FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 27, 2007
- News Release -
At the dawn of the twentieth century, observers heralded a new era of social progress, seemingly limitless technological advances, and world peace. But within only a few years, the world was perched on the brink of war, revolution, and human misery on an unprecedented scale. Is it possible that today, in the early twenty-first century, we are on the verge of similar, tumultuous times?
In Savage Century: Back to Barbarism, a new book from the Carnegie Endowment, Thérèse Delpech draws parallels between 1905 and 2005 and cautions that the “civilized world” could again miss the warnings and signs that foreshadowed the world wars and inhumanities of the twentieth century. Delpech sees an era of increasing international violence and global lawlessness in today’s world, marked by a West that is increasingly demoralized, discredited, and vulnerable.
The author looks ahead to 2025 and analyzes current tensions that could become the flashpoints of the future—including terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Less obvious potential crises include the failure to integrate Turkey into Europe, massive disorder in Pakistan, rising authoritarianism in Russia, and the rapid and unbalanced rise of India and China. She encourages the West to energetically mobilize to address these problems through strong international engagement.
Delpech urges Europe to act more robustly to challenge authoritarian governments. She also leans toward American perspectives in urging Europeans to pay more attention to rising dangers in Asia, particularly China’s ambitions.
“Political vision can foresee that a policy systematically favoring regimes over the peoples they govern will lead to violent outbreaks for which the price will one day have to be paid,” writes Delpech.
Notes:
- To order this book, go to www.carnegieendowment.org/publications
Feb 2007, 232 pp. Cloth, $27.95, ISBN: 978-0-87003-233-2 - Delpech offers uncommonly eloquent and informed views of potential cooperation between Europe and the United States. She is available for phone or satellite interview from France.
- Thérèse Delpech, one of France’s foremost philosophers on international security, is the director for strategic studies at the Atomic Energy Commission of France and senior research fellow at CERI (Center for International Studies and Research). Delpech studied philosophy and has written six books and numerous articles on defense and strategic issues. She teaches international relations at the Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques in Paris.
- Press Contact: Trent Perrotto, 202/939-2372, tperrotto@ceip.org
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States. Founded in 1910, its work is nonpartisan and dedicated to achieving practical results.
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