The World Under Pressure
The rapid rise of China and India is reshaping our global economic and environmental systems—raising major issues of stability, governance, and sustainability.
This book develops a framework that shows the interdependence between economic size, trade, finance, technology, environment, security, and global governance. Author Carl J. Dahlman uses this framework to provide data on the speed of global power shifts and to trace the implications for nations worldwide. Analyzing this critical moment in historical context, he offers insights into our most pressing concerns.
Specifically, China and India's unchecked growth has the potential to ignite trade, resource, cold, and conventional wars. Moreover, these nations could set in motion monumental challenges related to climate change. The text warns that the current international governance system is not up to the challenges of defusing these frictions. Major powers, including China and India, must do more to address the gathering storm. Developing sustainable economic and social relationships will be a most difficult charge, but the cost of putting off reforms will be lower global welfare. Dahlman ends the book with starting points for change.
"A number of authors have looked in tandem at China and India as development challenges for the world. But, the framework presented in The World Under Pressure and the amount of information that Dahlman weaves together make this work a distinctive and worthy read."—Ernesto Zedillo, Yale University and Former President of Mexico
"The 21st century belongs to China or India, or so many believe. If you want to understand what is driving the two fastest growing and most populous countries in the world, you couldn't do better than to read The World Under Pressure. Dahlman gives readers the benefits of his extensive first-hand experience with both countries and with economic growth around the world."—Robert E. Litan, Vice President for Research and Policy, The Kauffman Foundation and Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
"Those who think economic convergence is a smooth process need to read Dahlman's book. He was ahead of the curve in his work on knowledge economies, and he once again provokes us into thinking about the stark realities of the global economy. The emergence of new economic powers comes with strains and tensions that are best acknowledged and analyzed as The World Under Pressure does so well."—Danny Leipziger, Professor, George Washington University
"Rapid economic growth of China and India and the related acceleration in environmental problems are the starting point for this work by Dahlman (School of Foreign Service, Georgetown Univ.), whose expertise in information technology and development provides a unique perspective on the shift in global economic power."—S. J. Gabriel, Choice
