The next decade ahead

The second half the 20th century was much better than its first half - no world war and living standards rose for many people with big developing countries particularly China.

The first decade of this century has seen some surprises - the 9/11 event and its wake: the Afghanistan and Iraq wars are still going on now; the financial and economic crisis that still has not ended especially in the North Atlantic quarters by now. All in all, not a particularly good start for this century.

Who knows what will be the next decade in store. But we will see and experience it, bit by bit.

It appears that global changes are likely to continue. They include:

economic power shift to the east;

climate change and human actions to counter it, successful or in vein;

the relative decline of American power and emerging of multi-polar powers;

further globalisation and the evolution of world orders;

more rapid technological changes, some may be frightening.