NationStates Jolt Archive

According to Harvard's Samuel Huntington the post Cold War era is a world of seven or eight civilizations. Which civilization will dominate the 22nd century:

1. Sinic (China and related cultures, e.g. Vietnam, the Koreas)
2. Japanese (obvious)
3. Hindu (India)
4. Islamic (including the Arab, Turkic, Persian, and Malay cultures)
5. Orthodox (Russia)
6. Western (Europe, North America, possibly Latin America)
7. Latin America (an offspring of Western Culture, Huntington sees it as having evolved along a different path from Europe and North America; more corporatist and authoritarian)
8. African (possibly distinct; much of it Islamic or Western dominated)
9. A combination of two or more civilizations will dominate
10. There will be no civilizations by the 22nd century

I'd say Westernism will spread into other countries. The Sinics will gain some unprecedented power.

I'd say Westernism will spread into other countries. The Sinics will gain some unprecedented power.
Unprecedented? Before Europe's second ride to superpowerdom, China, India and Japan were the world powers. But yeah, the West will remain dominant (this includes Japan), and I think China will join in.

Where's Iraeli? HEBEREW!

Israel is part of Western Civilization.

I'm sure by the 22nd century the world will have moved to a time of a dozen or so large empires. That is if we don't kill each other off first.

How the hell should I know?

Israel is part of Western Civilization.
Really? It's in the Middle-East, so how-so?

I'm sure by the 22nd century the world will have moved to a time of a dozen or so large empires. That is if we don't kill each other off first.
Yeah, I don't see a major world empire/government coming any time soon...more likely we'll have a few major power blocks (Asia, Africa, the Middle East, all of Europe in the EU, all of America in Nafta and a Japanese/Australian alliance).

Really? It's in the Middle-East, so how-so?
It's quite distinct. It has its own culture really, but it has strong influences from the US and even Europe.

Really? It's in the Middle-East, so how-so?

This isn't about geography, but rather culture. Israel, while sharing some ethnic and cultural traits of the surrounding Islamic Civilization, has a social, political, and economic culture that is derived from the West.

Israel was created as a Western idea, buy Western Jews (Theodore Herzl).

This isn't about geography, but rather culture. Israel, while sharing some ethnic and cultural traits of the surrounding Islamic Civilization, has a social, political, and economic culture that is derived from the West.

Israel was created as a Western idea, buy Western Jews (Theodore Herzl).
Quite so. It's more Western than anything else.

Yeah, I don't see a major world empire/government coming any time soon...more likely we'll have a few major power blocks (Asia, Africa, the Middle East, all of Europe in the EU, all of America in Nafta and a Japanese/Australian alliance).

Depending on how technology evolves the 22nd century could see a large increase in terrorism and war in general though as the world fights for what resources there are left given the exploding world population.

Probably some sort of American Union

oh, and Western includes Latin America

Depending on how technology evolves the 22nd century could see a large increase in terrorism and war in general though as the world fights for what resources there are left given the exploding world population.
That is, if population continues to escalate. If the world wealth levels grow as a whole, population growth will slow down. Wars and epidemics might further aid in reducing numbers. I think colonising of other planets will begin to take place by then, such as terraforming Mars.

Latin America, I bet. Or at least a largely Hispanic world. I'll be laughing at the Stormfronters.

Latin America, I bet. Or at least a largely Hispanic world. I'll be laughing at the Stormfronters.
Odd guess. If anything, I'd say China would become a superpower alongside the EU, Japan/Australia and North America.

That is, if population continues to escalate. If the world wealth levels grow as a whole, population growth will slow down. Wars and epidemics might further aid in reducing numbers. I think colonising of other planets will begin to take place by then, such as terraforming Mars.

Sure, eventually we should get into a time when most of Earth's population will actually be living decently but first I fear there will have to be a time of war, famine, disease and general misery before we get to that point. It seems neccessary before humans would ever be able to work together to make any futuristic technology a reality.

Sure, eventually we should get into a time when most of Earth's population will actually be living decently but first I fear there will have to be a time of war, famine, disease and general misery before we get to that point. It seems neccessary before humans would ever be able to work together to make any futuristic technology a reality.
Indeed. Something will have to happen to reduce the global population and increase wealth levels all round. Like you say, I think war and the other three "horsemen" will precede this. Post hoc, ergo propter hoc, the intended result will be brought about.

