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America is exciting and savage, Europe civilized and beautiful, Asia is finding its way, at tension between individuals and community.

New ideas for governance and economic management may come equally from the East as from the West - beyond Europe, from the likes of Singapore or Taiwan.

The West is pushing countries like Turkey and Russia eastward, towards China.

Countries in Asia have a plan and direction. The West has to get its houses in order.

Ultimately, no one in Asia can be an enemy of China and survive.

India

India feels like it is going places, with renewed energy.

The India/China bridge is Buddhism 

The India/West bridge is Sufism 

India prizes the  personal experience, the journey: spirituality experienced in life, not just beyond

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West: reach out (to the stars)

India: reach within (to the soul, the heart)

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India is a melting pot, much more than China. Adaptable, flexible.

India: chips AND yoga

Hinduism: open-source religion

India: government as a service is its Achilles heel

Singapore

Democracy has made it harder to resolve social struggles and make reforms, compared to semi-authoritarian governments that act as service organizations, like Singapore.

Indonesia

Indonesian last names are often reinvented or created, with differing ones even between siblings, shaping lives and culture.

In Indonesia, even when you are tough, you do it with a smile.

Turkey

As symbolized by Istanbul being both in Europe and in Asia, Turkey is culturally conflicted between East and West. Ultimately, the choice is democracy with separation and balance of powers vs. autocracy, or a delicate mix: secular vs. religious.

There is a chance that Turkey will open its politics to a more democratic future. The West should support this possibility and its agents of change while considering its profound non-western cultural roots. If the West had treated Iran and Russia with respect during their transitions, as opposed to acting as patronizing winners, those nations could have been allies. The same may also apply to Saudi Arabia today.

Turkey, like many other countries, will have to choose to ally either with the West or with Asia (where China will dominate). For it to be with the West, Europe and America will need to make an effort.

Japan

Japan is a study in contradictions

Japan is in the ultimate analog mindset: interested in the felt experience. Its culture is relational; its dense space and homogeneous population means everything is local. There, even the spiritual is physical. Nature, arranged by humans or not, reflects reality: from majestic Mount Fuji to ephemeral cherry blossoms to zen gardens that convey notions of time and space. Japanese technology is embodied, from robots to games. There is an emphasis on an economy of means which prioritizes quality over quantity. The dedication to perfection is both elevating and constricting. It strives for harmony in the midst of life's chaos. This may be a reason why Japan maintains its traditions, shielding itself from foreign influence.

North Korea

North Korea, as a non-consumer society, cut off from the world, has to be entirely inward-looking and focus just on its citizens. Therefore, one feels an incredible sense of community - where the community is the entire country. It's people have to spend time with each other as their main occupation and get along.

Hong Kong

We could have said: Hong Kong don’t push your luck and China don’t push your luck. Now, both have lost.