NationStates Jolt Archive

I've seen several threads imagining unrealistic war situations (Britain vs. U.S.). Realistically, what kind of governing system do you see dominating the world a century from now?


One world government
Corporate oligarchy (end of nations)
Several “civilization” power centers (West, Muslim, Sinic, Indian, etc.)
Bi-polar world (West vs. East)
Anarchy
Uni-polar world dominated by U.S.A.
Multinational system of a hundred or more nations
End of humanity (war, global warming, rapture, alien invasion, etc.)
Other

I guess the reason I chose Corporate Oligarchy is that we seem to be working on adopting that system right now.

I've seen several threads imagining unrealistic war situations (Britain vs. U.S.). Realistically, what kind of governing system do you see dominating the world a century from now?


One world government
Corporate oligarchy (end of nations)
Several “civilization” power centers (West, Muslim, Sinic, Indian, etc.)
Bi-polar world (West vs. East)
Anarchy
Uni-polar world dominated by U.S.A.
Multinational system of a hundred or more nations
End of humanity (war, global warming, rapture, alien invasion, etc.)
Other



hate to say it...but i will rule!


is that satisfactory?

i am benevolent,and kind.

Too early to call.

"Corporate oligarchy" is a possibility; so are "one world government" and "anarchy" (in both the "chaos" sense and the "stateless political organization" sense, though the former is more likely.) Bipolar or unipolar worlds seem highly unlikely to me, but regional integration will definitely be a trend.

To be honest, I think that a single world government is rather unlikely. I think that the corporate oligarchy is certainly a possibility, although the state will probably keep puttering along devoid of actual power if this were to happen.

I put down the multinational system, myself. Many countries (in Asia especially) are moving towards more economic development and (as such) more power.

Fairly similar to today, but with far fewer barriers to trade and more regional/continental cooperation like that seen in the EU. The world will be a lot more interconnected, open, and interdependent than it is now but the concept of the nation-state will not be dead in 2106. A world government will likely be the outcome of permanent expansion to other planets and satellites, so it will likely take several centuries to become reality.

How will space colonization lead to world government? (I'm honestly curious, not just arguing.)

The 3 big things that I would like to see in the next 100 years (and I think they will happen):

1) the end of nationaliam and patriotism - people will realise their loyalty is to the planet, not arbitrary borders;
2) free movement of goods and people; and
3) democtratization of the UN including re-structuring of the general assembly and the security council, along with universal suffrage to elect the members of each.

Wouldn't it be nice, eh?

I'm predicting that although the total number of states would have shrunk, but a wide variety would still exist.

Europe - There will no longer be any ethnic majorities in Europe. An Anarchistic system would have emerged from the ruins of Federal Europe (following some kind of Age War) and the environmentally-bankrupt nations of West Africa (forming a sturdy workforce, but permanently changing European culture).

By T+100Y, the idealism of a classless society would have diminished and Europe will be being quickly being reclaimed by neo-Imperiums, states that glorify hierarchy and place leadership in a contained colony of the Best and Brightest in a magnificent Central City, examples would be the Imperium Pontiana (focused around the Red Sea and Arabia, capital: Istanbul), and the Fourth Reich of Mitteliszlande (in modern-day Poland and Germany, capital: the Rhine-Ruhr megapolis).

Asia - Russia is dead, its miniscule descendent is the Gumkhuryat of Muscovy. Its eastern half was part of the super-federation Triasia (jap: Sanasia, man: San1Ya2Zhou4, hin: Tainashia) consisting originally of Japan, China and India, but at its height spanning half of Asia. Although the federation is weakening now, most states within it are politically identical, and have significant minorities from the neighbouring nations.

Notable exceptions are Tibet, a Buddhist theocracy where the Lamas have supreme authority. The Second Islamic Republic of Iran, now much bigger, and more liberal. And a bundle of states than seceded from Anarchist Europe in its dying days in Southeast Asia.

Australia - Australia's water-scarce climate and extensive flatland made it perfect for Alien colonisation. After a dead-even referendum as to whether New Zealand should join the Alien colony, the South Island seceded and joined, while the North Island restyled itself the Republic of Maoria. When the Aliens left Australia, Maoria reclaimed South Island.

Africa - Of all the continents, Africa is still the most patchworked. A mass of successor states remain from the rises and falls of numerous 'empires', both internal and external. A new system of tribe-based Federalism is beginning to take hold amongst people tired of living in unrepresentative states.

Antarctica - A number of urbations exist along the coastline, although, as Global Warming recedes, and a new natural Ice Age encroaches, these may soon be abandoned.