Well the main threats to civilization right now are religious fundamentalism, american stupidity, and china's economic growth. However china has the problem of pretending to be communist, so it either has to keep wages down - and remain competitive - by oppressing the people, which could lead to a revolution, or it has to abandon this faux communism and pay the people wages in keeping with the countries economic position. either way, the better their economy gets, the harder it will be for them to compete.

Religious fundamentalists; the christian right in america and Islamics in europe and asia, will continue to gain influence, until they represent such a threat they have to be removed, assuming there are enough untainted people left.

and american stupidity goes hand in hand with fundamentalism, so once the mentals are removed, america can be a proper country again and the west will rule. If not, western europe will dominate, and our chums in Japan.

Probably some sort of American Union

oh, and Western includes Latin America

Certainly, Latin America originated from Western Civilization (just as Western Civilization grew out of early Classical Civilizations), however, the argument could be made that Latin America is now a distinct civilization, different from the West of Europe and North America.

Latin America has a larger indigenous population and has developed along a separate political and economic path. It has generally been more corporatist and authoritarian than Euroamerican cultures.

It could be considered either a subgroup of the West or a separate civilization.

The West will continue to dominate as long as we remain smart and always on guard to defend and protect our way of life. If we become laid back we will collapse like the Romans and other past empires.

American and/or possibly another western nation.

Seriously, if Africa would get it's act together they'd rule the world. A unified one-gov't capitalistic African Gov't would be feared...by it's enemies.

The West will continue to dominate as long as we remain smart and always on guard to defend and protect our way of life. If we become laid back we will collapse like the Romans and other past empires.

+1

American and/or possibly another western nation.

Seriously, if Africa would get it's act together they'd rule the world. A unified one-gov't capitalistic African Gov't would be feared...by it's enemies.
China, Japan/Australia and the EU (with Russia). ;)

The West will continue to dominate as long as we remain smart and always on guard to defend and protect our way of life. If we become laid back we will collapse like the Romans and other past empires.
Agreed. Decadence and complacency will be our end.

Orthodox.

Me must learn not to fuck with the Russians.

Mars. The Frontier spirit, uncomplicated by any old territory squabbles (or indiginous peoples,) and equally unburdened by antiquated infrastructure, will innovate new socio-political norms that will take directions few of us alive can even concieve. By the end of the 22nd Century, Mars will be a booming, high-tech nation (or group of nations,) that have a partially well-deserved disdain for the petty and bereaurcratic barbarity of the "Old Worlders" and begin to meddle in the affairs to earth to turn them away from the (percieved,)twin dangers of Neo-Capitalism (South America,) and Nihlistic Social Determinalism (North America, Europe and Japan.)

The Middle East is still an angry shithole, much of it still caused by Religion, foreign influence and force of habit.

Australia, of all the Earth's various regions, emerges relatively unscathed.

Arnold Schwarzenegger remains active in politics. People have stopped wondering out loud how he remains alive. People go missing.

I find the idea of this thread so ridiculous that I will officially vote for Islam to rule the world. The terrorists will defeat us and create a global caliphate, and the only Westerners happy will be from the Southern US because finally someone is dealing with those goshdarn gays.

Latin America has a larger indigenous population and has developed along a separate political and economic path.
Indigenous population averages around 10% in Latin America.

It has generally been more corporatist and authoritarian than Euroamerican cultures.
Euroamerican? You mean corporatist like Italy or Russia, or authoritarian like Spain or Serbia?

It could be considered either a subgroup of the West or a separate civilization.
Pfft! The US or Australia could be considered a subgroup of the West. Latin America is certainly not a separate civilization.

The West will continue to dominate as long as we remain smart and always on guard to defend and protect our way of life. If we become laid back we will collapse like the Romans and other past empires.
The West is not an Empire. And it was the fall or Rome and the creation of all those hundreds of nations that allowed the West to fluorish.

Ukraine!...or Russia. Led by me, who somehow managed to stay alive that long.

Frankly, I see the whole world adopting Western philosophies... there will be very few nations that can be considered non-Western nations in the future, like the religious nations and what not. Westernism is quite powerful and I think it'll invade the whole world.

I see a lot of the powers today consolidating to various extents.

The EU's power and area of influence will continue to rise, possibly incorporating Russia, as the former communist states will have mostly recovered from Soviet rule, and will resemble Western Europe far more than before.

The US won't have the power it has now, but it will be in organizations that will hold a great deal of influence, and they'll likely continue to be a very influential member of those groups. I see the American continents becoming closer as the US starts to lose its Cold War prejudice to socialist governments, and Canada becoming more like the US (and the US more like the rest of the world).

