Analysis of Khanna's Ideas of Mapping the Future of Countries - Essay Sample

Introduction

In his talk show, Parag Khanna foresees a world where maps and physical boundaries will not matter, but one where a borderless world will be the crucial factor in the economic growth of any part of the world. He further points out that more than ever, the world is breaking up into many different fragments called countries, where he points out there are currently over 200 nations, a number which is higher than any other time in the human history (Brown). However, instead of people thinking of ways to isolate themselves by forming sovereign states, Dr. Khanna suggests a different approach which could be best suited at addressing the economic, social and political problems around the world. Khanna gives an example of a virtual map which he calls Tedstan, in this map, there are no borders, just connected spaces, and unconnected spaces. The connected spaces in the map represent areas that contribute about 90% of the world's economy. The unconnected regions are places which are improperly served on the global stage. The misrepresentation results in wealth gap and thus Khanna suggest that 90% of people born in such areas will never travel beyond their home countries (Khanna). It is such people, who are yet to experience the benefits of globalization, who hold dear the idea of boundaries, nations, and borders, to them such notions matter and they will object the idea of opening up the world.

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To solve the challenges of political geography; it is necessary to ensure that people redistribute themselves around the world. Khanna explains that the idea that isolation is the cause of most of the border conflict, and has resulted in the militarization of trade routes and industrial complexities. His solution is one based on an extensive knowledge of how people, finance, religion, power, and technology could interact to alter the map of the world (Brown). In his analysis he gives several examples to show already how such change is happening, he explores the eastern Eurasia where Russia, Mongolia, and China border each other. From the map, he indicates how the Chinese people are slowly crossing the borders into Mongolia to do the mining and trade; the minerals are then taken back to China where they are processed and later shipped out to other countries. The Chinese are further exploring western parts of Russia, not with the purpose of colonization or invasion, but they are leasing some parts of Russia in what Khanna terms as Chinese globalization. The opening up of borders has in return been beneficial to the Asian countries where radical economic development has occurred in the recent years.

In my opinion, Khanna is right in his analysis. I agree with his idea that the geographical maps are slowly melting away, and instead, a more dynamic borderless world is emerging. For a region to be prosperous and be an economic giant, strategies must be put in place which makes the ease of doing business possible (Khanna). The more the area opens up to the outside world, the more it stands to gain and vice versa. To open our borders; nations must encourage the construction of roads, railways, and pipelines which eases the movement of goods and people from one state to the other. The European Union is used by Khanna to show how powerful countries can become if they choose to work as a single unit. The European Union can be described as the only region in the world that has brought down its borders, and this has amounted to remarkable successes.

The European Union is made up of 28 members' state with more states aspiring to join the most powerful trading block in the world. In its formation years, the architects of the union had the ambitious goal of uniting Europe into a single market, an idea that has paid off in ways they could only have imagined. At the end of the Second World War, Europe's markets begun to experience growth and stability, industries like steel, and coal started uniting the European people both economically and politically. To forge a lasting peace, six nations came together and formed a union that would prevent future conflicts and ensure economic stability in the region. These founding countries included; France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. They signed their first treaty in 1951 in Paris which sought to establish the European coal and steel community (ECSC) ("History of the European Union - European Commission").

It was after the successes of the ECSC that the founders decided to broaden their engagement further and signed another treaty in Rome that sought to strengthen their cooperation in business and trade. They formed the European Economic Community (EEC) which had a sole goal of creating a common market based on free flow of goods and people. The customs duties for the products of the member states were removed, and standard policies which governed agriculture and trade were introduced ("History of the European Union - European Commission"). After much growth, the leaders realized that they further needed to work together as a single unit to create jobs and wealth for their citizens. They created a single market in an agreement that exists until now, called the Single European Act (SEA). Beyond any reasonable doubt, this was their most significant achievement for it paved the way for more competition, higher efficiency, and lower prices.

In the world today, the European Union is an economic powerhouse that has made Europe more connected and integrated than it has ever been. The removal of geographical barriers has enabled the member states to trade, interact and exchange ideas more freely. The EU citizens have the liberty to live, work or even go shopping in any member country that they desire ("History of the European Union - European Commission"). They also have the privilege of enjoying products from all over Europe. The other advantage that the union presents to the member states is that there is the use of a standard currency. The currency has made doing business easier, buying of good simpler and traveling or moving from one country to another possible. It has also fostered a sense of unity and pride among the nations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is true what Dr. Khanna indicates that we should strive to live in a borderless world. For those countries that still cling on to the idea of geographical boundaries, they are walking towards the path of economic chaos. Building infrastructures, connecting cities and technological developments should be the stepping stones to a nation's development agenda. However, the current fears that man harbors regarding changes are the core reason why geographical boundaries are still relevant to people. As the human race, we should overcome such fears and embrace a borderless world where people are encouraged to interact and carry out business freely. Instead of focusing on the lines that define the borders, we should look for those lines that cut across the lines that we call boundaries (Khanna). Doing so will give us the world that we have always wanted, a world where there is economic opportunities, political stability, and lasting peace.

Works Cited

Brown, Gordon. "Wiring a Web for Global Good." TED: Ideas Worth Spreading, www.ted.com/talks/gordon_brown. Accessed 1 May 2018

Khanna, Parag. "Transcript Parag Khanna Maps the Future of Countries." Share and Discover Knowledge on LinkedIn SlideShare, 6 June 2012, www.slideshare.net/desmunddantes/transcript-parag-khanna-maps-the-future-of-countries. Accessed 1 May 2018

"The History of the European Union - European Commission." European Union, 24 Oct. 2017, europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/history_en. Accessed 1 May 2018