South America - South America was the other Continent to be colonised by Aliens, this time not for its alien environment, but its uniquely human one. The Amazon is made a priority by the Alien government (a separate one from Australia's), Alien technology prevents the rainforest from decertifying and scientific expeditions discover many medicines for both aliens and man.

However, the Aliens have by this time withdrawn, and a neo-Imperium has taken control of the continent. Neo-Imperiums in the Americas are founded upon the romantic notions of native culture. The new South American state calls itself the Inca Imperium, and while the arts and architectures seek to replicate the ancient civilisation, techniques in War and Industry remain as modern as what was left behind by the Aliens.

North America - North America suffered the same Age War as Europe, but with a different outcome. Corporations and rich individuals had gained the right to own private armies in the USA. These same bodies agreed that they would solve the problems of pensions, social security and unemployment... at the cost of virtual serfdom. Corporatocracy was achieved and the US Army was privatised. In the years that followed American Warlords conquered Canada and everything North of Panama. A successful incursion was made into the Russian Far East, but that was repelled after two decades and American Warlords were contained from all sides (except for 'up', and Americans make up the majority of extraterrestrial humans - American armies are placed onto alien worlds and engage in conquest there).

However, an eruption of the Yellowstone volcanic field creates ecological disaster. The American people are not warned, and are thus killed in massive numbers, the rule of the Warlords is over, and new states begin to take shape. The Republic of New England, Quebec, Nunavut and Deseret are some of the states to spring from the ashes, but the main player in the Aztec Imperium, a puppet state of the Inca which is able to claim almost all of North America unopposed, but is ultimately unable to protect the land.

Finally, a nation of Mandarin-speaking Russian Far-Easterners/American Alaskans/and Mongolians settles along the Pacific Coast of North America from Alaska to California.

The world will be a lot more interconnected, open, and interdependent than it is now but the concept of the nation-state will not be dead in 2106.

The "concept," sure. But how will the nation-state model maintain its efficacy in a world where multinational corporations and international institutions dominate policy? We're already seeing trouble for countries pursuing divergent paths, and in an interconnected, global economy, that's pretty much what is to be expected. If those trends continue - and you and I agree that they will - then we can expect that effect to grow stronger as well.

Now, personally, I have no problem with the decay of the nation-state model, I just think it should have a sane replacement. And that's where my second objection comes into play:

A world government will likely be the outcome of permanent expansion to other planets and satellites, so it will likely take several centuries to become reality.

But in the mean time, what will fill the vacuum created by the decay of the nation-state? That question is, I think, going to be the primary question of the next hundred years, and the answers should be interesting.

How will space colonization lead to world government? (I'm honestly curious, not just arguing.)

The idea is that when people on Earth can identify a cultural 'them' as being on another planet, they are more inclined to view the people of their planet as a cultural 'us'.

There's no evidence of this of course, except for reproductions on smaller scales, for example the Gallic tribes only started viewing themselves as a nation in contrast to the Romans. And Native Americans, having once been as disperate and warring as any populace can be, now view each other as sharing a common goal and history in comparison to the settling North Americans.

The "concept," sure. But how will the nation-state model maintain its efficacy in a world where multinational corporations and international institutions dominate policy? We're already seeing trouble for countries pursuing divergent paths, and in an interconnected, global economy, that's pretty much what is to be expected. If those trends continue - and you and I agree that they will - then we can expect that effect to grow stronger as well.

It won't maintain its efficiency. However, it's been the trend throughout history that many models have outlived their most efficient period and were only destroyed once the decline reached a terminal level. The nation-states will likely collapse or be absorbed in to larger blocs due to the pressure of the world economy. Whether that dissolution is largely peaceful or violent will depend on what exactly pushes the nations in to the terminal phase.

Now, personally, I have no problem with the decay of the nation-state model, I just think it should have a sane replacement. And that's where my second objection comes into play: But in the mean time, what will fill the vacuum created by the decay of the nation-state? That question is, I think, going to be the primary question of the next hundred years, and the answers should be interesting.

Well, hopefully it will be a collection of regional or continental blocs whose constituent states decide on policy on an international basis as a means of transitioning to a global model. Of course, it's also possible that the nation-states will be bought by various interests and ruled by oligarchs, be they corporate, military, religious or any other group.

How will space colonization lead to world government? (I'm honestly curious, not just arguing.)

The sheer economic, military, and cultural demands of maintaining multiple planets and their satellites will require a higher level of government than the nation; international cooperation is already the norm on most space missions today so it is likely that any colonization effort would require an even greater organization in order to prevent the colonies from turning in to an imperialist battlefield for the nations on Earth.

