Zakaria’s thesis explicitly holds that economics is more important than both culture and politics. Explain why you agree or disagree with this contention—is the pursuit of wealth more compelling than the pursuit of power or attachment to one’s own people?

How did the 2008 financial crisis appear to validate Zakaria’s thesis? Have there been other recent events since the book’s publication that either affirm or undermine its conclusions?

What are the basic structural forces that have helped shift global power from “the West” to “the rest?” What are the primary benefits of this development, and what are some of the most severe risks?