When and How Can Asia Play a Leading Role in the New World Order?

摘要

Before the Industrial Revolution, there was no serious difference in the historic process of the East and the West. But the political economy of world affairs has completely changed since. The fundamental reason was that the West succeeded in obtaining the significantly faster and better means of traveling and transportation: steam engines. This technological advantage, combined with adventurous political ambition, resulted in the West subjugating the East. In the 20th century, however, Asian responses to the Western challenge began. Now no colonies exist in the world. Nevertheless, the world is still led primarily by Western powers; namely, in world politics, by the G-5 (permanent members of the UN Security Council: USA, UK, France, Russia and China); and in economic and financial matters, by the G-7 (USA, UK, France, Japan, Germany, Italy and Canada). In culture, science and technology as well, these countries arc leading the contemporary world, as it is proven by the fact that so many bright students still go to the West to learn. Not all Asian nations are far behind in many cultural and scientific spheres, but clearly one could not say that Asia is playing a leading role in most of those areas. When and how, then, can Asia play a leading role in polity, economy, culture, science and technology, and what should we think about this problem from an Asian perspective? Certainly this is beyond economics. Allow me to dare to express my personal views on this broad problem. Since the central stage of the world is the Eurasian continent and North America, let us begin observing the major events and ideological trends there after World War II.