Globalization in the twenty-first century in quest of a new paradigm

Abstract

The historical significance of the tragedy on September 11 in 2001 may well be compared to the tragedy of June 28 in 1914 - the assassination in Sarajevo. Both tragedies closed two symbolic chapters of world history, i.e. that of the nineteenth century liberalism [1815-1914) and that of twentieth century nee-liberalism (1991- 200 l). The view that September l l , 200 l opened a new chapter in global histo­ry has found full confirmation in the poll of 275 opinion leaders conducted by the International Herald Tribune and the Pew Research Centre for People and Press. The phenomenon of global terrorism should be interpreted as a consequence of two failings in the last decade of the twentieth century. The first failing was the absence of a grand strategic vision for ordering the global stage after the col­lapse of the Soviet Empire. The second failing of the last decade of the twentieth century was the almost total disappearance of concern for the tragic plight of societies around the globe that led to polarization between rich and poor.