Nyjing

Shehab proposed that Beijing is on its way to becoming the world's new New York.  Between old New York and new New York, he asks, where is today's New York?

New York became what it is because of the large number of immigrants (some very skilled) who descended upon it since the late 1800s, and also because of the amassed wealth of such people as Rockefeller, Carnegie, Guggenheim, Frick, and so on.

Sure, this process is not going on at the same rate.  But there is still a lot of wealth in New York.  The immigrants may be declining in (relative) skill; but they are still coming.

Indeed, New York elected its best mayor for generations.  Most New Yorkers I met have excellent words to say of Mayor Bloomberg.  He is seen as highly efficient, optimistic and gentlemanly.  He is not in it for the money (clearly).

There is this theory that once something is agreed-on to be exceptional, it is in decline.  Once everyone acknowledges something as great, it is probably past its peak.  Once a discovery has been made public, it is old news. 

At the same time The Beatles had become the world's greatest band, the Rolling Stones were producing the new wave of rock n roll.  Just as the Romans seemed to have conquered all, Hannibal's army marched its way to Rome itself.  No sooner was Islamdom's wealth showcased in Baghdad than Genghis Khan razed it to the ground.

So, I guess, New York is definitely old hat.

But is it?  The Rolling Stones never eclipsed The Beatles.  Rome repelled Hannibal's army slowly but surely until it defeated him ten years later.  Islamdom later subdued the Genghis army and absorbed it. 

Is it really over for New York?

The rise of the US was aided very much by the fact that the previous superpower was the UK.  In many places around the world, the UK literally handed over to the US.  There was no change in the dominant world language or processes; simply a wealthier, laid-back cousin to the Brits had taken over.  But a change from the US to China will involve a lot of transformation.

When people talk so much about the rise of China and India, I have to ask whether we are going through the same cycle that the USA went through back in the eighties.  Back then, it was The Japs.  How many books were written in praise of the Japanese way?  It seemed they had beaten and overtaken the US in everything it held dear.  I realise there is a big difference today: China has muscle and steel behind its great economic success; Japan did not.  This is probably going to be the determining factor: will China use its muscle?

In every respect, Beijing cannot beat New York: the diversity, the huge wealth, the sense of optimism, the freedom, the land-of-dreams-come-true factor, the refuge factor, ... ?

And yet, I recognise the sentiment behind the original question: the old New York has faded.  It is no longer as inspiring as it used to be.