Global Trends 2015: A Dialogue About the Future With Nongovernmental Experts

Abstract

Over the past 15 months, the National Intelligence Council (NIC), in close collaboration with US Government specialists and a wide range of experts outside the government, has worked to identify major drivers and trends that will shape the world of 2015. The key drivers identified are: (1) Demographics. (2) Natural resources and environment. (3) Science and technology. (4) The global economy and globalization. (5) National and international governance. (6) Future conflict. (7) The role of the United States. in examining these drivers, several points should be kept in mind: No single driver or trend will dominate the global future in 2015. Each driver will have varying impacts in different regions and countries. The drivers are not necessarily mutually reinforcing; in some cases, they will work at cross-purposes. Taken together, these drivers and trends intersect to create an integrated picture of the world of 2015, about which we can make projections with varying degrees of confidence and identify some troubling uncertainties of strategic importance to the United States. Global Trends, 2015 provides a flexible framework to discuss and debate the future. The methodology is used for our purposes, although admittedly inexact for the social scientist. Our purpose is to rise above short-term, tactical considerations and provide a longer-term, strategic perspective.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADA410021

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Climate Change
  • Demography
  • Economic Development
  • Employment
  • Globalization
  • Greenhouse Effect
  • Health Services
  • Information Systems
  • International Organizations
  • International Trade
  • Materials Science
  • Medical Personnel
  • National Governments
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Political Systems
  • Treaties

Readers

  • Economics
  • Strategic Security Studies