark of a good text in this field, whether it sets the reader thinking and whether he feels he has to keep it physically nearby for the immediate future, just to re-check significant facts and figures.
I would recommend buying this book in conjunction with Whitaker's Almanack 2013 so that you can check the author's assessment of the different countries he examines. He is quite positive about Kazakhstan, for instance, but the country does have its critics. According to my recent copy of Private Eye (#1338), "Nazarbayev centralises power, rigs elections and nobbles the judiciary". Not nice at all.
This, of course, only shows that when it comes to something as complex as international relations, you can't do with just one book. Khanna's text has come in for quite a bashing from one reviewer on here, and it's almost certainly dated in places now, but I don't know of any text that does a comparable or better job of fulfilling the same brief in as readable a way.
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3.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Slightly irritating
Too many countries and too little time. It all feels a bit rushed. It is quite readable and there are some interesting nuggets, but there is a tendency for sweeping statements and... Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2010 by Clive Pacey
2.0 out of 5 stars
Indulgent travel book dressed up as geo-political treatise
The young Mr Khanna spent some time traveling around the world hanging out with NGO workers and CEOs. Read more
Published on 11 April 2008 by R. Rietz
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