I enjoyed this debate about imperialism and why there’s a move towards a multipolar world – both touchy subjects but Justin Podur and Sam Gindin discussed it with such civility. Far too many of our conversations about geopolitics are rage inducing. We need more grounded debates like this.

Both have really good points. I agree with what Sam said about China’s contradictions and South Africa’s rampant corruption that could factor in to their growth.

That said, I lean more towards Justin because I’m not particularly enamoured with Sam’s proposition that capitalism is a force for good. Justin explains that countries backed into a corner will do what it needs to survive America’s viselike grip on the world politics and economy.

Sam’s assertion that China don’t have capacity to be a world no.1 is flawed because China doesn’t really want to be the world’s police or even replace the US. Probably wants to be richer and more powerful, and make the world more diversified and multipolar, but no.1? It’ll get in the way of their ambitions. This is a common flawed (and Western) assumption of China.