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Center Stage for the 21st Century

Summary --

Already the world’s preeminent energy and trade interstate seaway, the Indian Ocean will matter even more as India and China enter into a dynamic great-power rivalry in these waters.

Comments

Rivalry in the Indian Ocean

Submitted by Raoul D. (Mar. 18, 2009) on March 18, 2009 - 3:25pm.

I am very impressed with the quality and depth of the article. Congratulation to the author Robert Kaplan

Rivalry in the Indian Ocean

Submitted by Husham A. (Mar. 24, 2009) on March 24, 2009 - 3:38pm.

Excellent analysis !

Re: Robert Kaplan and the Indian Ocean

Submitted by Aly-Khan S. (Mar. 28, 2009) on March 28, 2009 - 4:53am.

Dear Robert,

I first commend your scholarship. We might well be at an inflexion point in the world of military power and its most efficacious projection.

I would posit that the Iraq war and its subsequent constabulary footprint was a throwback to a colonial era. In the c21st, you cannot project such a military footprint. At another level, the war was responsible for an enormous transfer of wealth from the Consumers of Crude Oil to the Producers [The US's putative enemies - Chavez only got a voice because of the rally in Crude, for example] and we are now wrestling with the wreckage of that, in the Global Economy.

The point you are making about Maritime power is a far sighted one. The Military footprint is under the radar and over the horizon and that I think that in itself is of major strategic advantage. And a tilt or bias in that direction would be in the national interest.

The intuitive part about Full Spectrum Dominance is that it can only be effected by the appearance of not dominating and I think your conclusion about the US in the Indian Ocean, an honest Broker if you will, is a signifier for how the US charts a new course in this patently more multi polar world.

With regard to the Indian Ocean, I had not thought of the topography and the picture in the way you had so vividly described it. Surely, this makes Somalia central to the equation, in a very interesting way?

Aly-Khan Satchu
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great article by Robert

Submitted by Pritam A. (Mar. 17, 2009) on March 28, 2009 - 6:41am.

great article by Robert Kaplan, the geopolitical tensions and on occasions co-operations will shape the political landscape of the developed world in years to come, in my view.

Bilateral relations to benefit both

Submitted by hiranmay p. (Jun. 11, 2009) on June 13, 2009 - 3:55am.

Somalia is a fire-cracker that keeps the parties amused. The East is emerging to be bipolar, with communist China and democratic India at opposing sides.

Though unlike the Cold War, China and India are ancient civilizations with historic ties and friendships between peoples. These nations respect, admire and share each others philosophies and face common enemies to development in terrorism, over-population and environmental degradation.

Also, due to geographic proximity, attempts to destabilize the other will only prove fatal to the propagator as is so apparent with Pakistan today.

Coupled with a vigorous competition in diverse arenas like oil, global trade, outer-space etc. and different political ideologies, this love-hate, dog-eat-dog relationship stands only to benefit these nations immensely through growth catalyzed by competition and security ensured by fear and friendship.

Center Stage for 21st Century

Submitted by Gurinder D. (Jun. 18, 2009) on June 18, 2009 - 11:17am.

Mr Rbert D . Kaplan
I am so impressed with your this article on Indian ocean that i immidiately feel like meeting you but it is not possible. personal presence is always best way of Salutation,but finding it impossible i am doing it through these words. The Grasp of the subject and the immense knowledge you have put in this article gives me a feeling as if I am in the sea of Knowledge. Instead of naming the article as Center stage for the 21st century the name should be the Knowledge sea of Indian ocean.The depth of the subject is so much that single paragraph of your article can be made into a full essay.If the policy makers in Pentagon and CIA can understand this article, I am sure there will be no doubt left any more that India and USA need to take a leadership role to shape the balanced control of Indian ocean in Future. Hope Present Political Administration in USA also Listens to the Voice of GOD throgh your Article. It is not that GOD will come and tell Barack Obama Administration to do so ,it is voice of the learned souls in intellectuals like you , whose articles needs to be acted upon.
Thanks for such a great article.
hats off to you Dear Mr. Kaplan

I am sure there

Submitted by Jack B. (May. 30, 2009) on July 14, 2009 - 5:04am.

I am sure there will be no doubt left any more that India and USA need to take a leadership role to shape the balanced control of Indian ocean in Future. Hope Present Political Administration in USA also Listens to the Voice of GOD throgh your Article. It is not that GOD will come and tell Barack Obama Administration to do so ,it is voice of the learned souls in intellectuals like you , whose articles needs to be acted upon.
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With regard to the Indian

Submitted by Jack B. (May. 30, 2009) on July 14, 2009 - 5:06am.

With regard to the Indian Ocean, I had not thought of the topography and the picture in the way you had so vividly described it. Surely, this makes Somalia central to the equation, in a very interesting way?
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The article actually discuss

Submitted by vivek m. (Nov. 16, 2009) on November 16, 2009 - 10:48am.

The article actually discuss in depth about the future trends in the world's huge economic change over. What to be expected as the two upcoming economic giants take control over the world economic.
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hese nations respect, admire

Submitted by deff l. (Nov. 24, 2009) on November 24, 2009 - 1:04am.

hese nations respect, admire and share each others philosophies and face common enemies to development in terrorism, over-population and environmental degradation.
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