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This article's factual accuracy is disputed. Please help to ensure that disputed facts are reliably sourced. See the relevant discussion on the talk page. (March 2008) |
The Pacific Century (also Asia-Pacific Century) is a term that has been used to describe the 21st century through analogy with the term American Century. The implicit assumption underlying the usage of the term is that the 21st century will be dominated, especially economically, by the states in the Asia-Pacific region, in particular China, Japan, India, South Korea, Taiwan, the ASEAN members (particularly Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore), Australia, Russia, Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This idea can be compared to the historical Eurocentric viewpoint. The term Asian Century is now more commonly used, shifting greater emphasis towards Asia, especially on the potential superpowers of China and India. Cities in those countries, such as Tokyo, Mumbai, Beijing, Jakarta, Manila, Singapore, Hong Kong, New York, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Manila, Vancouver, Mexico City, Moscow, Sydney, Delhi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur are increasingly gaining power as financial centres, displacing cities in Europe.
Critics of the term believe it incorrectly describes the 21st century and overstates the importance of the states around the Pacific Rim.
A 10 hour documentary entitled The Pacific Century was aired on PBS in 1993, which covered the history of modern Asia and the West, as well as the future of the region [1].
[edit] Further reading
- Wilkins, Thomas. (2010). The new 'Pacific Century' and the rise of China: An international relations perspective. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 64:4, 381–405. Abstract available here. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
