Envisaging future power centres

How will the world survive the decline of the predominance of the USA and the rise of new power centres in this century? The two authors seek to answer this question in their book.

A discussion on world politics took place at the launch, which was organised at the British Library, where the two writers presented their arguments respectively. “This world that I have painted, will be far less Western in nature. The value systems based on Western history will not be universalised,” said Krishnan, who had been an Indian ambassador to several countries. “There will be societal values of Eastern tradition and celebrities will be multi-racial,” he said jokingly giving the example of Champions League.

He was also of the view that all the countries will take restrictions on carbon emission and that alternate sources of energy would be a major concern in the wake of dwindling fossil fuel. “In a similar discussion in Kolkata, I was criticised for not having taken into account the unpredictable factors and have a happy approach,” he said as he ended his presentation. “But the future harbours many secrets,” added the man who is currently a Fellow of the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies at Kolkata.
James Mayall, a professor of International Relations at the University of Cambridge was delighted to be in Bangalore. “It’s a great pleasure being here,” he said. “I feel fortunate as we cannot know what is on the horizon but we can identify certain things in the existing order.”

“If I differ from Krishnan, it’s because I am more pessimistic and optimistic at the same time if I am allowed to be paradoxical,” he said as he went on to present his opinions. Also present at the event were A Madhavan, former director of Bangalore International Centre and Stefan Halper from Cambridge University.