I'm puzzled by the assumption often made that a unified Earth (or other term for world government) will lead to better government. To me, it seems like, even supposing it were to come about, it would be just as corrupt - maybe more - than the nation-states of today. It would also be more prone to rebellion/discontent, the "Government doesn't care about me, doesn't even know I exist" syndrome.

That's a little off-topic though. In a hundred years, I see essentially the same model we have today, although I predict (at least within 200) a civil war or secession in the US, leading either to a splintered collection of nations like older Europe, or to a true imperial government which would be able to challenge/compete with the real power base - Asia.

Asia has the manpower to be influential now, and in a hundred years they'll have more than caught up in technology. China or India will probably emerge as the Asian superpower (with the other right behind), unless they come to blows, in which case a smaller country like Japan or Pakistan, or a Middle Eastern country, will have time to develop the technology to hold effective power. (Kind of like Israel, only bigger.)

Africa will probably have come to some prominence, and be a home to second class powers, and Europe will have faded a little, but its nations will also be in the class with Europe. If the EU lasts/develops, it will be able to stay right behind Asia in terms of influence. Russia will keep being Russia. Ditto Australia/New Zealand - they'll probably stay more or less the same, but develop a little more economic power.

The UN will either implode under accusations of corruption and too many controversial wars, or evolve into little more than a bargaining table where people pretend to try to keep the peace while looking for an occasion to start the next great war.

Culturally, I don't see too much of a change. I suspect that there will come to be divisions and alliances based on various semi-strict theological/moral lines - Islam vs a still "Christian" part of the west vs Western rationalists & Eastern philosophical systems. But we'll still be human. The US will finally be playing soccer, but the rules will have changed to allow tackling semi-football-style, but the object is the ball: if you can not grab the ball and control it, it's an illegal/dangerous tackle, and the other team gets a kick. Players will be wearing helmets.

Uh... those are some of my ideas. *g*

I don't think there will be any huge changes. We'll still have multiple nations much like we do now. The USA will still be a major player, though maybe not as dominant as we are now. Europe will either become a serious competitor to the US, or fragment into a bunch of unimportant nations. Asia will probably be a great power, dominated by China, India, Russia, and Japan, which will argue among themselves. Africa will probably still be a bunch of 3rd-world countries.

I've seen several threads imagining unrealistic war situations (Britain vs. U.S.). Realistically, what kind of governing system do you see dominating the world a century from now?


One world government
Corporate oligarchy (end of nations)
Several “civilization” power centers (West, Muslim, Sinic, Indian, etc.)
Bi-polar world (West vs. East)
Anarchy
Uni-polar world dominated by U.S.A.
Multinational system of a hundred or more nations
End of humanity (war, global warming, rapture, alien invasion, etc.)
Other

I voted for "Several “civilization” power centers (West, Muslim, Sinic, Indian, etc.)" because it seems to be trending that way already. Three, perhaps four, regional power centers: The EU, the Chinese, and India/Austrailia/USA/GB, with perhaps another power center clustered around Brazil and South America ( although that's considerably more if'y ).

I've seen several threads imagining unrealistic war situations (Britain vs. U.S.). Realistically, what kind of governing system do you see dominating the world a century from now?


One world government
Corporate oligarchy (end of nations)
Several “civilization” power centers (West, Muslim, Sinic, Indian, etc.)
Bi-polar world (West vs. East)
Anarchy
Uni-polar world dominated by U.S.A.
Multinational system of a hundred or more nations
End of humanity (war, global warming, rapture, alien invasion, etc.)
Other

I voted for "Several “civilization” power centers (West, Muslim, Sinic, Indian, etc.)" because it seems to be trending that way already. Three, perhaps four, regional power centers: The EU, the Chinese, and India/Japan/Austrailia/USA/GB, with perhaps another power center clustered around Brazil and South America ( although that's considerably more if'y ).

100 years is really not that long of a time.

You will get an indication of how the world will be in the next 100 years by looking at how things have changed over the last 100 years – which is… not much.

Globalization is actually just now coming back to where it was in the nineteenth century. We do not live in a free market world – certainly not in comparison to 1850. Europe has become more economically integrated, but other than that, the world is only recovering from the economic protectionism that arose at the end of that century.

Some European nations will become more tightly integrated, but some (France) will have to be drug kicking and screaming into freer borders and markets.

Africa… well no change there. Still a bunch of backward thugs in grass skits chucking spears at each other while their villages fall down around them.

