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# Summary of a talk by futurist John Naisbitt at an AustCham regional conference
- URL: https://distracted-mind.com/summary-of-a-talk-by-futurist-john-naisbitt-at-an-austcham-regional-conference-www-alanayu-wordpress-com/
- Published: 2010-03-04T09:57:33.000Z
- Updated: 2010-03-04T09:57:33.000Z
- Author: Alan Yu
- Tags: Language & Writing, Miscellaneous, Current affairs, #Migrated-1786285511608, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-09 14:25, #Import 2026-08-13 12:52

[John Naisbitt](http://www.naisbitt.com/?ref=distracted-mind.com) the futurist held a discussion session at the AustCham Regional Conference. The gist of his talk:

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The Western representative democracy model is essentially “horizontal” with two parties slugging it out every few years

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This model has been rendered dysfunctional and inoperative by the information revolution

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An alternative “vertical” model is developing in Asia and China in which an interplay between top-down directions and bottom-up initiatives enables progress

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The “West” doesn’t understand that China and Asia will never accept the rules it imposes on them

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The success of the US lies partly in its ability to replenish the talent pool with immigrants

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Europe is on a path of mutually assured decline

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The “West” needs to seriously consider how to improve conditions in Africa – an impoverished Africa will not be good for the world

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China today is a country with no ideology, but it appreciates that it needs to change its educational system to engender more innovation

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The coming decade will be fantastic for Asia

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Based on the 10 to 1 ratio in direct foreign investment in China vs. India, China’s development will be a lot faster than India’s

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You don’t get results by solving problems, but by exploiting opportunities

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Australia needs to decide whether it is part of the “west” or Asia and act as a bridge between the two

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