Has the West Lost It? A Conversation with Kishore Mahbubani

For more on this event, visit: bit.ly/2xBv5lk
For more on the Georgetown Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues: uschinadialogue.georgetown.edu/
October 1, 2018 | In his new book, Has the West Lost It? A Provocation, renowned scholar Kishore Mahbubani assesses the challenges the West faces in a fast-changing, multipolar world. He argues that while democracy and peace remain critical for global order, the West can no longer presume to impose its ideology on the world. Only by recognizing its changing status, and seeking to influence rather than dominate, can the West continue to play a leading role in global affairs.
On October 1, 2018, Professor Mahbubani visited Georgetown for a presentation and discussion of this important book. Dr. Victor Cha, the D.S. Song-KF endowed chair in international affairs, moderated the discussion.

[@discoverer7175]

Professor Mahbubani should be awarded the Nobel Peace prize,

[@x-creator4460]

I find it funny that some of these students constantly bring up the issue of 'human rights' after seeing what happened in Iraq, Lybia and Syria (as Mahbubani pointed out) where hundreds of thousands of people unjustly massacred and the US response was 'uh oh, we made a mistake, but then that's too bad'.. Who do you think is the worst violator of human rights in the eyes of the world ?..

[@judsonsilva8618]

...and let's not forget the economic and social institutionalized discrimination imposed on American black population where laws are passed to disenfranchise Americans of color the right to vote, to purchase a house, to work thus perpetuating slavery to this day.

[@sunnycriti9809]

USA is the most powerful country in the world. Everybody knows that the USA is responsible

[@siddarthshah1773]

even kashmiri hindus were genocided by america with his military partner pakistan

[@erictansweebeng5498]

Hindsight + foresight = insight. That is Kishore

[@herta3286]

Oh how I wish my country can have statesmen like you and the late Mr.Lee..

[@paulmaking1980]

Great talk from Kishore Mahbubani! I respect & admire him very much. Kishore Mahbubani's analysis on the rise of Asia & China has been proven correct.

[@yttean98]

He was saying the rise of Asia particularly India and China 10 years ago!

[@binsong7738]

@@yttean98 藕夹

[@yuxiawang1480]

yes.

[@chowleong5782]

9iiiii

[@skychaos87]

Let me just say this to people talking about human rights and democracies and are critical of others who doesn't reach the standards of their own, that human rights, democracy and even freedoms are NOT free. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, democracy falls under the needs for esteem, which is far less important than the basic physiological and safety needs. Humans first and foremost need to feed themselves, have shelter and stay save to survive. Its only when people have enough to eat, have their livelihood safe and secured would people then truly come together to talk, discuss and work for a common and better cause. This is why when you intro democracies to countries that do not have the right conditions they continue to suffer or become worst. This is why more than 50% of the countries that are democratic remains 3rd world and suffering. In those countries people are uneducated, poor and would make votes for their self gains instead of the progression of the country and the people. I hate to say this but i do think its the reason why America and many western countries spend so much effort to push democracies and would criticize others on the lack of human rights, because it is used as an instrument to destabilize countries to fund America interests. That's how soviet crumbles after turning democratic overnight. America itself took 100 years to abolish slavery, 150 years before women could vote and 200 years before black people could vote. So in what right mind would people think democracy is an absolute righteous form of governance? Unfortunately, the younger generation of American and westerners do not understand this. They think their progression was fueled by democratic based processes and policies and continue to stay ignorant and complacent. When in fact, it was in their colonization history that their countries "reap" the resources from the world which fulfilled the basic physiological and safety needs which created a base for them to achieve democracy, human rights and freedom. However, like i said, nothing is ever free in this world. Today the rest of the world, notably China has stop under performing. America is losing its place as an imperialist, which results in Americans not being able to feed of the others. As mention in the video, Chinese workers out perform the Americans by miles, which is why jobs now flow out of America into China. So if Americans still think they can get print money to get their own way they are still sleeping. The thing about hierarchy of needs is that while you can climb up the hierarchy to achieve higher needs, you can also fall back down if your base is weak. Today we are already seeing the results. Americans are experiencing suffering of basic needs, democracy degrades into populism and people do not negotiate and work together. Even the government is shutdown and non functioning because of that. So to the west i say, wake up. You have been living on credit at the expense of the world, its a wonderful dream you had but you have slept enough, anymore it will become a nightmare and you will die in your sleep. The world does not function on ideology but rather in its physical sense of reality. You had a good fortune for a good dream, but its time to wake up.

