Easternization: Asia's Rise and America's Decline From Obama to Trump and Beyond Hardcover – April 4, 2017

.......Do not be put off by the title or subtitle of this book. 'Easternization' is not a politicized tome. Instead, it is a convincing collection of knowledge and facts to justify several important historical convictions and predictions. There is a wealth of clear and concise information packed into this absorbing book by Gideon Rachman. As chief foreign affairs consultant/commentator for the U.S. based Financial Times, Gideon Rachman has long been in contact with many of the power brokers and politicians of today's global geopolitical network. He is thus intimately familiar with the broad subject matter of this book. In Easternization, Rachman aptly deals with in equal facility: economics, geopolitics, security, history, official thinking, and public attitudes. The book begins by addressing the subject of Asian predominance in todays world, and then takes us around the globe in the next 14 chapters. It gives us a 'birds eye view' of the transformation and gradual collapse of the global post -WWII order established by the remaining Western powers and the Soviet Union in 1945. I enjoyed this book immensely because I found it to be an informative reference surprisingly free of politicized opinions and judgementalism. This is a welcome relief for any reader in these turbulent times seeking knowledge and facts without bias. I certainly appreciated it. The focal point of this tome is the Chinese-American military rivalry for control of the Western Pacific Ocean, which is arguably the most important geopolitical issue of our time. I found it to be informative and enlightening. Easternization is not entirely a China-centric book, for it also addresses the United States and Korean dilemmas, and the broad impact/repercussions of a failed Middle East policy by the United States. Easternization also surveys the gradual shifting of economic and political power away from the United States and Western Europe to China, Russia, and India. India, interestingly enough, is another nation on the rise destined for Superpower status within the next two decades. Without giving too much of the conclusion away, I will reveal that this book ends on a positive note—from a Western perspective. The author is convinced that the stability of American and European financial and governmental institutions will one day save the planet from a 'one world government' ruled from Beijing. I would certainly hope for this eventuality. I'm most pleased with this book because I believe it a top-notch survey of global affairs and a first-rate primer to the world in which we live. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for anyone interested in understanding why the world of today is perpetually in turmoil. 5 stars.

The beauty of this work is that while Gideon Rachman’s title has perhaps an abrasive rub for some his understanding of what that process entails and how and where it is occurring derives from years of experience as a leading journalist for respected publications and the opportunities that allowed to also converse with leaders and observers across the globe involved in world affairs.He spent 15 years with The Economist, with post in Washington, Brussels and Bangkok, and is now chief foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times. In 2016 Rachman won the Orwell Prize, Britain’s leading award for political writing. He brings an open mind and polished style to a serious topic; you will share in those insights.The book was published in 2017 and notes the election of Trump in its preface but in large measure focuses on Obama’s foreign policy as Asia and Foreign Policy are Rachman’s specialties. He projects the causes for his title by following developments in Asia but also very effectively traces the trends in the E.U., west and east, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa. The Peoples Republic of China carries a heavy load but he details the likely reaction of its many neighbors to its rise and their historical interactions with China as limiting factors of it hegemony.Each of his sections are rich in details that have not in general been broadcast by the media and reason enough to earn his five stars for this reviewer. The informed reader will find some glitches in the report but these flow from changes in personalities such as the election of a new president for the Philippians or the more foreboding election of an American president; such do not distract from his well crafted and enjoyable reporting.

This book provides a great overview of the forces that are shaping the world we live in today and how we've seen those forces play out during the Obama years.I read Fareed Zakaria's "The Post-American World" when it came out in 2009 and in it, Zakaria describes "the rise of the rest" - the advent of a multi-polar world in which the US, while still a super or even hyper-power, is no longer the sole power in world. The economic growth of countries like India, China, and Brazil mark a world in which political power and influence becomes fractured.Seven years later, Rachman's book provides a great overview of how this process has been playing out during the Obama years. Even if you've been paying attention to the news the past decade, this book helps pull together the various strands together to paint the big picture. It is not polemical, nor is it a sharp critique of Obama or Trump, but rather places recent events in the overall context of a rising Asia. Rachman surveys the globe, including China, India, Africa, South America, Russia, Turkey, the Middle East, Ukraine, and Hungary. Doing so, he helps to illustrate the forces at work in each of these countries and how they impacted events.All in all, if you want to get a good picture of where we're at today and the forces and challenges we face, this book is a great place to start.

Beautifully written and succinct summary that is written in a politically neutral fashion.Will bring you right up to speed with the key relevant geopolitical dynamics of the region.

Great book with most updated information.Having said that, I would like to emphasize the following.Even though China has great purchasing power in globe, the internal issues such as uncontrollabe corruption resulted from wide spread rural poverty over urban well-off and artificial manipulation of economic entropy will hinder China from being a member of New World Order in any future. The concept of money should be relied on certain degree of trust.Think about the fact why wealthy Chinese are dire to transfer their funds out of China. NWO would stay on trust not purchasing power. Purchasing power without trust will be subject to uncontrollable inflation.

This book is an excellent review by a professional writer of the current shift in regional dominance from West to East caused by the growth of China relative to America. It is a bit chilling to be faced with an inevitable decline in influence (and wealth) as China exerts it financial muscle, not only in Asia but in Europe and America as well. Add to that is the later expansion of India as it develops its resources and harnesses its huge population. Interesting Times!

i give this book 5 star.Despite all economic indicators saying that the east will surpass the economic might of western world but Gideon rachman noted that western living standards will still be far comfortable to its counter part in the east and west still got the institutional edge...Thats a comforting assurance to some one living in the west like me.

Excellent book! Gives the reader a snapshot of the whole world and its current dynamics...