China is harder for me to predict, but I think it'll be much more Westernized by the end of the 21st century (though it will definitely keep a distinct identity). If enough democratization occurs, I could even see an India-China alliance dominating the area.

The Middle East will mean next to nothing in international politics. The Oil Peak will have hit, its effects suffered, and the world adapted (I'm going to guess oil will be replaced, at least temporarily, with nuclear power). The oil market will have considerably less importance, and wars between Middle Eastern states will be seen much like wars between African nations today - business as usual, with no business for us.

Africa will continue to look similar to the way it does now, although more peaceful democracies will continue to emerge.

International relations between the Americas, Europe, and Asia will be fairly more peaceful than now, if not by the social evolution of mankind, then the fear that if they weren't friendly they'd blow the shit out of each other with nukes (assuming nukes are still around. I'm sure the powers will be strong enough without nukes to be deterrents though). Of course, international bodies will become more important, although I can't say if the UN will be the major one or not.

The mass consolidation will be the result of economic globalization, fear (or the result of) nuclear war, and a growing sense of internationalism and humanitarianism. As markets become more international, people will be less likely to go to war because it will be more costly, and having good relations with neighbors will be more beneficial. Consolidating out of fear of war is an obvious one, although, like I said before, nukes may or may not play a part in wars in the future, so this one might be a little less influential in getting nations together. I think that the sense of intense patriotism that people had centuries ago will continue to degrade as people become more disillusioned with war. For the same reason, humanitarianism will become more of a widespread movement and belief (as a mainstream belief, it's actually fairly recent, despite the sentiment being common throughout history).

Maybe a little idealistic, but you have to take into account the gory details of the 21st century that it will take to get there. I can't give a play-by-play, but I think there may be great deal of tension between the US and China before the US steps down from its perceived place as the world's policeman and before China finally democratizes, especially if the CCP panics if they feel they're being taken out of power by Western ideals or if someone influential in the US decides that China is too contrary to the US, and thinks they need straightening out. Then there will be the Oil Peak, which is going to hurt a great deal (creating a need for smaller economies to band together to survive). Global warming will likely be addressed at the same time as the Oil Peak, since I predicted that the Oil Peak will be solved by nuclear power until wer can get more efficient renewable sources. And for the US, there's the long road of reconciling ourselves with the rest of the world. I think that if we want to hold the international influence we do now for a long time, it'll mean we have to play by their rules, not our own.

Frankly, I see the whole world adopting Western philosophies... there will be very few nations that can be considered non-Western nations in the future, like the religious nations and what not. Westernism is quite powerful and I think it'll invade the whole world.

How is that working out so far?

China may be willing to make toy's for McDonald's happy meals, but they show no sign of adopting core Western values, such as representative government, popular soverignty, or belief in individual rights. No Islamic nation shows any indication of embracing Western values. Russia seems to be reverting to authoritarian government.

I think people in the West have fooled themselves into thinking Western civilization is desired by the non-West.

Indigenous population averages around 10% in Latin America.


Euroamerican? You mean corporatist like Italy or Russia, or authoritarian like Spain or Serbia?


Pfft! The US or Australia could be considered a subgroup of the West. Latin America is certainly not a separate civilization.

*

Indigenous peoples make up the majority of the population in Bolivia and Peru, and are a significant element in most other former Spanish colonies (exceptions to this include Argentina and Uruguay). At least three of the Amerindian languages (Quechua in Peru and Bolivia, Aymara also in Bolivia, and Guarani in Paraguay) are recognized along with Spanish as national languages. Mestizos (mixture of European and Indian) officially make up the majority of the populations of Chile (60%), Colombia (58%), Ecuador (65%), Paraguay (95%) and Venezuela (67%). Figures in other countries are Argentina (about 13%), Bolivia (30%), Brazil (about 12%), Uruguay (8%) and Peru (37%).

Can you say this of any North American or European country?

As to corporatist Russia, if you will read the thread I do not include Russia as part of the Western Civilization. I also said that Latin America could be considered a part of Western Civilization, however I believe that it has diverged significantly enough that an argument could be made that it is its own civilization.

Certainly many people of Latin America consider themselves separate.

Japanese. They've got some serious Gundam/Mobile Suit sh*t going on.

