Is the rise of the rest the most important trend of modern times?

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Fareed Zakaria, a prominent political commentator and author, argues that the global landscape is shifting as nations like China, India, and Brazil emerge economically. His work explores the delicate balance between constitutional liberalism and democracy, challenging conventional wisdom on how societies modernize and the role of the United States.

Born in Mumbai in 1964, Fareed Zakaria moved to the United States to study at Yale and later Harvard, where he earned a PhD in government. His career as a journalist and editor has spanned major publications, including Foreign Affairs, Newsweek, and Time. Today, he is widely recognized for his CNN program, Fareed Zakaria GPS, and his columns in The Washington Post. Throughout his career, he has been a polarizing figure, praised for his intellectual range by figures like Henry Kissinger, yet criticized by others who view his analysis as overly aligned with the prevailing consensus of the moment.

Zakaria’s writing often focuses on the distinction between democracy and what he terms 'illiberal democracy.' In his 2003 book, The Future of Freedom, he argues that Western nations established the rule of law and individual liberties long before they adopted universal suffrage. He warns that when countries prioritize popular elections without these foundational protections, they risk creating regimes that are democratic in form but illiberal in practice. His 2008 work, The Post-American World, furthered this analysis by identifying the 'rise of the rest'—the economic ascent of non-Western powers—as the defining trend of the modern era.

His political views are complex and often defy simple categorization. While he has been labeled a liberal, a conservative, and a radical centrist, Zakaria maintains that he avoids ideological labels to focus on objective analysis. This approach has led to both acclaim and controversy, including allegations of plagiarism in 2012 and 2014. Despite these incidents, he remains a significant voice in international relations, advocating for secular, dynamic societies and criticizing what he describes as fear-based American policies. His work continues to examine how the United States can navigate a world where its influence is no longer singular, but shared among an increasingly competitive global community.

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