Introduction
Chapter 1. Is it Possible to Predict Civilization's Future and, Above All, To Influence its Development?
The problem in brief
The background of the problem
Remember, we are in a glass house
Chaos theory and synergetics
How long do civilizations last?
Chapter 2. Psychology
Mindset
Agressiveness
Group and communal psychology ; The laws of mob psychology
Psychological illness of civilization'
Criminal psychology
Terrorist psychology
Psychology of the victim
Basic instincts and values
Fanaticism
Business psychology; Pyramids of power
Tolerance
Chapter 3. Indoctrination
Some methods of mass indoctrination
Media
Society's resistence
Totalitarianism and democracy
Myths
Education
Chapter 4. Evolution of Civilization
The Initial stage
Brief survey of the development of civilization
Technological and other aspects of the development of world civilization
The postindustrial and information society
Major religions
Ideologies
The evolution of culture
Ethnicities and problems of migration
Demographics
Evolution: achievements and problems
Chapter 5. Conflicts and Terrorism
Conflicts everywhere
Conflict settlement
Social and political conflicts
Ethnic conflicts
International conflicts
The conflict between Western civilization and Islamic fundamentalism
Terrorism and terror in Russia
German terror in World War II
The Cultural Revolution: Terror in China
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The conflict in Chechnya
Terrorism becomes a global problem
Chapter 6. Global Crisis - The Cold War
The Beginning, Scale, and Crises of the Cold War
The Late 20th Century; Military, Economic and Political Crises in the Soviet Union
Chapter 7. Russia,s Politics and Economy: The National Ideas
"Russia, to where are you rushing ? Give an answer. No answer…" (Nikolai Gogol)
So, what do we need? The national idea today
In planning our future, we should have the dynamics of a quickly changing world in mind
It is well known what issues are to be solved. The question is how to solve them
Chapter 8. Changes in the Mindset of Nations; Economic Miracle
Transformation in the Mindset of the Russians mindset in the 20th century
Germany
Japan
Other countries
Failure to modernize Iran
Regularities of modernization processes
Chapter 9. Globalization
The background of globalization
Advantages and disadvantages of globalization
Antiglobalism
Prospects
Chapter 10. The European Union
Difficulties of unification
Steps toward unity
The EU and Russia
Chapter 11. Word Government and the Global Policeman
International organizations in the First and the post- World War I and World War I I periods
The situation at the turn of the 21st century
Movements for world government
The UN and sustainable development
Today: Is the United States the acknowledged leader? How long before its transformation into a world government?
Chapter 12. Weapons
Weapons development and modernization - one of the main goals in human scientce and technology
Weapons of mass destruction
Missiles: the nuclear triad
Other types of weapons
Chapter 13. The Possibilities and Threats of New Technologies
Nanotechnology
Robotics. Artificial intelligence
Genetic engineering
Chapter 14. Environment and Dangers from Without
Asteroidal and other dangers from without
Chapter 15. Crime
Crimes by the states against people
Crimes by one state against another
Crimes by individuals or groups of people
Crimes by officials
Chapter 16. Culture of Security
Chapter 17. Variants of the Future: Inevitable Chaos or Sustainable Development
New humanism
An Ideal scenario of the future; Alternative civilization
Pessimistic scenarios of the future
The future in literature
Predictions for the near future
US National Intelligence Council opinion
Crises in the evolution of life on Earth
Technologies of the near future
Developing space
Longer term forecasts
Chapter 18. Global Projects That May Help Save Civilization
I. Consciousness
Modern technologies allow for a profound impact on consciousness
Principal features of modifying consciousness
II. Disarmament
Disarmament: General considerations
Post-Cold War disarmament
Disarmament in the future
III. Technology
IV. Economics
V. Geopolitics
Conclusion
Final Comments
Appendix. Civilizations in the Universe. A Version.
References