Don't expect a sino-indian alliance anytime soon. Its China + Pakistan vs India + sorta russia(I'd expect russia to be with india in any sort of large scale war, if anyone).

I expect, personally, a Euro-indian alliance of sorts, kind of like US-China has right now, except with a little less hatred towards each other. India provides the growingly wealthy populace and Euro has the technology/etc.

Don't expect a sino-indian alliance anytime soon. Its China + Pakistan vs India + sorta russia(I'd expect russia to be with india in any sort of large scale war, if anyone).
Actually, Pakistan is the oddball. Russia, India, and China have been signing a few bilateral and trilateral agreements lately.

Hopefully by the twenty-second centuries, distinctions like this Huntington fellow makes will be mocked as antique.

I'd be very glad if its even Human.

Hopefully by the twenty-second centuries, distinctions like this Huntington fellow makes will be mocked as antique.

Why, because we all will be living in one homogenous world culture. How boring would that be?

Martians!

Why, because we all will be living in one homogenous world culture. How boring would that be?
Peacfully boring.

Why, because we all will be living in one homogenous world culture. How boring would that be?
I think what he meant is that while different cultures will still exist, they will not be a factor in determining world politics. Cultures will simply be cultures, and nothing more.

I think what he meant is that while different cultures will still exist, they will not be a factor in determining world politics. Cultures will simply be cultures, and nothing more.

So what will be the factors or political entities that determine world politics? Nations? Corporations? Religion?

A civilization is the largest identifiable grouping of humans (family, tribe, ethnicity, nationality, civilization). The group that come next would be 'all humanity.' Politics will not disappear, nor will group identity. It is just a matter of what group people will tend to identify with.

How do factors such as a rising population (est. 9-11 billion by 2100), an aging population in the West, global warming, competition for resources (esp. water), etc. impact the various civilizations?

So what will be the factors or political entities that determine world politics? Nations? Corporations? Religion?

A civilization is the largest identifiable grouping of humans (family, tribe, ethnicity, nationality, civilization). The group that come next would be 'all humanity.' Politics will not disappear, nor will group identity. It is just a matter of what group people will tend to identify with.
I...don't know, to be honest. I would hope that humans could eventually come to accept different cultures as just that: different cultures, and therefore not base decisions upon such matters. You are, however, correct on that. What it really depends on is how all of the problems we currently face, from global climate change, to Peak Oil, to religious fundamentalism in many countries, and all the other stuff, are handled.

i bet on israel

It depends on a lot of factors.

Does WWIII occur?
Which nations, if any, emerge from global conflict unscathed (a cold war is a definite future if a hot war does not occur)?
How quickly does mars become populated?
What type of population emerges on mars? (a military population could easily threaten terrestrial security)
Which country advances the most scientifically in future?
Which countries will deal with the problems of dealing with global warming and over-population the best?


Sociology really doesn't have enough tested theories to be able to accurately predict social movements over a century into the future.


With this in mind I foresee global conflict stemming with nations existing in a kind of tentative rivalry for hegemonic dominance. By the 22nd century though hegemonic rivalry will have subsided with a true hegemon having been "chosen." Who this will be depends on the above questions, and there really isn't anything one can say which would be anything more than a guess.


If I had to guess I would say that a martian state would be a likely candidate. Without any terrestrial state control the martian state will be free to develop space based weapons and defensive weapon systems which will allow them to leverage total military dominance over the earth. Earth, reeling after WWIII, will have no choice but to kow-tow to the martian state's demands.

Of course in the long run, the totality of Earth living under a single dictatorial control may be just what the people of earth need to realize that their own security depends in large part on the position and security of their neighbors.

NT

The islamic civilization will be dominant.

Hey! You forgot Oceania!

Think about it. First we had Greece then Italy, Rome, all that. Then it moved slightly westward to France and England, then more westward again to the US.
So following this path, it's obviously going to head west again.
Now most will immediately think, "Ah! China!", but you'd be wrong. There's a bunch of countries inbetween the US and China.

Look again at the countries who have dominated.
Greece. What's the first country west of Greece?
Italy. What's the first country west of Italy?
France. What's the first country west of France?
Great Britain. What's the first country west of Great Britain?
US (Iceland and Greenland don't count, cause they're NORTH-west).
And what's the first country west of the US?

I don't know. Prob Kiribati or Tonga or some little bunch of islands.

Anyway, the point being is that it's obviously their turn to be the dominant civilisation. They'll prob invade America and Asia, when their islands sink below the global warming-induced rising waters.

