Development trends: Difference between revisions

#A feeling of uncertainty can be expected to grow, caused by psychological and physical threats. Although the majority of the world will grow richer, globalisation will shatter existing relationships greatly. Enormous economic, cultural and eventually political tensions will thus be generated. The transition will not be painless, and it will affect the middle classes in developed countries predominantly. The combined action of weak governments, failing economies, religious extremism, and growing young population may result in internal conflicts in certain regions. The likelihood of conflict between superpowers is smaller than at any point during the last century, however.

#It seems that the next fifteen years will see no change in international terrorism. Other, similar extremist groups can be expected to replace Al-Qaida. The most pressing question is whether the terrorists can acquire biological or, less likely, nuclear weapons, which could lead to massive death tolls. Four trends of possible futures are then based on these trends.