Robert Kaplan: The Return of Marco Polo's World: War Strategy & U.S. Interests in the 21st Century

[@9340Steve]

The funniest and most ironic thing: We listen to this man coldly calculating how the US can best maintain its faltering domination of the globe, while the screen behind him has the phrase "ethics matter" printed all over it.

[@thomasdonovan3580]

A view from outside the empire I presume. I'm a Canadian When the USA talking heads call Russia and Putin a Nazi or hitler I can't help rolling my eyes.

[@thomasdonovan3580]

I'm 57, I do not want another Cold War with China we were lucky to get out of the last CW without getting ourselves nuked.

[@joelicampaign2028]

Mr. Kaplan forget the history of Nanking Massacre crime committed by the Japanese Imperial army and every Chinese will make the Japanese pay a thousand time over in the coming war.

[@AjarnMatt]

14:44 "The Chinese conception of war.... is win without ever having to fight.... so what the Chinese are doing is hundreds of microsteps... keep moving... in a way that doesn't generate page 1 news, but which over time, one day, we'll all wake up to a different world in the SCS." This is edifying stuff. He can't say it loud enough or frequently enough.

[@sidchandran5057]

Robert Kaplan has a vague idea about Asian power dynamics. China isn't what the west thinks it is and neither is India. The west, very unfairly treats China and to some extent Russia as a country that is some kind of evil place that needs to be dealt with by the self-righteous west. There will come a time when India, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia can form some sort of an Asian Alliance to confront the Western ideology that has plagued this world for the last 400 years or so. If U.S thinks it has unconditional support by even one Asian country on whether they are right to dictate what happens in the world, please point that country out for me. No Asian country in their right mind would ever think that the U.S should be in a position to dictate to others what is right and wrong.

[@perro4996]

Of course nobody accepts to be dictated. USA or the "west" as you vaguely writes has no ambition to dictate coutries in Asia. They need partners for cooperation and security. Anyway USA has the support from japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philiphines.

[@Jawshuah]

The West is the only democratic force in the world. India will never join in an alliance with China when it see it as a rival, an ideological rival, and sees the West more as an system of alliances and cooperation that could use India. Russia is slated to fall once several of the conditions are met: its aging population retires, Ukraine joins the West, Putin dies leaving the oligarchs to do business with the West, or oil prices drop even more.

[@GolkhadiBajya]

You are still in cold war hangover. All asian countries you mentioned are seeking deeper partnership with US to counter China's assertiveness. As evil or good US maybe, so are everybody else. Vietnam fought small battles with China in the 80's and 90's. Russia fought a war with China in 60's. China's assertiveness in South China sea has all asian countries worried. Geopolitics is not based on emotions. It based on interest and your opponents capabilities. That Cold War mindset is obsolete dude. New realities on the ground. Your India is also coming closer to US to serve their own interests which in countering China. Your Aksai Chin, Arunachal Pradesh are eyed not by US, its China. Time to get over Soviet narrative and see new reality on the ground.

[@davidrapalyea7727]

USA no longer has much in the way world interests because we now have more hydrcarbons then god. Further, I believe only 12(?) percent of our entire gdp is trade related outside N. America. All we want is to back slowly out of the room (S. China Sea) before anyone gets hurt. Unfortunately, USA has relic defense treaties we can not ignore. All China needs to do is keep doing what it's doing and don't shoot anyone right away. We don't want to be there any more then China wants us there. But for the time being we are obligated. Finally, Kaplan must have christiam missionaries in his family tree or perhaps he just hangs out to much at Davos.

[@BadassBikerOwns]

'China isn't what the west thinks it is and neither is India.' - What do you mean by the West? US? EU? You seem to be too simplistic in your idea of the world where you divide it into West and the rest. I suggest you to read more books about geopolitics, political science and foreign affairs in order to expand your knowledge.

[@robertprawendowski2850]

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[@Kaxcer]

I disagree with Robert Kaplan idea that US is naval and trading power. Kaplan supported Iraq war and then he regretted it and said it was a mistake. While I have big respect for Kaplan he is not always right and his views are close to reality but not exactly. US is way more powerful then just naval and trading power. While competition is very high, US is a superpower which dominate in every domain and US goal is to continue dominating. Most of the time in history it's a zero sum game. Either you are number one or you will get conquered. Therefore US has to focus on staying number one. By saying US is like a Venice is too humble and not very ambitious. Kaplan doesn't live in a reality. US is more like Achamenid Persia or Ummayad Caliphate. Not only their empires were big but they were predominant and opposition was not that big. Like currently US. They managed to shock everybody with their rise and gain control of huge part of the world power. Just like US.

[@vaultsjan]

Kaplan supported Iraq war and then he regretted it and said it was a mistake. -- That is interesting, i am reading his 1999 anarchy book and he makes some good arguments why dictators should not be taken down.

[@perro4996]

The EMPIRE is like the one Venice had. A trade empire. Venice fought wars. It concuered fex Konstantinople.

[@rf9164]

@@vaultsjan great fact check

[@kwongwong6387]

Typical American analyst. He only focused on the negative side of the One Belt One Road initiative.

[@perro4996]

What did you expect? The name of his lecture is: "War Strategy & U.S. Interests in the 20th Century" He has to imagine the worst case scenario.

[@davidrapalyea7727]

KW What negative things did he say about belt and road? I think he gave a proper analysis all together.

[@ankithooda1536]

He did say, connectivity can be good for commerce but in geopolitics it shrinks space and raise temperatures. Neighbors are by nature geopolitically most important.

[@maiser]

Thats his job and he is doing it good in my opinion. I wish it was the same in my country, then they would with one huge force go forward and conquer the difficulties. Too many jobs not being done correctly.

[@jlkh03]

I have a lot of respect for Bob Kaplan. However, two simple points. First, whatever Kaplan means, the American regime does not have a monopoly on "civil society". Canada has one too and it's vastly differently. Second, Kaplan's example of the American dominance in the Caribbean and - thereby hegemony in the Western hemisphere - is another way of saying that Canada and Latin America live under the shadow of U.S. Is this true? Not at all. The magnitude and quality of American influence isn't demonstrated by naval prowess as Kaplan believes or by 800 military bases across the world as pointed out by a member of the audience. It is in its relations with its immediate neighbours by virtue of proximity, people-to-people exchanges, similar values, shared norms, etc. Canada and Latin America do not live under the U.S. shadow. Maybe I'm in another reality, but sorry folks - American hegemony isn't real.

[@London-hh8xf]

Yes, you are right - got it wrong .

[@maiser]

I dont agree. Chile or Colombia, what kind of relations do they have to US? Just think about it, its not a very two-way cooperation, not really. Simply speaking, its one big bully and many small ones doing its biddings. You can paint that however you like, but living conditions in those countries, lack of their own domestic and foreign affairs agenda and so many other things speak otherwise.

[@ABCtriplets]

What is the "Wang dynasty"?

[@Suite_annamite]

And he keeps saying it in other lectures as well! LOL *I wonder if he meant the "Tang and Yuan Dynasty" since those were when China actively pursued relations with the Middle East.*

[@benwong4648]

Kaplan is too in love with his theory that geography is dominant. The main driver sof any country and it'd people is basic human instincts - self preservation, pride (arrogance), jealousy (competitiveness), and racism. Geography affects strategy but is not the main driver.

[@asongslove]

他聊印度的叙述方式完全是挑事儿啊~但没毛病，老美心中心心念念就是中国和印度干一架，然后老美坐享其成~希望印度有战略定力吧~