Book review of "People of the Pacific Century" by T. Read and M. Goldring, BBC World Service, 1983

Abstract

[Extract] The old world of the Atlantic seaboard is attrophying and the countries of the Pacific rim signal the dynamics of the future. That is the qualified hypothesis underlying People of the Pacific Century, a series of six programmes originally broadcast by the BBC on its domestic Radio 4 and later in the World Service. The first programme begins with former Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, alleging a lack of understanding by Europe of his part of the world whereupon Mary Goldring, the series presenter, informs listeners that the six programmes "attempt to do something about that lack of understanding; to face the real possibility that the world's axis has shifted from the old west centred on the Atlantic to the new world centred on the Pacific." Lest there be doubts of the shift, listeners are told by Singapore's Trade and Industry Minister that the old world looks "tired" and "directionless", by an American aircraft salesman that the former beneficent "Dad" of Europe is "a little senile now" and by a Harvard Business School don that the Japanese believe "Europe is dead" and see the United States as less vigorous now that Japan sells the most and best automobiles. Thus, through the series, does Mary Goldring alternate with the edited contributions of public and not-so-public Pacific people to develop the theme of the first programme, aptly titled "Seeds of Change".