It’s foolish to talk of an “Asian century” or an “emerging market century” because events move at a pace that renders this degree of durability obsolete.

In environments where corporations become too interventionist and capture regulation themselves, the government must be able to battle back so that the people have a chance.

Authoritarian governments are now trying to ensure that the increasingly free flow of ideas and information through cyberspace fuels their economies without threatening their political power.

The government has to be on the side of the people if the corporations take too much power.

International institutions like the Security Council, the General Assembly, the G20, the BRICs, the IMF, etc., continue to be little more than an extension of the (increasingly conflicting) values and interests of member states.

Strong states and blocs of strong states are the only source of power and legitimacy capable of driving an international agenda in today's world.

The two world wars boosted American power and devastated potential rivals to an extent that could not have lasted more than a few decades.