Transitions in a globalising world

Research output: Book/ReportBookAcademic

Abstract

"The Earth System may be the most complex entity that ever emerged in our galaxy, and the contemporary process of "globalisation" may be the most intricate dynamics that will ever pervade that entity: it is the interactive co-evolution of millions of technological, cultural, economical, social and environmental trends at all conceivable spatiotemporal scales that brings about the present fundamental transformation of humanity's way of life." "The authors of this book make the effort to tame the terrifying complexity of modern planetary development by the intellectual concept of "transition". The basic idea is that the global changes unfolding now can be perceived as an entangled family of transitions between qualitatively distinct mega-states of crucial compartments of the Earth System. The task of the analyst is to identify the potential states accessible from the initial ones, to describe the pertinent boundary conditions for transition through fundamental scenarios, and to make at least weak predictions about the likely outcomes. If executed properly, as in this book, the whole exercise is capable of producing a concise "short story of globalisation" that exhibits considerable anticipatory power. This approach encompasses the notion of "transition management" in the sense of mild but purposeful guard-railing of the globalisation process through multiple forms of governance." "In this book the transition concept is used for examining current and future tensions between welfare, well-being and the environment at a global scale. Four major issues are addressed that are of global importance: developments related to two of our key natural resources, water and biodiversity; the health of human populations; and the developments related to global tourism."--Jacket
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationLisse [Netherlands]
PublisherSwets & Zeitlinger
Number of pages134
ISBN (Print)9789026519215, 9026519214
Publication statusPublished - 2002

Publication series

SeriesIntegrated assessment studies
Volume1
ISSN1569-299X

Keywords

  • Duurzame ontwikkeling
  • Globalization
  • Sozialer Wandel
  • Gesundheitsschutz
  • Human ecology
  • Globalisierung
  • Sustainable development
  • Umwelt
  • Nachhaltige Entwicklung
  • Artenreichtum
  • Internationalisatie
  • Gezondheidseffecten
  • Tourismus
  • Social change

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