East Asia will become focused on China – the ‘co-prosperity sphere’ will have a strong influence, but not yet imperial domination.

India will become an economic powerhouse and take its place as a major world leader.

South America will be much the same – while some countries strive for advancement, others will follow the Cuban route and stagnate.

North America (the US) will continue to decline as more and more bureaucracy and social programs eat up the federal budget.

The middle east will still be a source of tension, but of less importance as oil will no longer be so vital and outside sources will be well developed.

All in all – the major changes in the world will not be political.
Technological and social changes will be phenomenal – but politics wont change much. Barring world war 3 of course - then all bets are off.

<-------Not in my lifetime.


:)

I suppose it is a sign of optimism that only 10% of those polled believe humanity will come to an end within the next 100 years.

Where's the "I'm not sure, but I'll do what I can with my life to make the world a better place." option? :cool:

I don't believe the strength of nationalism is going to decrease. In fact, I believe the calls for autonomy from many peoples in different areas of the world for will gain support. I also think that Globalization will grow as technology brings distant people in increasing contact. So, I kind of picture a mix of "Multinational system of a hundred or more nations" with "Corporate oligarchy". This would lessen the effects of a "Bi-polar world (West vs. East)" or "Uni-polar world dominated by U.S.A."

By 2106, the world will be dominated by islam.

I voted for "Several “civilization” power centers (West, Muslim, Sinic, Indian, etc.)" because it seems to be trending that way already. Three, perhaps four, regional power centers: The EU, the Chinese, and India/Austrailia/USA/GB, with perhaps another power center clustered around Brazil and South America ( although that's considerably more if'y ).

Spot on!

Players will be wearing helmets.

*snipsky*

Wuss :P

Seriously, when you where helmets the whole world just thinks you're pussies. Over in Europe we play games that are much tougher than American games (rugby for example, but also a game of my own invention which involves restraining one's limbs and exchanging blows with eachother's skulls, it's called head-boxing, its pretty fun), and we would still never thinking of wearing anything more than a shinpad.

<snip>

What are you talking about? The World changed completely over the past 100 years, it has been the fastest pace of change ever and to a 1906er today's world would be completely unrecognisable!

In 1906 the majority of the World was governed by a European Empire, today Woodrow "KKK" Wilson's vision of National Determinism is held as sacrosanct throughout the entire Earth, and the one remaining 'Empire' (Japan) is not even permitted to own an army.

The 20th Century saw the rise of the ideology-state, completely adding a brand new theory of political governance. The Communist and Fascist governments moulded brand new cultures both within and without of their spheres.

Man can, and does, live in Space. We can travel faster than sound. I am able to berate your lack of historical understanding all the way from Old Blighty instantaneously. Industrialised nations are no longer a minority, East China looks like something from a Buck Rogers comic, and we as a species are shortly to become majority urbane.

Change is rapid, unpredictable, and unavoidable. In fact, the single most unlikely prediction for the future would be that it stays the same.

Unipolar world dominated by Swilatia.

Multinational system - humanity is too greedy to ever unite into a world government.

What are you talking about? The World changed completely over the past 100 years, it has been the fastest pace of change ever and to a 1906er today's world would be completely unrecognisable!

In 1906 the majority of the World was governed by a European Empire, today Woodrow "KKK" Wilson's vision of National Determinism is held as sacrosanct throughout the entire Earth, and the one remaining 'Empire' (Japan) is not even permitted to own an army.

The 20th Century saw the rise of the ideology-state, completely adding a brand new theory of political governance. The Communist and Fascist governments moulded brand new cultures both within and without of their spheres.

Man can, and does, live in Space. We can travel faster than sound. I am able to berate your lack of historical understanding all the way from Old Blighty instantaneously. Industrialised nations are no longer a minority, East China looks like something from a Buck Rogers comic, and we as a species are shortly to become majority urbane.

Change is rapid, unpredictable, and unavoidable. In fact, the single most unlikely prediction for the future would be that it stays the same.

About empires, say what? There are still several empires around - Russia and China for starters - but Japan could hardly be considered one, unless you want to make the (barely reasonable) argument for Okinawa's being a colony. And if you make that claim several states with remainant colonies will get included - the UK, the US, Denmark, and France, to name a few.

And as for Japan's not being "permited" to "own" an army or military, please, please, pretty please, try and make this argument. I need a good workout of inundating silly people who have NO idea what they're on about with hordes of information - it'd be a pleasure to heap information on Japan's modern military forces (including official Japanese government websites) until you you vomit.... ;)

As for the rest, you have a point about the change of speed, but you're over rating it. You also have a point (implied) about the incresaed standards of living, but that's been an ongoing trend for well over 100 years.

