ifda dossier 74 - Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation

Is global civilization coming?
The pace of political change, over the last few years, is taking everyone,
even shrewd observers, by surprise. Who, four years ago, would have
imagined glasnosf, pcreslroika and their consequences'? This is but a
word of caution: we may entertain cmticipdtions - but we may not forget
that is discontinuity which, more often than not, begets the future. And
we always seem to be at a crossroad: which way may eet us closer to the
preferred future, which one may make it even less likely? Still, moments
like the one we are living are rare in history. Transition? Mutation?
Kaims? Experience taught us prudence. Yet, it would be unwise not to
take advantage of this moment to try and figure out some signposts of
a not entirely impossible future.
* This paper by IFDA 'S president may be read in connexion with the previous one,
The new detente, by IFDA Council's co-chairperson, Ra~ni Kothtiri (pp.39-50). It
was written at the end of 1988 at she request of fins Sltartna, the editor of India
International Centre Quarterly for an issue on Futures (Vol 15 & 16, Nos 4 A 1,
S~I~I-I~ 1989). Tins double issue also includes papers by Hems Singer ("When pursuit
of surplus ends"), Jaycmt V. Nnrlikar, lid of the Theoretical Astrophysics group at
the Tata Institute of I~'i~n(11ztnental Research ("Creativity, society and science"),
Narindar Sin$, the author of The Political Economy of Ecology (L.ondon: Bdew
Publishing, 1989), Kamn Sin@ ("Crisis of the split psyche"), Pratap Chandra
("Ascent to humanism"), &or Bestuzhev-Laila, co-chairman of tlie USSR Committee
for Future Studies ("Socialism in the 21st century"), Paul Gregorios, Metropolitan
of Delhi and President of the World Council of Churches, Mahesh N. Buch, the
urban planner of Bhopal ("Rise of predator cities"), Nathan Glazer of Harvard
Univefiitj; Heni-\'k Skolitnowski, an associate editor of The Ecologist ("World-views
and values for the future"), Kfimlii C/;on,11/1)? ("Growth or siinival?"), Sima Sluirina
("A silence of meaning - Information: a challenge to communication") as well as
two [FDA Committee's members, Inga Thorsson ("Â¥Th sword still IumgY) and
Ipacy Saclis ("1n1,enting a immune future"). (40 Max Mucller Marg, New Delhi
110 003, India).