An urgently needed "risk map" of the many dangers that could derail Asia's growth and stability Since Marco Polo, the West has waited for the "Asian Century". Today, the world believes that Century has arrived. Yet from China's slumping economy to war clouds over the South China Sea and from environmental devastation to demographic crisis, Asia's future is increasingly uncertain. Historian and geopolitical expert Michael Auslin argues that far from being a cohesive powerhouse, Asia is a fractured region threatened by stagnation and instability. Here, he provides a comprehensive account of the economic, military, political, and demographic risks that bedevil half of our world, arguing that Asia, working with the United States, has a unique opportunity to avert catastrophe – but only if it acts boldly. Bringing together firsthand observations and decades of research, Auslin's provocative reassessment of Asia's future will be a must-read for industry and investors, as well as politicians and scholars, for years to come.
About the Author
Award-winning author Michael Auslin is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research in Washington, DC. A former history professor at Yale, he is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal and a global media commentator.
Reviews
"Auslin argues powerfully for a dose of reality when assessing the current situation in Asia and its future problems and prospects" – George P. Shultz, former U.S. Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury, and Distinguished Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
"What happens in Asia will determine much of what historians in the 22nd century say about our century. Michael Auslin's bracing book argues that it may be a sad story. It is a powerful antidote to the Asiaphoria that dominates conventional wisdom. Agree or disagree, Auslin's argument deserves serious reflection" – Lawrence H. Summers, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and President Emeritus, Harvard University
"Michael Auslin provides and impressive review of Asian fault lines that could soon break into open conflict despite the region's interwoven economies. 'The End of the Asian Century' is a unique analysis, and likely prescient, of the world's most vibrant region" – Frederick W. Smith, Chairman and CEO, FedEx Corporation
"Michael Auslin's book, 'The End of the Asian Century: War, Stagnation, and the Risks to the World's Most Dynamic Region', gives the reader a pragmatic look at the risks inherent in the Asia region. It is an excellent guide for anyone interested in the prospects for Asia, whether you are an investor, policymaker, or executive. It is full of practical examples of what is working well, and what one has to be aware of" – Henry R. Kravis, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO, KKR
"I and many of my colleagues worry more about Chinese weakness than we do Chinese strength; we fret more over Asian failure than we do Asian competitive success. Michael Auslin's thoughtful new book explains why. It's a must-read for anyone who wants to go beyond today's oversimplified sloganeering" – General (Ret.) Michael V. Hayden, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency
"'The End of the Asian Century' is the most complete and realistic book on the subject I have read in a long time. It demonstrates in bold and specific terms how we must not take Asian stability for granted and how Asia may have unpleasant surprises for us in the years ahead" – Robert D. Kaplan, author of "Monsoon and Asia's Cauldron", senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security
"'The End of the Asian Century' provides a sober corrective to the conventional wisdom of Asia's inevitable rise, pointing to the real dangers of nationalism, conflict, and slowing economic growth that will present huge challenges for everyone in the region" – Francis Fukuyama, Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, and author of "The End of History and the Last Man"
"Too much contemporary analysis is based on the mistaken belief that human progress is effortlessly certain. But as we discovered in Russia, nothing should be taken for granted. There is no destiny, only courage and hard work and vigilance. It is fine to be an optimist, but ignoring potential crises only makes them more likely. 'The End of the Asian Century' reminds us that positive change isn't easy or inevitable. Half the world lives in Asia and the region's rise or fall will have a huge impact on the other half. Auslin clearly explains the weakest links in the many globalized connections between Asia and the rest of the world, as well as the possible crisis points across the entire region. This focus on the details provides the context needed to understand the big picture" – Garry Kasparov, Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation and author of "Winter Is Coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must Be Stopped"
"Michael Auslin combines an historian's perspective with the art of diagnosis to map Asia's possible futures. The surprising result is anticipatory, cautionary, and contrarian. Written with verve and a readable style, Auslin urges us to weigh the wide-ranging implications of these risks for America and the rest of the world" – Robert B. Zoellick, former President of the World Bank, US Trade Representative, and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State
"At a time when Asia's importance is matched only by its complexity and unpredictability, Michael Auslin has provided us a thoughtful, deeply researched, and engagingly written primer on how to think about the future of this vital region" – Robert Kagan, senior fellow, Brookings Institutions and author of "The World America Made"
"The conventional wisdom has long held that Asia is inexorably rising while America declines. In a bold and provocative book that is sure to spark debate, Michael Auslin challenges that old thinking by showing that Asia risks a calamitous descent into conflict and economic turmoil. Written with grace and insight, 'The End of the Asian Century' is must reading for anyone interested not just in Asia but in geopolitics more broadly" – Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies, Council on Foreign Relations and author of "The Savage Wars of Peace: Small Wars and the Rise of American Power"
"Moving from geography to economics and politics, Asia expert Michael Auslin draws an innovative risk map in this well researched new book. This thoughtful and skeptical challenge to consensus, with its caution that America must up its game in the region, is a must-read for any policy maker or businessperson thinking seriously about the world today" – Glenn Hubbard, Dean, and Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics, Columbia Business School
"Few other regions matter more for the world's future than Asia. Will the region be a global economic engine and a geopolitical stabilizer or an exporter of economic woes and dangerous conflicts? An urgent question to which Michael Auslin offers lucid – and often counterintuitive – answers. A must read for leaders in business and government as well as academics and journalists" – Moises Naim, Distinguished Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and author of "The End of Power"
"Michael Auslin has succeeded in producing a most compelling book that argues convincingly that the supposed dreamy mirage of the Asian Century just over the horizon has detoured onto much more difficult and even treacherous terrain, beset by nationalist gripes and ambitions, economic malaise and mounting military tensions. It will be an essential contribution to anyone contemplating America's complex role and ambitions in Asia" – Kurt M. Campbell, former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Asia Group
"Many think of a Rising Asia – economically vibrant and politically stable – as the future of the international system. Michael Auslin's brilliant new book highlights the demographic, economic, political and diplomatic factors that make this brave new world far less likely. It is essential reading for all who want to understand the future of global order" – Eric Edelman, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
