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Jul 16, 2012cshahriari rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
The Munk Debates are a biannual series of debates on major policy issues held in Toronto, Canada (Wikipedia). In June 2011, the debate featured Henry Kissinger and Fareed Zakaria debating against Niall Ferguson and David Li. A lively debate captured in this brief book which can be read in a few hours. It contains insightful arguments from the American, Chinese, Canadian, European and global perspective. The following quotes summarize the debate well: "So don't believe that the Chinese are strategic masterminds and the United States are bumbling. We have managed to bumble our way through a rather advanced position despite the challenges from the Kaiser’s Germany, from the Soviet Union and from Nazi Germany and I think what you will find is that the United States - North America, even - are creating an extraordinary model in this new world. We are becoming the first universal nation, a country that draws people from all parts of the world - people of all colors, creeds and religions and finds a way to harness their talent and build a kind of universal dream. It happens over here and it draws together people from all over the world." Fareed Zakaria (Pg. 54-55) "Canada is perceived very, very positively in China, because being an open-minded culture, being also a rich country in resources, naturally complements the economic needs of China, so that certainly is a positive side" David Li (Pg. 73)