Rising China
Much is made of their sovereign wealth funds, which is their buying of massive amounts of U.S. debt and then using that rapidly devaluing currency to buy up real assets in the states--especially businesses. As the video below shows, they're also spending a great deal on a massive military establishment of great scope and discipline.
Their sense of nationalism cannot be discounted as a great root to their strength. This is different than patriotism. Certainly, patriotism is germane to the idea of nationalism, but patriotism is the solidarity of melting pot societies. Nationalism, as in China's case, is rooted in land, blood, and race. China is filled with Chinese, and this constitutes much of their strength. And the arrogance of the West only solidifies their national constitution.
America has no real solidarity. Raging patriotism was only evident after 9/11, but China doesn't appear to require such crises. Granted, a totalitarian society, and its propaganda, play a central role in galvanizing that nationalism, but in the end, China has roots we don't quite understand. And the only possible source of solidarity for America--Christianity--is so spiritually and theologically bankrupt that it cannot provide the sense of destiny and unity it once did. Pluralism of every kind has leavened its way through our national lump.
Their sense of nationalism cannot be discounted as a great root to their strength. This is different than patriotism. Certainly, patriotism is germane to the idea of nationalism, but patriotism is the solidarity of melting pot societies. Nationalism, as in China's case, is rooted in land, blood, and race. China is filled with Chinese, and this constitutes much of their strength. And the arrogance of the West only solidifies their national constitution.
America has no real solidarity. Raging patriotism was only evident after 9/11, but China doesn't appear to require such crises. Granted, a totalitarian society, and its propaganda, play a central role in galvanizing that nationalism, but in the end, China has roots we don't quite understand. And the only possible source of solidarity for America--Christianity--is so spiritually and theologically bankrupt that it cannot provide the sense of destiny and unity it once did. Pluralism of every kind has leavened its way through our national lump.