Hmmmm, in 100 years the world will be ALOT different- Half of it will be under water.

Multinational system - humanity is too greedy to ever unite into a world government.It works both ways.

Centralised government is cheaper & easier to deal with for corporations. Multinationalism is not business friendly. The expenses of currency conversion alone, are staggering.

Of course, a world government could also be terribly dangerous for corporate capitalism, because such an institution could effectively control it - a thing no government in the world today can do in any meaningful way.

Greed can be very constructive, if controlled. It might give rise to a new era of slavery if not.

To be honest though, I think institutionalised ignorance is a greater obstacle for a unified Earth. Over the last 15 years, there's been an explosive rise in xenophobia & religious fascisms, across the globe. It almost feels like a backlash against science, logic & humanism, especially considering that these tendencies are far stronger in the modern democracies & the nations closely connected to them (like the Muslim countries, for example).

It's hard to tell where things might be a century from now; a lot can happen. But based on the current state of things, I would imagine something like this;

Corporations will continue to increase in power and prominence, but this rise will not go unchecked. People will tend to respond in a couple of ways;

a) The idea of the 'Nation-State' will not disapear, but people will continue to utilize legislation to protect their interests, most likely by banding similar nations in 'blocs'. Unless we see a significant change in the way energy is produced and consumed, the truly global economy will not continue the way it has been, as the cost to trade internationally will not be as lucrative as trading locally; another reason to see a rise of trading 'blocs'.

b) In addition to regional national interests, I believe we're going to see a rise in international consumer organizations. Rather than fighting the rise of corporatism by creating large socialist 'unions' (for lack of a better word), people will join organizations out to get them a better deal. This is already relevant on a smaller scale, where businesses will bend over backwards to keep large accounts. In our growing capitalist world, the ability for consumers to bargain en masse will be more persuasive then the voice of workers to bargain collectively; espescially as we see technology changing the needs for production.

Of course, this all depends on whether or not the established order continues the way it has been. I believe that, with some checks and balances, it can work. However, the possibility of war on a massive scale, or some as yet unknown technological innovation could change all of that.

Okay, here we go.

First, China will expand into Mongolia, and other bordering nations.

Fidel Castro will be killed by an unknown gunman or gunmen. Conspiracy theories abound, but US denies all responsiblities.

US sends marines to Cuba to install a pro-US government.

US and UK send forces to Iran when they refuse to cease nuclear research. Rapidly becomes a bloody mess.

Other stuff happens...

In the end, we've got the US breaking up into the ASA or Allied States of America, we've got China in economic collapse, we've got an UN sponsored invasion of North Korea, resulting in increased wartime powers of the UN. We've got Russia using economic warfare through natural gas and oil to ensure itself at the top of the power vaccum created by the US and China collapsing.

Russia breaks from the UN, resulting in WWIII. Incredibly, no nuclear war breaks out, but chemical and biological weaponry reduce large parts of Europe and Russia to uninhabitable wasteland. In the end, WWIII degrades into a Cold War, with the bipolar opposition of the UN and Russia. Oh, and Greenland becomes prime real estate due to global warming.

We'll stick with the system we have right now. Africa will unfortunately keep up the constant fighting and the names on the map will change every few years. Western Europe will continue on its march toward socialism. China will continue to push ahead (with technology they got from the Russians). Life will be grand (or at least as good as it gets now) and business as usual. World Governments are something you only find in bad fiction.

Western Europe will continue on its march toward socialism.

What "march toward socialism"?

I will rule everything.

Wuss :P

Seriously, when you where helmets the whole world just thinks you're pussies. Over in Europe we play games that are much tougher than American games (rugby for example, but also a game of my own invention which involves restraining one's limbs and exchanging blows with eachother's skulls, it's called head-boxing, its pretty fun), and we would still never thinking of wearing anything more than a shinpad.

I was kidding about the rule changes in the first place. I play soccer (well, played... and still do when I have time), I don't want no stinkin' helmets! But I was predicting... *shrug*

What "march toward socialism"?
Western Europe is left of center by US standards. Everybody gets a cookie cutter home in a cramped city, taxes tend to be higher (though not always), guns are banned, some drugs are legal (I have nothing against this as I'm a libertarian), artists who rely on government aid, no true free speech, etc. Canada is getting there too. See the "knee in the groin thread" for what I mean.

Government everywhere needs to stop the micromanagement. You'd be suprised what taxes pay for these days in almost any big and powerful nation.

