One thing is however becoming clearer: The focus of power and attention is shifting from the West to the East. The last 500 years were a Western supremacy era. The entire world was colonized or somehow dominated by the West with its superior technology. Britain invaded all but 22 nations on the entire planet. French and Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, even Danish gathered possessions. Science gave huge advantages to the West, societal advances organized us better than anyone else to project power and influence all over the planet.
Colonialism ended after the Second World War. Our modern society defined and promoted human rights, created the United Nation on a purely Western ideology. Keeping colonies became too costly and morally wrong. The empires had overstretched.
China has woken up, shed its isolationist doctrine after centuries and is now expanding its influence everywhere. Chinese companies want to build a second ‘Panama canal’ in Nicaragua. Right on the doorstep of the US.
Peace talks on Syria are held in Astana, not Geneva as before. Some Westerners are present (UN,US) in minor roles while Russia, Iran, Turkey and Syria are running the show.
The Chinese made the most influential speech at Davos this year promoting globalisation (our idea) while we are turning protectionist.
The West is retreating, throwing less bombs on other countries, intervening less. We are in an identity crisis as we see our influence fade and our values (equality, human rights) lose attraction.
Empires are defined by economic might, military might, ideological appeal and superior technology.
The West is declining in three categories. We still have technology, but Asia is working hard on that.
Many Western nations are mired in debate with populists that blame neighbours and immigrants on their problems. Rational debate has ended, division and hatred thrive. Elites are despised and set aside.
I will be talking about the many aspects of this focus shift in blog posts to come, while still struggling to make sense of what is going on.
Meanwhile, are you considering investments in military companies as we entered dangerous rethoric lately?