[@robotninjaknight9007]

good stuff

[@seaskyguy]

From what I have heard from these American professor and students, I have no hope that the Americans will change. This is unfortunate for not just the Americans but also the world. The Americans are totally brainwashed by their self illusions and self righteousness.

[@TheAlbert18361]

Well.... this is a talk held in Georgetown Universities... I believe if it was held in California, the questions will be very different... Kishore laughed when the host commented that the audience is the furthest apart from a so called trump audience.... :)

[@francoislan1975]

Z

[@irisyauinternational1802]

👍

[@Magajiada]

Kishore Mabhubani is soo pragmatic, he first relaxed his audiences, pointed out their mistakes & gave them a solution on what to do. I must get his book.

[@jkjkjk100]

Innocent Magaji most singaporean politicians are very pragmatic n non ideological

[@onnaligandhi2006]

God must be Crazy

[@fangwang9333]

What a brilliant man, Mr. Mahbani, with all the respect

[@vancloudguy]

This Cha guy is so narrow viewed! He is an pure academic! Nothing else!

[@johnchua1087]

He and those students of his are really frog in the well. I hope US continues as is for the next 2 decades.

[@supahsmashbro]

I can tell y'all that the white west feels superior to Asians and resent to their cores a world where they aren't put on a pedestal and see peoples of color as equals. That is a depressingly COMMON and WIDESPREAD and often unspoken value of whites

[@suratpongpipatpanich5627]

I absolutely agree with this professor on the human rights issue between China ans US. He spoke all the evident truths.

[@daning9764]

Thanks Kishore, great talk and discussions again!

[@abdulkarimyusoff2530]

Amazing dear Ambassador kishore!!!!

[@alionline999]

Hello Kishore. We are part of western Asia. Please come to Iraq and help Iraqis understand.

[@dalitshiv834]

Love from India🥰🌷

[@seaskyguy]

How ironic to watch this video while the TV is broadcasting the sad event that is unfolding in Washington DC , on the Capitol Hill!

[@brinthadevi3459]

Hi Prof.Kishore Mahbubani❤💜💖🧡💛💚💙💝

[@dalitshiv834]

😎😎

[@LT-mc8vj]

Totally agree. US and CN can work together, with US leading in technological sciences and China leading in engineering and infrastructure sciences, imagine what a powerful alliance this can be, instead of engaging in trade war.

[@lisa.e5776]

USA won't let any country in lead.

[@mikec4845]

Kishore's bluntness on AngloSaxon arrogance towards China is of course not what anglo saxon led societies want to hear.

[@yuxiawang1480]

Very comprehensive analysis and very incisive interpretation! Thanks a lot, Professor Kishore Mahbubani.

[@kkhpd9097]

To term the raise of India and China and the admission of China into WTO as West's strategic mistake isn't that makes it sound like India and China should not have been raise at all or China should not be allowed to join WTO ? or the West should have stopped that from happening ? Is this a fair statement ? Is India and China destined to be poor and backwards forever so that to mean no strategic mistake made by the West ?

[@jyashin]

No, the mistake was that the West focused exclusively on 9/11, as opposed to focusing on the inclusion of China. So what happened was the injection of 900 million manufacturing workers, and no preparation to deal with that. Chinese manufacturing became an absolute advantage that was a de facto death sentence for working class citizens in the West. This led to the rise of populism like Trump and Brexit, and the adoption of policies that go against pragmatism.

[@gerrychang3807]

I do not believe China and India are destined to be poor hadn't them been admitted to WTO. It would just slow down the process.

[@raymondlee2306]

Hope the West can take his advice ...

[@judsonsilva8618]

By the comments below I can clearly answer the question: yes, the west 'and the rest' have lost focus on the game. The most important point made by KM was that the US dollar as a global currency is a 'product' that the 'rest' has to have faith in order to keep the status quo. It would be a lot worse for everyone if the US lost its ability to print money at will as it would not have the reserves to pay back its astronomical debt, that should be the point of contention in the debate, the aftermath of a de-dollarization of the world order as we have now.

[@jyashin]

Not worth discussing. The collapse of the dollar would be the collapse of pretty much the entire world's financial systems. Unless some other currency is able to take its place, we'd seen governments collapse, and reverting back to tribalism/populism. By that time there would be a mad scramble for basic goods, and we may see the breakdown of MAD. It's basically Operation Unthinkable for economics.

[@sjv9147s]

In any case, ultimately, all the printing must one day come to a head, sooner or later. There is no escape.

