Every Nation for Itself

Winners and Losers in a G-Zero World

By: Ian Bremmer

Narrated by: Willis Sparks

Forget the G-7 and the G-20; we are entering a leaderless "G- Zero" era- with profound implications for every country and corporation. The world power structure is facing a vacuum at the top. With the unifying urgency of the financial crisis behind us, the diverse political and economic values of the G-20 are curtailing the world's most powerful governments' ability to mediate growing global challenges. There is no viable alternative group to take its place.

The United States lacks the resources and the political will to continue as the primary provider of global public goods. China has no interest in accepting the burdens of international leadership. Europe is occupied with saving the eurozone, and Japan is tied down with its own problems. Emerging powers such as Brazil, India, and Russia are too focused on domestic development to welcome new responsibilities abroad.

The result is a G-Zero world in which no single country or bloc has the political or economic leverage-or the desire-to drive a truly international agenda. Ian Bremmer explains how this will lead to extended and intensified conflict over vitally important issues, such as international economic coordination, financial regulatory reform, trade policy, and climate change. We are facing a time of profound uncertainty. Bremmer shows who will benefit, who will suffer, and why this increased state of conflict is both inevitable and unsustainable.

©2012 Ian Bremmer (P)2012 Gildan Media, LLC

Critic reviews

“Ian Bremmer combines shrewd analysis with colorful storytelling to reveal the risks and opportunities in a world without leadership. This is a fascinating and important audiobook.” (Fareed Zakaria, author of The Post-American World)

It is tough to be an adult

It is tough to be an adult because adults live in grey areas...there is no black and no white, everything is in-between. The future is not bleak and future is not rosy, but the future is very complicated. This is a serious book that examines the new and old world order with different lenses. Certainly not for the faint at heart, but we are adults afterall, it's just we may not want to make adult decisions right now, so we'll pay for it later.

Excellent look forward into the future world

Ian Bremmer has given an excellent analysis of where the world stands today; and an insightful look into the future weighing the pros and cons of a G8, G2, G0, and a multilateral possible world. If his analysis proves true, G0, it is not a great outlook.

Well articulated and thought provoking

I stumbled on to this author (and the book) via the Planet Money podcast, I really enjoyed the podcast so followed up with the book.

Loved the book, insightful, rational and very listenable. Take a listen to the podcast on NPR Planet Money if you are unsure.

the world is flat as applied to nations

Bremmer lays out how difficult it can be to tackle the big issues, when nations don't have common interests.