Book Synopsis : Decline of America — Lessons for India
The book is a philosophy oriented socio-political discussion inspired by the platinum jubilee of India’s independence and Donald Trump’s presidency.
India — a newly minted nation, still in its infancy, shows great unrealised potential and promise; but potential is just that. Infants have a lot to learn and India can learn from the proverbial cart that has toppled before it.
The world is changing at a rapid pace, due in no small part to multiple black swan events that have created global tectonic shifts. Chief among these is the pandemic and more recently two regional wars one in Eastern Europe and a second one in the ever volatile, Middle East , where peace maybe ambitiously described as fragile. Congruently, we’ve witnessed the expansion of BRICS. A non-military alliance that found increasing appeal in a world weary from the pandemic and raging wars. In other words,existing structures of power are fraying and new structures are quietly forming.
The book sharpens its focus on the lone super power — the United States of America — challenged both externally and internally and now demonstrating symptoms of decline. And oceans apart on a second yet insignificant, but rising power — India — among the oldest civilizations and youngest nations, like a fledgling learning to fly , she’s emerging from the malaise of colonialism energised by the promise of her youth. It is indeed an exciting time for her.
What comes next is up to its people. To aid this journey, I will look at history within the confines of the current moment to derive lessons for India but also the US and maybe even for democracies around the world.
How might we arrive at these lessons? By examining the state of the American Union using a philosophical lens, and explaining why America is struggling to keep the experiment alive.
You might wonder, why now? The changes astride in the world are expediently nudging India toward being deliberate about her conduct in the world. She will have to decide how she shows up and what kind of imprint she wants to have. My hope in publishing it is that the citizens of the two countries, but may be of the world at large, will find a different if not a novel perspective to view their nations.
If this is interesting to you. I’d love for you to read the book. Thank you for your patience and your time.
