Another New World Order

This century’s diverse series of threats – from the Y2K computer glitch to terrorist attacks, war, financial meltdowns and environmental degradation – have both raised expectations and eroded faith in government leadership, observes Kevin Lynch for the Globe & Mail. He lists four structural trends driving a new world order: globalization, demographics, the information revolution and climate change. Global financial markets and political debates focus on the four trends, often with fragmented, short-term perspectives, shifting direction with any new development. For now, nations like Canada remain resilient against challenges, applying a long-term outlook to fiscal and population stability, protection of natural resources, agriculture capacity, a secure social safety net, with civility and a non-ideological approach to public policy. Lynch concludes that a risk for Canada and other countries is a political environment with a short-term focus, benefiting few and neglecting to develop “consensus on the broad structural trends that are reshaping our world.” – YaleGlobal