Which is good news for all. Coconuts, Kava, dancing girls, laidback attitudes and great parties.

I for one am looking fwd to it.

Stick around, peoples. Because China's gonna win it all.

Poland!

Reporter to Gandhi: What do you think of wester civilization?
Gandhi : Western civilization? I think that would be a good idea!:D

Seriously, I dunno about others but I think the Indian civ would survive, simply because it has survived until now and is past its worst phases of external invasions and internal implosions.

Poor Africa. Nobody forsees a world in which Africa becomes a global leader.

Maybe by the 23rd century the motherland will receive its due.

The 21st century will see the eclipse of the West by China. But China's days at the top will be limited - nobody stays top dog forever. India will mount strong challenge to Chinese hegemony by the end of the 21st century, and sometime in the 22nd century, China will be eclipsed by India.

Of course, the planet could very well be ruled by the rats and cockroaches by then, but I prefer to remain optimistic.

Can you say this of any North American or European country?
Europe's indigenous population is almost 100% across the board :)
Is civilization defined by ethnicity?

As to corporatist Russia, if you will read the thread I do not include Russia as part of the Western Civilization.
Way to ignore the comparisions to Spain, Italy, and Serbia. And that's just to name a few.

I also said that Latin America could be considered a part of Western Civilization, however I believe that it has diverged significantly enough that an argument could be made that it is its own civilization.
Sure, cultures diverge over time, but they also converge. Latinamerica still rests firmly in the roots, institutions, and ideas of the West. Little things like religion, individual freedoms, democracy, rights and law over authoritarianism are seen as the major bases of society. Sure, there was a movement towards corporativism and the strong man just like there was in Europe. The reason it had a longer life in Latinamerica was the lack of a world war putting an end to it and the encouragement and support of the USA to keep it going.

The natural trend for Latinamerican countries is to get rid of those schemes just like it happened in Europe and you can see it happening in Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Perú, and Uruguay.

Certainly many people of Latin America consider themselves separate.
From Europe, of course, but not Western civilization.

Actually, Pakistan is the oddball. Russia, India, and China have been signing a few bilateral and trilateral agreements lately.

Doesn't mean much. India and China are enemies. India's military is set for two wars; one with pakistan, and one with China.

I voted Western, which i include Japan in.

The West has ALWAYS had the Global Power, and I don't see ourselves letting go of that any time soon, we're too used to it.

On the surface, China may seem to pose a serious threat to the dominance of the West, but history has shown us that Communism doesn't work. So the Chinese drop communism- eventually there's a Revolution against the Goverment, or they can no longer compete with the drive with the Democratic Capitalism. A new China will become Westernized because thats the the Revolutionaries look to as an example.

And I've a feeling India will become more Westernised, as the West provides the Technology and India provides the workforce.

Africa is eventually sorted out by help from the Developed World, but will never have the same dominance that the rest of the World has.

The Middle East will loose its sway when the Oil tap runs dry, but its going to be pretty messy while it looses it.

I also foresee America loosing its place as the World's Policeman. Now Europe has lifted itself high above the poverty WWII brought it and can protech itself when threatened (plus, no one is really threatening Europe directly), it wont need the USA's help anymore, so will stop backing it

And when the USA looses its significant influence over the Developed Countries in the world, it'll come to resemble a normal power more and more. That will mean the EU will work more closely with America, as it feels it will looking to the USA at an eye to eye level for the first time in nearly a Centuary, which will do wonders for the USA-Euro relationships, hence making the West stronger.

But, there will never be a Mono-Culture. And thank god for that.

I voted Western, which i include Japan in.

The West has ALWAYS had the Global Power, and I don't see ourselves letting go of that any time soon, we're too used to it.

On the surface, China may seem to pose a serious threat to the dominance of the West, but history has shown us that Communism doesn't work. So the Chinese drop communism- eventually there's a Revolution against the Goverment, or they can no longer compete with the drive with the Democratic Capitalism. A new China will become Westernized because thats the the Revolutionaries look to as an example.

And I've a feeling India will become more Westernised, as the West provides the Technology and India provides the workforce.

Africa is eventually sorted out by help from the Developed World, but will never have the same dominance that the rest of the World has.

The Middle East will loose its sway when the Oil tap runs dry, but its going to be pretty messy while it looses it.

