Greetings from the Australian National University where Professor Amitav Acharya is talking on his new book "The Once and Future World Order". He argues the world order did not come exclusively from the West. There was a two way interchange. The decline in Western dominance now taking place is not necessarily bad. In particular US dominance was not benign. What comes next doesn't have to be "West versus the rest".
I suggest Australia would have difficulties comprehend, let alone navigate a word without US dominance. Australia was created from the British Empire and was part of its economic and defense system, up until the occupation of Singapore in WWII. Abandoned by the UK, Australia then turned to the USA, and has been in its orbit since. This change happened within days out of necessity. There is no similar option for Australia today.
Professor Acharya looks far further back to the Hittites for lessons on world order. They signed a treaty with Egypt. Principles such as freedom of the seas are similarly old. He suggests we will have a "multiplex" replace the USA. I looked for a definition and ended up with a movie theatre with many screens. Can Australia find a comfortable seat?
PS: I recommend a visit to the Istanbul Museum of The History of Science and Technology in Islam.
