America Learns To Share As It Knows Otherwise There Will Be Nothing Left To Share

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By Dr. Sawraj Singh

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the bipolar world became a unipolar world. It seems that America has realized that a unipolar world is unsustainable. There is a very beautiful saying in the Punjabi language that when you realize that you are going to lose everything and still have the ability to negotiate, it is wise to share half so that you can at least save the other half. America has accepted this sincere advice from the East. There is a fundamental difference between Obama and Bush. Obama represents the intellectually enlightened segment of America, whereas Bush represented the intellectually deprived segment.

In his first term, Obama tried to redress the economic damage which America sustained from Bush’s policies. It seems that in his second term, Obama is trying to reverse the foreign policy damage. Traditionally, American foreign policy has been based upon the concept that Europe is the most important region for America and alliance with Western European countries is the most important alliance for America. Bush was the most disliked American President in Europe. However, Obama is the most favored American President in Europe.

Bush tried to move away from the traditional Western alliance to a new anti-China and anti-Islamic alliance of America, Israel and India. Obama is fundamentally opposed to such an alliance. In the beginning of his first term, he tried to make it clear that he wants to correct this wrong impression that America is anti-China or anti-Islam. However, his priority was to revive the American economy. Therefore, he could not bring fundamental changes in foreign policy.

In his second term, Obama is focusing on foreign policy. He is trying to revive the traditional Western alliance. He is also trying to reverse the shift in American foreign policy which currently claims that instead of Europe, Asia has become the most important region for America. Actually, Obama has realized that America cannot control the whole world and by trying to do so, risks losing everything. Therefore, he is conceding that America should not try to contain China and accept the obvious that it is not possible to challenge China in Asia.

America has given this advice to the visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he should not try to provoke China. As far as India is concerned, America has concluded that it is not a match for China and will not be in the near future. America also seems to have concluded that while dealing with Afghanistan and other Muslim countries, India can be more of a problem than a solution.

A strong alliance between China and Russia has forced America to accept that as long as these two countries are together, it is almost possible to beat them. Individually, China and Russia cannot match American strength. However, when these two countries unite, then they become unbeatable. This is like the old tale of a blind man and a lame man uniting. China has the economic power and Russia has the best weaponry. Therefore, it is almost impossible to defeat them while they are together.

Russia has announced that it is reviving maritime patrols by its ships in the Mediterranean Sea. This has really alarmed America and the Western European countries. They have decided to revive their traditional relationship. They also want to move further toward a free trade agreement. It is obvious that Obama wants to consolidate America’s relationship with Europe and also save the western economy.

India should also realize that the world is moving back to bipolarity before it finally moves to a multipolar world. It is true that India has the potential to emerge as a center of power. However, in the immediate future, India has to shape its policy according to prevailing realities. The world has basically two major alliances, a Western and an Eastern. America and Western European countries form the Western alliance. China and Russia form the Eastern alliance.

Where does India fit? India has no choice but to join the Eastern alliance. This alliance is in the best interests of India and also serves American interests. The most important thing for the whole world is to restore balance of power. The Western alliance of America and the Western European countries will be balanced by an Eastern alliance of China, Russia and India. The balance of power will protect the world from a most disastrous Third World War. However, these alliances are only a transitory phase; in the long run, the bipolar world will have to change into a multipolar world. More power centers will emerge than can be confined to a bipolar world.

Dr. Sawraj Singh, MD F.I.C.S. is the Chairman of the Washington State Network for Human Rights and Chairman of the Central Washington Coalition for Social Justice. He can be reached at [email protected].