I also foresee America loosing its place as the World's Policeman. Now Europe has lifted itself high above the poverty WWII brought it and can protech itself when threatened (plus, no one is really threatening Europe directly), it wont need the USA's help anymore, so will stop backing it

And when the USA looses its significant influence over the Developed Countries in the world, it'll come to resemble a normal power more and more. That will mean the EU will work more closely with America, as it feels it will looking to the USA at an eye to eye level for the first time in nearly a Centuary, which will do wonders for the USA-Euro relationships, hence making the West stronger.

But, there will never be a Mono-Culture. And thank god for that.

China's no longer Communist. Not since the 80's. If there will be a revolution, it will be aganist the authoritarian regime. Though IMHO I don't forsee that happening.

The USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and all of Europe including Russia should form one economic, political and social union.

I have to go for now, and crush a political dissident movement with government organized mobs in my democratic nation.

How dare they ask for democratic political, economic and social rights in my democratic nation.

The newly formed United Federation of Planets (founded 2161 after Earth-Romulan War)

China's no longer Communist. Not since the 80's. If there will be a revolution, it will be aganist the authoritarian regime. Though IMHO I don't forsee that happening.

Thats vaguely what I meant.... It may not be what I said mind.

But, there will never be a Mono-Culture. And thank god for that.
But what about a protoculture? That'd be cool, what with the Zentradi and all that.

I think what we would see in the 22nd Century would be a mish-mash of all of these cultures* - the incredible ease of international travel and the tormentuous history of the 21st Century will have created a stable world-wide federation, the capital of which would probably be based in Africa, to avoid favouring one group.

I say mish-mash deliberately, as the world will not be monocultural - different parts of the world will have distinct cultures and all those cultures would have distinct subcultures - it would be a case of people seeing above cultural distinctions to a wider Human identity.

However, such an identity would probably be inspired by viewing differences in Humanity and Alien civilisation (Aliens however would have quite a significant minor cultural sway on Earth, as it likely that upon making contact different Alien powers would pick a 'pet state' on Earth and enbiggen that state with the wisdom and sway of their culture, hoping that it will inspire that nation to become dominant, and thus the Alien's maintaining a friendly Earth.

Also, being comparitively underdeveloped, we would have outsourced the terraformation of Mars to an Alien power, as they could do it for cheap, as part of the deal the Aliens would likely request a significant portion of the planet's surface, meaning that Mars will probably not be within Humanity's grasp... untill such a time as we feel confident to conquer it...

Anyway, I seem to have drifted into Science Fiction. So let me just finish off by saying a thing Pr Huntington's classification of Latin American culture is a bit silly, he seems to have judged it purely on the outside view of the region's governance - I would wager the impoverished mestizo majority are far from 'corporatist' and 'authoritarian'.

*except Russian, Russia's decline will be permenant, the federatsaya will collapse, China (or a Chinese satallite) will conquer the East, a Western Slavic culture, like Poland's or Ukraine's will dominate the West, and the swampy (they will be swampy when the seas rise) plains of Central Siberia will become a patchwork of Islamic states, (not Islamist, Russian Islamic Thought is much more progressive than anywhere else, and the Russian Orthodox Church).

Reporter to Gandhi: What do you think of wester civilization?
Gandhi : Western civilization? I think that would be a good idea!:D

Seriously, I dunno about others but I think the Indian civ would survive, simply because it has survived until now and is past its worst phases of external invasions and internal implosions.
Hah! I love that quote. I reckon the planets, if colonised will make a big difference to the cultural structure of earth.

Why's everyone counting out south america? Onwards to authoritarian populist pseudo-socialism!

Why, because we all will be living in one homogenous world culture. How boring would that be?
Boring to the point of death. I hope by then suicides are legalised. People can just kill themselves into bliss. :) Nihilism ftw. :rolleyes:

The message board must be dominated by Westerners.

I think the West will continue to dominate the globe for the next 50 to 100 years, but the average age of the Western population will continue to get older (lower birth rate), and the sheer numbers of the Sinic and Indian civilizations, combined with widespread access to technology, seems to indicate a shift in the cultural center of the world.

The United States will continue to dominate, but it will also drag South America along on its' coattails as the caucasian population in the US is replaced by a majority hispanic population (not that that's a bad thing, of course.)

Eastern Asia and the European Union will rule

The twenty-second century isn't so far away. I don't see much of a change from today's world, except that some countries might be usurped by other governments as their governments seek to expand their influence.

The government of the Americas will probably hold a dominant position, in conjunction with the technologically adept Japanese.