+ - Report predicts IT in 2030: A world of cyborgs with Asia as top power-> 1
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colinneagle
colinneagle writes "Yesterday the National Intelligence Council (NIC), which is made up of 17 U.S. government intelligence agencies, released the 140-page report Global Trends 2030 (GT2030) Alternate Worlds. In all four of the alternative visions of the future, U.S. influence declines and it may be regarded more as a "first among equals." By 2030, the West will be in decline and Asia will wield more overall global power than the U.S. and Europe combined. "China alone will probably have the largest economy, surpassing that of the United States a few years before 2030," the report states.
'Megatrends' include an overall reduction of poverty and the "growth of a global middle class." NIC also sees a potential world of scarcities as the demand for food and water increase as the world's population swells from 7.1 billion to 8.3 billion people. Advances in health technologies will help people live longer, but 60% of the world's population is expected to live in an urban environment. Technological breakthroughs will be needed to meet the world's food, water and energy demands.
"Without completely disengaging, the U.S. no longer tries to play 'global policeman' on every security threat," the report states. However, that collapse or sudden retreat of U.S. power could lead to global anarchy, according to "Potential Black Swans that would cause the greatest disruptive impact.""
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'Megatrends' include an overall reduction of poverty and the "growth of a global middle class." NIC also sees a potential world of scarcities as the demand for food and water increase as the world's population swells from 7.1 billion to 8.3 billion people. Advances in health technologies will help people live longer, but 60% of the world's population is expected to live in an urban environment. Technological breakthroughs will be needed to meet the world's food, water and energy demands.
"Without completely disengaging, the U.S. no longer tries to play 'global policeman' on every security threat," the report states. However, that collapse or sudden retreat of U.S. power could lead to global anarchy, according to "Potential Black Swans that would cause the greatest disruptive impact.""
Link to Original Source
Time to start learning Chinese... (Score:1)