财富精英励志演讲 第146期:未来的路(21)

 Why should the United States initiate¹ changes in a system of which it had been the main beneficiary? Because the system cannot survive in its present form and the United States has more to lose if it is not in the forefront of reforming it. America lost a lot of power and influence during the Bush presidency². Without far-sighted leadership, the relative position of the United States is likely to continue eroding³. The United States is still in a position to lead the world. It can no longer impose its will on orders, as the Bush administration sought to do, but it could lead a cooperative effort which involve not only the developed but also the developing world. This would reestablish American leadership in an acceptable form.

既然是原体系主要受益者，美国为什么要发起变革呢？因为该体系以目前的形式根本不可能存在下去。如果美国不走在改革的前沿，损失可能会更大。在布什任总统期间，美国在国力和国际影响力方面已经失去很多。如果没有远见卓识的领导，美国的处境很可能每况愈下。美国仍在引领世界的发展，但不再是像布什政府所追求的那样按照自己的意愿进造秩序，而是领导各国共同努力，不仅包括发达国家也包括发展中国家。这么做美国就可以以一种可接受的方式重塑其主导地位。

Why should China submit to a new multilateral system in view of the fact that it is set to emerge as the winner from the current turmoil⁴? The answer is equally simple. In order to continue rising it must make itself acceptable to the rest of the world. That means that it must move towards a more open society, combining an increased measure of individual freedom with the rule of law. Given the current military power relations, China can continue rising only in a peaceful environment where the rest of the world willingly accepts rise of China.

中国既然能在目前动荡环境中以一个贏家的姿态出现，为什么它还要倡导一种全新的多边体制呢？答案同样很简单。为了更进一步的崛起，中国必须让自己能为世界所接受。这就意味着它必须向一个更加开放的社会发展，用法制措施保障更多的人权自由。在目前的军事力量格局之中，中国只有在和平的环境中才能崛起。也只有这样，世界各国才会乐于接受它的崛起。

It is even more important for the sake of a peaceful world that the United States should find its proper place in a new world order. A declining superpower losing both political and economic dominance but still preserving military supremacy⁵ dangerous mix.

为了一个和平的世界，美国在新的世界秩序中找准自己的位置显得尤为重要。一个日益衰落的超级大国，尽管丧失了政治、经济优势，但是依然保持军事霸权地位，这是一件很危险的事。

1 initiate   

vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入

参考例句：

• A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。
• They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。

2 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

3 eroding   

侵蚀，腐蚀( erode的现在分词 )； 逐渐毁坏，削弱，损害

参考例句：

• The coast is slowly eroding. 海岸正慢慢地被侵蚀。
• Another new development is eroding the age-old stereotype of the male warrior. 另一个新现象是，久已形成的男人皆武士的形象正逐渐消失。

4 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

5 supremacy   

n.至上；至高权力

参考例句：

• No one could challenge her supremacy in gymnastics.她是最优秀的体操运动员，无人能胜过她。
• Theoretically,she holds supremacy as the head of the state.从理论上说，她作为国家的最高元首拥有至高无上的权力。