For more than a century, the United States has been the world's most
powerful state. Now some analysts predict that China will soon take its
place. Does this mean that we are living in a post-American world? Will
China's rapid rise spark a new Cold War between the two titans?
In this compelling essay, world renowned foreign policy analyst, Joseph
Nye, explains why the American century is far from over and what the US
must do to retain its lead in an era of increasingly diffuse power
politics. America's superpower status may well be tempered by its own
domestic problems and China's economic boom, he argues, but its
military, economic and soft power capabilities will continue to outstrip
those of its closest rivals for decades to come.