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Millennium; Winners and Losers in the Coming Order
A look at the future world order forecasts a dramatic reordering of geopolitical and economic forces, high-tech economies, and a world of privileged elites surrounded by a vast array of impoverished nomads.
The president of the new European Bank of Reconstruction and Development predicts that Europe and a Japan-led Asian trading bloc will emerge as the world's cultural and economic megapowers. Atali--who also is an advisor to France's President Mitterand--claims that America will wane in influence as third world tensions explode.
The president of the new European Bank of Reconstruction and Development predicts that Europe and a Japan-led Asian trading bloc will emerge as the world's cultural and economic megapowers. Atali--who also is an advisor to France's President Mitterand--claims that America will wane in influence as third world tensions explode.
- GenresPolitics
105 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
1 person is currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Jacques Attali
178 books196 followersJacques Attali is a French economist and scholar. From 1981 to 1991, he was an advisor to President François Mitterrand. He subsequently cast doubt on Mitterrand's past as a mid-level Vichy government functionary in his retrospective of Mitterrand's career, C'était François Mitterrand, published in 2005.
In April 1991 he became the first President of the London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the financial institution established by western governments to assist the countries of eastern and central Europe and the former Soviet Union in their transition to democratic market economies. He worked at the bank until 1993.
In 1998 Attali founded the French non-profit organization PlaNet Finance which focuses on microfinance.
Attali is perhaps best known in America as the author of Noise: The Political Economy of Music.
In April 1991 he became the first President of the London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the financial institution established by western governments to assist the countries of eastern and central Europe and the former Soviet Union in their transition to democratic market economies. He worked at the bank until 1993.
In 1998 Attali founded the French non-profit organization PlaNet Finance which focuses on microfinance.
Attali is perhaps best known in America as the author of Noise: The Political Economy of Music.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 17, 2021
This is an amazing book that's been sadly forgotten. It's stunning how much Attali got right and how little known he is in the U.S. He is a ruly important thinker who saw in the early 90s where the 2000s would take us. We have yet to heed his warning to build truly global institutions to answer global concerns and we perilously ignore his advice to reclaim something of the secred in a world awash with choice.
June 8, 2020
It's a very interesting book. It was written in 90's and a lot of predictions there had come true. Internet, gene engineering, the destruction of nature, global population growth explosion. There are also some major mistakes. Jacques thought that unified Europe and Japan will present challenge to USA power, but instead its China and coming up Russia that are gaining strength.
Otherwise interesting book as to read from the perspective of a call to a one world order that will not be created artificially but will come about organically ( doesn't seem so now, does it? ).
At the end though, he says that we should be afraid - since all that technology creates a lot of problems we are not solving - overpopulation, trash, destruction of nature and submergence of humans and computers into one.
Otherwise interesting book as to read from the perspective of a call to a one world order that will not be created artificially but will come about organically ( doesn't seem so now, does it? ).
At the end though, he says that we should be afraid - since all that technology creates a lot of problems we are not solving - overpopulation, trash, destruction of nature and submergence of humans and computers into one.
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November 18, 2023It is an old book at this point. Although some predictions of the writer proved to be spectacularly wrong, some deductions were really good and still valid.
“After all, it was the popular allure of the democratic consumer society, not the official threat of nuclear annihilation, that critically undermine the legitimacy of the Soviet block regime among their own people. The values of liberal pluralism, and the promise of market prosperity have been joined in a consensus that now unites peoples all over the globe. “
“The great paradox of a global consumer democracy is that the right to pleasure and happiness, the right to choice in the present, may well be a toxic elixir we are forcing our children to drink. If man, the marginal parasite, turns the earth into a dead artifact, the dream of material pleasure will have murdered life itself. In order to survive the triumph of our secular ideals, we need a new definition of the sacred.”
