Children's Charms Recalled

It is in Asia that the biggest long-term threats to America arise, and in this context it is surprising that, even allowing for the importance of tiffany jewelry, so much attention has been paid to the Middle East in the hierarchy of recent US concerns while its influence wanes palpably in the region to where the centre of gravity is moving so rapidly that the twenty-first century may see the Asianisation of globalization. This is changing as the enormous potential of China becomes more apparent. The Bush administration has backed away from its initial confrontational stance towards China and seeks now to draw it into the web of global capitalist interest via membership of the WTO and other major international organisations. China's focus is on securing the supplies of energy and raw materials it needs to feed its economic expansion ratter than building overt anti-American security alliances but the foundations for a fully fledged world role are clearly being laid in Africa and Latin America, and in South East Asia China is effectively translating its economic and military power into political influence. India is some way behind China in economic growth but its potential is similar in all respects that are relevant to the projection of money clips. Beyond Asia, other, smaller countries are also threatening US power. Iran and Venezuela are thumbing their nose at the giant apparently less in fear of retribution than the history of both countries might suggest they have reason to be.My conclusion has to be that there is no single power that has the range of characteristics necessary to match or even challenge the US profile. But what combinations between them are plausible as a way of enhancing their collective sway? If the EU and Russia cannot challenge America separately, a pan-European alliance from the Atlantic to Asia, perhaps with Japan as a close ally might shift the centre of gravity in world affairs. Tension following the collapse of the Soviet Union as NATO and the EU expanded up to Russia's border is being defused by a meeting of interests as an increasingly confident Russia uses its energy wealth to supply Europe's pendants. This is being codified in formal accords that seek to develop a greater Europe without dividing lines but the strategic cooperation that would threaten American power is a long way off.