Geopolitics

India takes the jobs. China holds the lender’s note. The Middle East controls the oil production. Egyptian revolution. What is the future of international politics and economic growth?

23 February 2011

India takes the jobs. China holds the lender’s note. The Middle East controls the oil production. Egyptian revolution. What is the future of international politics and economic growth?
The World Economic Development forum site is a good place to start to catch up on discussions revolving around international trends. One important resource is the Global Risks Report that is released each year. The 2011 report has recently been released and is ready to be viewed.
“The world is in no position to face major, new shocks. The financial crisis has reduced global economic resilience, while increasing geopolitical tension and heightened social concerns suggest that both governments and societies are less able than ever to cope with global challenges.” – Global Risks Report
As I read this statement from the executive summary, I found my thoughts focusing on the recent uprising in Egypt and wondered how much more the international community will need to bend to absorb the current tensions. After reading the risk report, I recommend moving on to the World Competitive Report found on the same site, or the Digital Ecosystem Convergence between IT, Telecoms, Media and Entertainment? Scenarios to 2015.
Another great resource for keeping up with world events is Thomas Friedman’s Op Ed column at the NY Times. Ever since his books, The World is Flat and Hot, Flat, and Crowded he has emerged as a front line thinker for the world stage.
Lastly, when communities think of global competition, it seems that the thought is how to capture the mecca of dollars from China or other emerging counties. To this point, I wonder how much the fountain of China really has to offer. A quick glance at the Middle East shows that economic instability is translating to demonstrations and revolt. While China may hold the note to the US, they will need to quell the social inequalities and offer human rights or the same fate may be in China’s future.