Catarina's World

America's global supremacy is over, according to Brzesinski but he adds that the US still has an extremely important twin role to play. Watch him tell Chrystia Freeland why Vladimir Putin's election will reverse political evolution in Russia and how the US should handle Syria:

Few individuals have had as much influence as Brzezinski when it comes to shaping US global policy and hence the world today. Since Jimmy Carter was president the ideas outlined in his book "The Grand Chessboard" have been like a bible for US administrations.

One nation can no longer dominate the world 

The days when one nation, or even one region could dominate the world the way Rome did 2,000 years ago, the Ottoman empire 500 years ago or the British empire a century ago, are, according to long-time national security expert Zbigniew Brzezinski, over. It's simply no longer possible.  

Americans have to get used to sharing power

"The world is now much more diversified", he says. "There is a new east in Asia and a global population that is awakened politically". "America have to get used to the new world, in which their relative influence may decline"

He firmly believes a strong West is needed as a counterbalance to rising developing nations. The US should, in his opinion act as "promoter and guarantor of a greater and broader West".

Enlarge the sphere of capitalist democratic nations

America should, according to Brezezinski, take a lead in enlarging the sphere of capitalist, democratic nations in North America and Europe by integrating Turkey and Russia. 

Avoid conflicts with China and Iran

Brezezinski believes it is crucial that America understands that it needs to avoid conflicts with China. "We have to accept their economic and political rise and that there is nothing the US can do to stop it".

US role in Asia is, in his opinion, as a "balancer and conciliator between major powers in Asia". America should learn from Britain in the 19th century when it stood aloof from conflicts in Europe and just tried to mediate. Instead of entering into a formal alliance against any major power in Asia i.e. China, Japan, India and South Korea, the US aim should be to mitigate conflict and promote cooperation and conciliation.

Western military action against Iran would in his opinion be seen as external intrusion and a cause for war in the Middle East and should hence be avoided.

Do you agree with Brzezinski that America will no longer be the one and only super power? Should the US take a lead in developing a greater and broader West by integration Russia and Turkey? Should America mediate between Asian powers and avoid military action against Iran? Should the US listen to Turkey and Saudi Arabia when it comes to handling Syria? Or maybe you are of the opinion that he is wrong and America will remain the one and only super power? 

Video: ReutersTV – You Tube