I see the Anti-Christ rising up to power when the Lord calls his people to him. With him running the world, he will sign a 7 year peace treaty with Israel and 7 years later, he will be defeated by the Lord Savior Jesus and the 1000 year Reign of the Lord will commence.

I wish. At least that wouldn't be boring as hell. Because the future will be boring as hell. We'll have to create conflicts and make up fake problems just to keep busy. We do it a little already.

I see the Anti-Christ rising up to power when the Lord calls his people to him. With him running the world, he will sign a 7 year peace treaty with Israel and 7 years later, he will be defeated by the Lord Savior Jesus and the 1000 year Reign of the Lord will commence.

No, because Jesus is dead and he has been for almost 2000 years.

No, because Jesus is dead and he has been for almost 2000 years.

Christ Has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

Christ Has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

Christ died. I'm sorry he and his followers have tricked you to believe the latter two statements, but it simply didn't happen, and it won't happen.

Christ died. I'm sorry he and his followers have tricked you to believe the latter two statements, but it simply didn't happen, and it won't happen.

Oh but it will happen Haradwaich. It will happen.

Confederal monarchist minarchism in Europe (which I will institute...this includes all European states, such as Russia), a theocratic corporate oligarchy in the US and China, fascism in Latin America and anarchy in Africa. ^^

No no no! Zombies will overrun the world, while pockets of humans will exist in colonies away from these beasts. Eventually they'll die off and humanity will have to start over in some areas. :sniper: :mp5:

Christ died. I'm sorry he and his followers have tricked you to believe the latter two statements, but it simply didn't happen, and it won't happen.

Let me guess, you believe that christainity is evil and the Da Vinci Code is the secret to all our problems? :rolleyes:

Oh but it will happen Haradwaich. It will happen.

No it won't. And when it doesn't, I will be there laughing at you.

Let me guess, you believe that christainity is evil and the Da Vinci Code is the secret to all our problems? :rolleyes:

No, I understand the Da Vinci code is completely made up.
Just as the Bible is.
I'm sorry that my opinion differs from the Christian norm, no, wait I'm not sorry.

I just can't see "The Revelations" happening in a literal sense...Maybe metaphorically, with the U.S. defending Israel from terrorists and leading the way to world peace by crushing the terrorists, but definitely not a literal "Christ will reign as King and blahblahblah"...

Anyway, I think it's impossible to predict what will happen more than 30 years into the future, so 100 is way too far...I still see U.S. dominating 30 years from now, but after that, who can know? I still hope it's us, though. ;)

I think that, while it won't quite be a World Government it will be very close.

EU will have elimiated all nations within it's "empire".
AU will be very closely allied to EU, as it will not be able to function on it's own.
USA will have taken on even more of a presence in the still-free nations, or it will have dissintigrated in much the same way the Roman Empire did.
East Asia will be one of the few places were independent nations still rule; Asia will be the new USA and the main Economic powerhouse.

You can already see this trend beginning now, especially with the EU.

I see the Anti-Christ rising up to power when the Lord calls his people to him. With him running the world, he will sign a 7 year peace treaty with Israel and 7 years later, he will be defeated by the Lord Savior Jesus and the 1000 year Reign of the Lord will commence.

This whole rapture business of the thousand year reign of Jesus is not even part of traditional Christianity.

It was started in the 19th century by an Englishman (or Irishman, I forget, but he moved to the U.S.) named Darby. The idea is called Dipensationalism. The movement posits a restoration of traditional elements of Judaism, so Dispensationalist Christians tend to be big supporters of Israel as a prerequisite to the "End Times."

Really, it is more of a modern Christian cult than part of the mainstream, but it has become very influential in the United States, especially with the popularity of the Left Behind novels.

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][SIZE="3"][COLOR="DarkGreen"]This whole rapture business of the thousand year reign of Jesus is not even part of traditional Christianity.

Dies of laughter. Sorry my friend but you are sadly mistaken for even Jesus himself talked about him coming back. Not to mention the 2nd coming prophecies throughout both the old and new testiments of the Holy Book.

Oh and the Left Behind series is based on BIBLICAL PROPHECY. Most notably the book of Revelations which was written by the apostle John.

Dies of laughter. Sorry my friend but you are sadly mistaken for even Jesus himself talked about him coming back. Not to mention the 2nd coming prophecies throughout both the old and new testiments of the Holy Book.

I'm not talking about resurrection, which of course, goes back to the first centuries of Christianity. I am talking about this idea of a thousand year reign of Christ. There is a difference between belief in the "rapture" and the second coming of Christ. The rapture is the idea that all Christians will be taken from earth by Jesus Christ into heaven and there will be a period of time where non-Christians will still be left on earth before Christ arrives to set up his earthly kingdom.