[@Silvertestrun]

Ty

[@tianyuanfan6039]

i have to say, the relative decline of the US has little to do with globalization. the US economy as a whole is developing continuously. but it's sick from the inside, and the people in the US need to deal with it, but Trump so far does not appear to be the answer

[@keffinsg]

If you are American, I commend you. You are one of the very few clear thinking Americans left with the humility to confront these issues honestly.

[@tianyuanfan6039]

@@keffinsg the sad part is, i'm a Chinese student studying in Europe

[@osmanjerry3272]

The rich richer, and the poor poorer?

[@thyelye4741]

@@osmanjerry3272 77

[@lisa.e5776]

They want to get more with less effort. Else, they will gangs bully and give you the fists.

[@centerleft4957]

wise man

[@resurrector]

Problem A or Problem B....

[@supahsmashbro]

Totally B...lol

[@tangyokechoon9709]

The United Nations has been working after its formation and from day one it is trying to do the best for all its members but like all membership and society it has its limitations and will ever be under stronger influences of stronger and more poerful Nations,, it will be working to its best for its ability through the constant active participation of all its members as well as constructive opinions and criticisms.

[@linlinbao8874]

The host was too rude, and did not show respect to Mahbubani .

[@sjv9147s]

Excellent ☺️ response by the prof. Shows just how stupid or ignorant the questioner was in front of all present.

[@MarkMark-ji6ts]

Forget the 3M formula I suggest the YGH formula. YANKEE GO HOME!!

[@yinweijie]

actually, you can easily translate "lost it" in chinese...

[@xinwu6909]

输了

[@jimt2762]

@@xinwu6909 That is just literal interpretation. For a British/Aussie/Kiwi, "lose it" means to lose control of oneself or one's temper ( a slang). To an American/Canadian, "lose it" means (again, informally) to fail to maintain someone's composure; to suffer temporary or permanent diminution of one's ability. So, in general, it has the following meanings: to become extremely angry/upset; to become unable to do something that one is usually able to do (Source:Collins English Dictionary).

[@esp4yu]

Did Globalization gave birth to Geo-Politics? Perhaps Greed and Power kind of Disrupt Co-Existence The Question to ask is; Can we Afford to allow those who have Capacities, Abilities and Capabilities continue to Grow this Imbalance?

[@osmanjerry3272]

Economic without politic: just count the cost and market. How much is the cost, where is the market.

[@peterfu529]

Partnership

[@ibrahimba4556]

If the lights go off in the west, they will go on in the east. If they go off in the East, there’s still the north and the south.

[@duketulip1167]

vito corleone.

[@kkhpd9097]

To

[@hansolo7205]

The West continues to kick ass when it comes to PR and propaganda.

[@edukid1984]

That propaganda and PR is increasingly turning inward against its own people, while "the rest of us" begin to wake up to decades of subtle brainwashing led by the almighty Western media in international discourse.

[@stickitupyourasteric]

He is not a hostile guy so his narrative is left leaning... How can anyone say we are living in peaceful times....

[@keffinsg]

Your comment only reinforces Mahbubhani's assertions. You did not even bother to listen carefully to what he said. Only pick up points to dismiss them without even thinking it through.

[@2sridhark]

Go back to the period from 1914 (start of world war I) to 1991 (fall of Berlin Wall) and you will see that world went through 2 world wars, a cold war that ended in 1991. We are on a war against terror but that is a war without boundaries. IT is not killing thousands as the wars in the past used to (though it might well do so in future). So, yes we are a lot more peaceful today than in the past. USA is one nation that seeks unilateralism by waging wars against Iraq, now against Syria. It is definitely making the world less peaceful. China has not attacked any nation yet.

[@kchoo1118]

Yea but could you a name a more peaceful time?

[@MarkMark-ji6ts]

LOL we have a pretty open political environment here. then few seconds later the "one or two" Trump supporters. Sounds pretty open doesn't it. hahahaha

[@whm5511]

KM is severely overrated.

[@supahsmashbro]

He does praise the West too much as if it isn't a supremacist, genocidal blight upon the world...

[@edukid1984]

@@supahsmashbro We will never know what he really thinks behind close doors. I think his opinion in public avoids antagonising the West too much since according to his world view that sort of hostility (whether righteous or not) doesn't help advance the objectives of "the Rest". He is after all a Singaporean - from a country that has been balancing the act between the West and the East for decades while finding its place in the order of things. For very pragmatic and real reasons, not every country can afford to openly resist the West like China is doing now - not yet anyway. It's part of his "Machiavellian" strategy.