The Bird's Eye View

The world is now a global, multi-state system -- China, India, Russia and others are rivaling the U.S. for moral, economic, and military power

An unprecedented shift in wealth from West to East is occurring and will continue

Terrorism is unlikely to disappear within the next 10 to 20 years due to global economic disparity

State capitalism is likely to remain the leading form of government in the East -- state having the dominate role in economics and business

Asia, Africa, and Latin America will account for virtually all population growth over the next 20 years -- <3% of the growth in the West

Resource issues will gain prominence on the international agenda -- water, energy, and food

Demand for food will rise by ~50% by 2030 -- in the longer term Africa will become the breadbasket of the world

Current green technologies are inadequate for replacing the existing energy architecture -- new technologies are unlikely to be commercially viable and widespread by 2025

Global extreme weather is a done deed -- the only remaining questions are when and how much

The middle class is rising -- 135 million people escaped dire poverty between 1999 and 2004, more than the population of Japan

Major discontinuities and shocks will continue throughout the world -- nuclear proliferation, nuclear accidents, pandemics, financial crises, terrorism