You should learn a little more about the ideas you believe. Remember the great pagan, Socrates? "The unexamined life is not worth living."

I'm not talking about resurrection, which of course, goes back to the first centuries of Christianity. I am talking about this idea of a thousand year reign of Christ. There is a difference between belief in the "rapture" and the second coming of Christ. The rapture is the idea that all Christians will be taken from earth by Jesus Christ into heaven and there will be a period of time where non-Christians will still be left on earth before Christ arrives to set up his earthly kingdom.

You should learn a little more about the ideas you believe. Remember the great pagan, Socrates? "The unexamined life is not worth living."


you forgot one thing! The book of revelations also talks about the 1000 year reign of the Lord.

[Laughing] Oh, dude. You're ridin' it, dude! Check it out!
Crush from Finding Nemo

Opensource government. You log in to nationstates, check your votes and stuff and so forth. Plugins for taxation, service agreements, legal systems, credit handling, you name it. Dust off your copy of Machiavellis greatest hits, every man shall be a Prince.

I really hope for one world government but that won't happen for a nother 300 years at least or if we get attacked by aliens. (hey it could happen)

I really hope for one world government but that won't happen for a nother 300 years at least or if we get attacked by aliens. (hey it could happen)
I'm really hoping that never happens. I'd prefer the aliens. :)

Federation of Planets! ;)

No it won't. And when it doesn't, I will be there laughing at you.

Sorry, you'll never get to laugh because it is impossible to prove a negative.

To be honest, I doubt there would be any change in so little a space of time as 100 years. For there to be a rise in a single, world government, it would require the end of the superpowers - the USA, the UK, Russia, China and France (the UNSC permanent members) - as organised nations, with perhaps the remnants of the USA taking control of the UN and re-organising it into a government for the entire world.

Although, if you think about it, that is what we already have, the UN is the "world government" that has some influence on all its members.

If any proper world government were to arise, I think it would be a federal institution, with each nation having its own autonomy and national identity, just being part of something much bigger. I think that for any world government to arise federalism would be the only solution - it would be extremely difficult to rule all 6.5 billion of the world's population (predicted to rise to nearly 9 billion by 2050) by one unitary government, and control the global economy, etc.

I doubt that there will be any difference in world government in 2100 to what there is today, as, whilst the UN is sometimes ineffective, it does help to solve the problems in our world.

Hmmmm, in 100 years the world will be ALOT different- Half of it will be under water.
Huh??

More than half the earth iis already underwater.

hehe

....

No jesus is not coming back. Space aliens will probably leave us alone because of our backwardness (unless they plan to use us for either slavery or snackfood). Global warming will surprise everyone by actually being true and devastating. The U.N. will gain greater power and military capabilities to try and end increasingly violent conflicts between african states the so called civilised world has given weapons to. The E.U. will become a more powerful form of supra-national government, causing many people in different older E.U. countries to suddenly feel the need for mindless nationalism. This might lead to a rightwing-revival in Europe, with potential for international violence. On the other hand, it could be that (as I hope) there will remain a certain background of socialist thought inside the sphere of European politics.

Oil will become as scarce as three-legged lesbian giraffes, leading to an international fuel crisis. Unless there really are other options somehow magically implementable the moment there is no more black gold. There will be a collective of hackers who will try and crash one or more of the world´s stock-market-servers, creating world wide economic and political chaos. There will be an increase in terrorist violence leading ultimately in some countries to the installation of a kind of timocracy or dictator´s rule.

English will become the second language of three-quarters of the world. South-America will become a threat to U.S. security because of socialist revolutionaries who gain control of countries will unite against their enemy. The drug war will continue unabated while more and more people will use the drugs prescribed to them by "licensed" physicians. The drug preferably used will resemble soma.

There will be another Bush president, Fidel Castro will explode while reading his paper on the toilet. Fundamentalist christians will gain ever more ground in the U.S., as a counterweight to Islam. Creationism will be taught obligatory in all classes up from kindergarten. Britney Spears will die in labour while in Namibia, there will be an assasination attempt on Kofi Annan and the next Pope.

