Can Asians Think?

Can Asians think? Is Western civilization universal? Does the West promote human rights for altruistic reasons? Since 1998, Kishore Mahbubani has attempted to answer these questions in his provocative collection of essays entitled "Can Asians Think?" Now, in the third edition of this work, Mr Mahbubani includes two new essays which discuss the changing role and importance of the United Nations. As the Singapore Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr Mahbubani has a unique understanding of the inner workings of this organization. For two years he sat on the UN Security Council. In his new essay, "Power Without Responsibility, Responsibility Without Power?" Mr Mahbubani discusses the importance of the security council and the relationship between the permanent 5 and elected 10 members. In his second new essay, "The United Nations and the United States: An Indispensable Partnership", Mr Mahbubani addresses the fragile US-UN relationship that often made headlines over the past years. With his straightforward style and unique perspective, Mr Mahbubani's book is still as relevant today as it was in 1998. The new material provides a fresh look at the ever-changing role of the United Nations.

Table of Contents:
Asian Values; The West and the Rest; An Asian Perspective on Human Rights and Freedom of the Press; The Dangers of Decedence: What the Rest Can Teach the West; The Rest of the West?; The Asia-Pacific and Southeaast Asia; Japan Adrift "The Pacific Impulse"; Seven Paradoxes on Asia-Pacific Security; Pol Pot: The Paradox of Moral Correctness; Global Concerns; The UN and the US: An Indispensable Partnership; Power Without Responsibility, Responsibility Without Power: The Permanent and Elected Members of the UN Security Council; Bridging The Divide: The Singapore Experience; The Ten Commandments for Developing Countries in the 90's.

About the Author :
A student of philosophy and history, Kishore Mahbubani has had the good fortune of enjoying a career in government and in writing and publishing. With the Singapore Foreign Service from 1971 to 2004, he had postings in Cambodia (where he served during the war in 1973-74), Malaysia, Washington DC and he served two stints as Singapore Ambassador to the UN. He also served as President of the UN Security Council in Jan 2001 and May 2002. He was Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Ministry from 1993 to 1998. In the world of ideas, he has spoken and published in all corners of the globe. He published his first article in Foreign Affairs in 1983, which was then followed by articles and op-ed pieces in several journals and newspapers. For his writings and other contributions, he has been profiled in the Economist and in Time Magazine and his writings have been widely cited and quoted. He is the author of "Can Asians Think?" (published in Singapore, Canada, US, Mexico, India and forthcoming in China) and of 'Beyond The Age Of Innocence; Rebuilding Trust between America and the World' (published by Public Affairs in New York in March 2005). His experience in public service and in the world of ideas has come to serve him well in his new appointment on 16 August 2004 as the first Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. Concurrently, Mr Mahbubani continues to serve in various advisory capacities to various Institutions in Singapore and North America. Mr Mahbubani was awarded the President's Scholarship in 1967. He graduated with a First Class honours degree in Philosophy from the University of Singapore in 1971. From Dalhousie University, Canada, he received a Masters degree in Philosophy in 1976 and an honorary doctorate in 1995. He also served as a fellow at the Center for International Affairs at Harvard University from 1991 to 1992. He has also been conferred The Public Administration Medal (Gold) by the Singapore Government in 1998 and the Foreign Policy Association Medal in New York in June 2004 with the following opening words in the citation for the medal: "A gifted diplomat, a student of history and philosophy, a provocative writer and an intuitive thinker".