A favorite theme in international debate nowadays is whether Asia's rise signifies the West's decline. But the current focus on economic malaise in Europe and the United States is distracting attention from the many serious challenges that call into question Asia's continued success.
To be sure, today's ongoing global power shifts are primarily linked to Asia's phenomenal economic rise, the speed and scale of which have no parallel in world history. With the world's fastest-growing economies, fastest-rising military expenditures, fiercest resource competition and most serious hot spots, Asia obviously holds the key to the future global order.
But Asia faces major constraints. It must cope with entrenched territorial and maritime disputes, such as in the South China Sea; harmful historical legacies that weigh down interstate relationships; increasingly fervent nationalism; growing religious extremism; and sharpening competition over water and energy.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.