Assuming America is not consumed by the religious right, I imagine there will be the west much as it is now, China, and Islam. Tri-polar. i would like to see the african nations work together and become more influential, but tinpot dictators will probably continue to pillage their own countries for short term gain.

well there will be some sort of world government.
nothing nearly so all powerful as those who oppose the concept fear.
national soverignties WILL for the most part be a lot 'weaker',
but they won't be replaced by corprotocracy, that too will have run it's course.
and there could be a big dieback of human population, due to starvation and disease, in turn, due to many factors, among them so called global warming, which is to say signifigant chainges in weather paterns and other environmental factors, possibly wars as well, though these are unlikely to be the major roll in it.

indeed if humanity doesn't voluntarily decrease its numbers through attrition by lowering birthrates accross the board without bias of any kind, nature, one way or the other, eventualy will.

its carrying capacity of its cycles of renewal may be great and quite flexible, but are highly unlikely to prove infinite.

beyond that the details are, well "always in motion is the future".

it is quite possible in a hundred years people will be too bussy surviving to give a dam about idiology. at least for a while anyway.

untill the collision between the irresistable force of human expansion and the immovable object of nature's limitations of it's abilities to support our continued existence has come and gone.

of course it may take more then a hundred years for this to come about. or just as easily a mere few decades or even years.

how this world govenment will come about i'm not sure.

it may be a matter of the rest of the world having to unite to defend itself against the depravations of the u.s.

or simply a mater of nutritional survival.

again this is an always in motion is the future kind of thing and depends on many many factors.

it could come about by everyone becoming baha'i's, but this i somehow doubt. or siekhs. or even tibetan budhists.

diversity is though the nature of reality and i expect that to remain the case.

if anything, i rather suspect a very major majority of people everywhere will have become thoroughly disgusted with all currently dominant forms main stem of western monotheism, particulary christianity and quite possibly islam as well.

with a realistic agnosticism actualy becoming dominant, something resembling phylosophical taoism, and or the resurgance of indiginous traditions being comming in second, and possibly baha'i, or something like it, rounding out third, christerism and islam having been religated to VERY minor rolls.

obviously this last won't happen if anyone tries to force it to. we say that in the old soviet russia, what happens when anyone does, as well as in the history of all faiths as well.

but i do believe a lot of people in places where it would be and certainly appears to be inconcievable, will face and quite possibly succumb to, starvation.

or could if we keep doing a couple of things that may not seem right now directly connected to that, specificly the relieance upon combustion to generate energy and propell transportation.

a hundred years from now the most great peace may be just starting to emerge from a world bearing some slight resemblence to that of mad max.

or then again nothing might ever get that dramatic at all, beyond trends chainging direction.

finite oil, realities of global weather pattern chainge, and of the consiquences of economic systems premeditatedly noncognizent of natural diversity underlying all of tangable organic life, all have an inescapable roll in the unfoldment of life over the next century.

more so then any actual beliefs or idiologies themselves.

we may even see something replace money, the way money replaced land, land replaced cattle and cattle replaced skill at the hunt.

i'm not saying what. it probably WON'T be 'marxism' but it could be something like creative craftsmanship. you know, the ability to immagine creatively and the skill to make what is immagined real.

=^^=
.../\...

i'm not saying what. it probably WON'T be 'marxism' but it could be something like creative craftsmanship. you know, the ability to immagine creatively and the skill to make what is immagined real..

Actually, you are very correct. An emerging trend in the economy is an emphasis on innovation and creativity rather than the ability to follow directions, hit growth targets, or meet deadlines. The jobs of the 21st century and beyond will be far more centered on creativity and applied innovation than they are today, whether that innovation takes the form of new medicines, machines, stock-trading strategies or anything else.

It won't replace money, but it will change our concept of the economy. At present, the measures of economic health do not accurately take in to account growth in the intellectual property/information technology sectors, understating it by an increasingly large amount. By the end of the century, it is possible that physical goods and services will be a minor part of the economy just like manufacturing is today. Ideas will be the currency of the 22nd century economy.

The Lord Savior is coming back and we must all be prepared for his arrival. Accept the Lord and repent your sins and enjoy the riches of His Kingdom when he returns.

The Lord Savior is coming back and we must all be prepared for his arrival. Accept the Lord and repent your sins and enjoy the riches of His Kingdom when he returns.
Screw the kingdom, I just want that chat over lunch and coffee he promised. You'd have thought with all eternity at his fingertips, pencilling in a cafe break wouldn't be too difficult, but nooo, Jesus is ever so busy these days. :rolleyes:

Government could be vastly different in 100 years, or it could be exactly the same. It all depends on what our generation make of it, really. I reckon we could make something radically new and groundbreaking if we wanted to; it's just a question of gathering enough interest.

Are you kidding man? I just had lunch with him not two days ago. He's really free, now that everyone's turning damn atheist.