Will the USA and China shape the 21st century?

[Michael]

US-China ties 'to shape century' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8169869.stm)

The relationship between the US and China will shape the 21st Century, President Barack Obama has said. "Co-operation, not confrontation" was the way forward, he said, with climate change, security and the economy all areas where common ground existed. His comments opened two days of talks at a new forum between the two nations. The US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue is expected to focus on working towards economic recovery. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are co-hosting the talks. China has sent Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councillor Dai Bingguo to the forum.

Wow, China has come a LONG way in such a short time. It's amazing really. If it's true. I wonder, will China and Chinese culture really shape the 21st century? I just still can not see it. I see Chinese becoming more Western, I don't really see the Western world becoming more "Chinese".

Does Karaoke, Anime and FFXIII make me more Japaneseish? Maybe? Is liking RedCliff, Hero, Sleeping Tiger Hidden Dragon making me more Chinese? Maybe?

I still feel like it will be the USA leading the world for the next 100 years, until it makes no sense to say USA or China because people freely move everywhere. The USA will be the last in the Era of Superpowers. IMO.

[superstring01]

Sure. What the heck.

~String

[The Esotericist]

meh.... what did those pretty squiggles say in that one thread?

lol. i'm not sure exactly what this means?


I think before the end of this century, nationalities, and national borders, national identities will be meaningless. People will think of themselves as simply Terrans. Earthlings, or Humans from Earth.

No current government that exists will exist in it's present form at the end of the century.

People will shape the 21st century; either that, or it will be the end of history.

[nirakar]

Are the USA and China shaping humanity now? The US dominance of finance, product development, and entertainment is already slipping and China shows little sign of taking over in those areas. China has already replaced the USA as the leading manufacturer of value added shippable products. The only areas that the USA really dominate are military and geopolitical power but historically a super power's economy falls apart it won't be long before it's military begins to decline in power.

I think right now is the peak of US+China power relative to the rest of the world's power.

The EU, India, Russia, Brazil and Japan are big players.

The Saudis have a unique kind of power.

Africans may eventually learn how to profit from their mineral wealth.
Indonesia has 230 million people and some natural resources.
There are a lot of people in natural resources in the nations I did not mention and these nations are closing the technological gap between them and the first world nations.

I think the days of dueling super powers dominating the world like England versus France or the USA versus the Soviets is just about over. The USA is dwindling and China will never reach the level of world domination that the USA reached.