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EURASIAN Century
the world on a eurasian axis
While stock markets climb relentlessly, humanity sits blithely at the brink of self-destruction through military conflicts and environmental devastation. But being only at the brink also means annihalation may still be avoided. Hope depends on how Eurasia manages to restore a world order which belongs to the world, not just one or two superstates. This is not an unthinkable concept according to history. For years, the Western media have been hyperventilating between China’s “imminent collapse by five in the afternoon” and a looming “Chinese Century”. Entertaining only extreme outcomes, they have overlooked a highly probable scenario — a multi-polar world evolving around a Eurasian axis. This is a scenario which dominated most of human history until very recently, the last century or two.
Enter A New Eurasian Century
June 2, 2016
The American Imperium seems to be faltering under its own incessant effort to rule the world. Some think, or worry, that China will succeed the United States as planetary CEO, Chief Arbitrary Justice, and bouncer. Meanwhile, powerful democracy fanatics prepare for Armageddon, anxious to slay the dragon, and nuke themselves some commies.
Such zero-sum perspectives are deeply flawed, skewed by a leftover colonial mentality, distorted by a Western lens ground to American specifications. From a Chinese point of view, a Chinese Century would mean nothing but headache. The Chinese are a pragmatic people. If you can’t answer the straight forward question of what is it all for, you won’t talk them into shouldering the world’s problems, or creating new ones through invasions or colour revolutions or regime changes.
One possible answer could be: “To be like Americans today, sitting at the top, lecturing, picking teeth, enjoying resources bought with money generated by computer!” But China has been around long enough to know it is a thankless job, toxic to the spirit of the nation. That kind of privilege is poison in the long run, worse than opium, no good for the kids. Ask the British, or anyone else who once opted to run the world, all learned from history or experience, and are now nervously waiting for the Americans to do reach a similar conclusion.
The current American dream, to be realised by mobilising its regional military NATO, seems to be for Europe to fight a major war with Russia, and destroy the middle ground in doing so. Without having to worry about Europe and its currency usurping American power, the Empire can then pivot to China in full force. Pushing the Chinese back to where they belong in the American world order — the assembly lines, sewing Christmas stockings, and anything else the corporate leadership requires.
Though afflicted by indecision and fettered by a relatively mild form of the democracy cult, Europe has plenty of experience in balancing geopolitics, and is in possession of a world view which transcends national boundaries. Populist democracy might have made it difficult for true European leaders to emerge; but a solution is not impossible. Royal families, especially the British throne, are historical pillars which can play a critical, if invisible, role in this modern crisis. While the powers behind the United States care little for the long-term well-being of the masses, the kings and queens of the old world — no matter the irony — care about the future of their nations; their blood depends on it. More significantly, they still command remarkable respect from their conventionally patriotic subjects who are becoming disillusioned with democratic politicos.
James Tam is an environmental engineer and bilingual writer from Hong Kong, whose cultural viewpoint, rather than translation abilities, connect the two languages in which he writes. Tam offers an alternative to traditionally accepted, and particularly americocentric, perspectives on China's increasingly important global role.
Image credit: wikimedia
Written by James Tam
Though afflicted by indecision and fettered by a relatively mild form of the democracy cult, Europe has plenty of experience in balancing geopolitics, and is in possession of a world view which transcends national boundaries.
A multi-polar world is not perfect. Nations work, trade, bicker, struggle over power, and occasionally fight with each other. But it’s as healthy an equilibrium as has yet been achieved. That is what makes it the dominant historical paradigm.
Admittedly, a large number of neighbouring tribes tend to be unstable, leading to wars such as those that rocked 20th Century Europe. But the region has now built a historic foundation that’s reasonably coherent, albeit encumbered by an obsession with due process and unanimity.
If Britain and Germany could provide pragmatic and rational leadership, perhaps nations like France can take charge of vision and critiques, Europe could recover independence and relevance.
Combined with a slightly disgruntled USA, a strong China, an involved Russia, a growing India, and other regional blocs, a Eurasian axis can help to make the world safer, if not necessarily better in all respects. At the very least it will not get worse. A multi-polar world, judiciously orientated to safeguard self and common interests, may even start to fill the cracks before one snaps open, swallowing the entire civilised mess. Historic transformations are inevitably ominous, threatening, and hopeful. At this critical juncture, Europe has the potential to make a pivotal difference.
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