The Next Hundred MillionThe Next Hundred MillionThe Second WorldThe Second World

Channing ShattuckChanning Shattuck

The Second WorldThe Second World On the On the Second Second

WorldWorld, Parag , Parag Khanna illustrates a Khanna illustrates a negative future for negative future for America by America by comparing it to the comparing it to the rest of the world. His rest of the world. His perspective is based perspective is based on history; what on history; what happened in the happened in the past will happen in past will happen in the future. But to the future. But to really understand really understand Parag Khanna, it is Parag Khanna, it is good to learn a bit good to learn a bit about his own about his own history. history.

The Second WorldThe Second World

Parag Khanna is very adamant, Parag Khanna is very adamant, stern and realistic in his stern and realistic in his approach on the future. He tells approach on the future. He tells things as they are. He has a things as they are. He has a strong belief in the ‘better way’, strong belief in the ‘better way’, throwing aside ancient beliefs throwing aside ancient beliefs and traditions to offer an and traditions to offer an efficient way to have the world efficient way to have the world work. He believes that a lot of work. He believes that a lot of the world’s problems today are the world’s problems today are based on a stubborn tendency based on a stubborn tendency to cling to past practices. to cling to past practices.

The Next Hundred MillionThe Next Hundred Million On the other hand, we have On the other hand, we have

The Next Hundred Million. Joel The Next Hundred Million. Joel Kotkin has a more positive Kotkin has a more positive outlook on the world. He feels outlook on the world. He feels that nations are progressing, that nations are progressing, mixing, and changing radically mixing, and changing radically for the better. He constantly for the better. He constantly refers to the notion of the refers to the notion of the “melting pot” effect. When “melting pot” effect. When cultures and societies inter-cultures and societies inter-mingle and share their beliefs, mingle and share their beliefs, nations thrive. It is about taking nations thrive. It is about taking advantage of all people equally advantage of all people equally rather then choosing a select rather then choosing a select few. few.

The Next Hundred MillionThe Next Hundred Million The Next Hundred MillionThe Next Hundred Million is a is a

speculative work-piece by author Joel speculative work-piece by author Joel Kotkin about the future of America. Kotkin about the future of America. Right away we see that, even though Right away we see that, even though American’s fate looks grim, Kotkin has American’s fate looks grim, Kotkin has an optimistic point-of-view to where we an optimistic point-of-view to where we are headed. He believes that instead of are headed. He believes that instead of fearing the unknown, we should fearing the unknown, we should embrace (especially since we really embrace (especially since we really don’t have any other choice). Many don’t have any other choice). Many people fear the change that is people fear the change that is seemingly happening to the world, but seemingly happening to the world, but this is all part of advancing and this is all part of advancing and adapting. Kotkin expresses his adapting. Kotkin expresses his optimism for the brave new world we optimism for the brave new world we are entering into. are entering into.

The Next Hundred MillionThe Next Hundred Million There is a great sense of There is a great sense of

community in Kotkin’s community in Kotkin’s thinking, as opposed to thinking, as opposed to Khanna’s capitalistic, Khanna’s capitalistic, purchasing focus. He goes purchasing focus. He goes on to predict what the world on to predict what the world will be like in 2050. He will be like in 2050. He follows growing population follows growing population trends through immigration trends through immigration and birthrates. The “next and birthrates. The “next hundred million” is his hundred million” is his prediction - that the prediction - that the population will increase by a population will increase by a hundred million by 2050. hundred million by 2050.

ConclusionConclusion Both of these books are Both of these books are

fascinating. While they do fascinating. While they do contradict each other in some contradict each other in some spots, the overall picture is clearer spots, the overall picture is clearer then it used to be. America is still then it used to be. America is still in the middle of a social in the middle of a social experiment. The other global experiment. The other global powers have just learned how to powers have just learned how to manipulate economies for their manipulate economies for their own gain. Everyone is headed off in own gain. Everyone is headed off in different directions, trying to figure different directions, trying to figure out what will work best in the end. out what will work best in the end. Are we really doomed? I don’t think Are we really doomed? I don’t think so. As long as we keep moving, we so. As long as we keep moving, we will be fine. The worst thing a will be fine. The worst thing a nation can do is to become nation can do is to become stagnant – to resist change by stagnant – to resist change by digging its heels into the ground. digging its heels into the ground. That is surely the breaking point of That is surely the breaking point of any country looking to make it to any country looking to make it to the top. the top.