“After all, it was the popular allure of the democratic consumer society, not the official threat of nuclear annihilation, that critically undermine the legitimacy of the Soviet block regime among their own people. The values of liberal pluralism, and the promise of market prosperity have been joined in a consensus that now unites peoples all over the globe. “
“The great paradox of a global consumer democracy is that the right to pleasure and happiness, the right to choice in the present, may well be a toxic elixir we are forcing our children to drink. If man, the marginal parasite, turns the earth into a dead artifact, the dream of material pleasure will have murdered life itself. In order to survive the triumph of our secular ideals, we need a new definition of the sacred.”
March 20, 2024
I picked up this book after a brief encounter with Jacques last month.
It is as if he has come from the future, somehow he predicted exactly what is going to happen in 2000 with great details in 1990.
“The wristwatch will be the perfect nomadic object… it can contain telephone numbers, addresses, a calculator. It can measure humidity and atmospheric temperature. It can include an electronic calendar and store innumerable bits of personal information, identification papers, cultural preferences. It is the link to multiple exterior networks, as well as a medicine dispenser. It is also a coveted item of nomadic clothing, an artificial limb, an ornament, the jewelry of nomadic man. One day, when sound is digitized, it will obey voice commands”
It is as if he has come from the future, somehow he predicted exactly what is going to happen in 2000 with great details in 1990.
“The wristwatch will be the perfect nomadic object… it can contain telephone numbers, addresses, a calculator. It can measure humidity and atmospheric temperature. It can include an electronic calendar and store innumerable bits of personal information, identification papers, cultural preferences. It is the link to multiple exterior networks, as well as a medicine dispenser. It is also a coveted item of nomadic clothing, an artificial limb, an ornament, the jewelry of nomadic man. One day, when sound is digitized, it will obey voice commands”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2024
Jacques Attali's *Millennium: Winners and Losers in the Coming World Order* (originally published in French as *Lignes d'horizons* in 1990) is a sweeping and provocative analysis of the economic, social, and political transformations likely to shape the 21st century. Attali, a French economist, intellectual, and former advisor to President François Mitterrand, combines a wide-ranging historical perspective with speculative foresight to examine the trajectory of globalization, technological development, and the shifting centers of power in the global system.
Attali’s work is distinguished by its interdisciplinary approach, as he draws on history, economics, politics, and sociology to outline three stages of globalization: "the capitalist order," "the market order," and "the planetary order." According to Attali, the first two stages—rooted in industrial capitalism and the rise of nation-states—will give way to a more complex, transnational system marked by an interdependence of markets, cultures, and political institutions. He identifies key drivers of this transformation, including technological innovation, the growing mobility of capital, and the increasing influence of non-state actors.
One of the strengths of *Millennium* is Attali's lucid treatment of global historical patterns and his ability to synthesize the forces shaping international relations. His analysis is framed by a cyclical understanding of history, where global orders emerge, stabilize, and eventually collapse, only to be replaced by new paradigms. This allows him to address the potential for instability within the international system, especially with regard to the unequal distribution of power and wealth. Attali emphasizes that the coming global order will likely produce both winners and losers—hence the title of the book—and warns of the dangers posed by uncontrolled economic growth, environmental degradation, and rising social inequalities.
Attali’s predictions, while often insightful, tend to oscillate between optimism and alarmism. On the one hand, he foresees the promise of technological advances that will democratize access to information, improve living standards, and foster global cooperation. On the other hand, he issues stark warnings about the dark side of globalization, including the marginalization of entire regions, the exacerbation of poverty in developing countries, and the possibility of conflict between wealthy "techno-elites" and impoverished masses. He frequently returns to the concept of a bifurcated future—one that could either lead to greater human solidarity or to deepening divisions and widespread unrest.
Where the book falters is in its predictive specificity. Written at the cusp of the 1990s, Attali's foresight was prescient in many respects—particularly his focus on the information revolution and the impact of digital technologies. However, other aspects of his prognosis, especially those concerning the rise of certain political or economic powers, have not borne out as neatly as anticipated. For example, his prediction that Japan would emerge as a dominant global force was largely overtaken by the rise of China and the relative economic stagnation of Japan in subsequent decades.
Moreover, Attali’s reliance on broad generalizations and his attempt to cover vast swathes of historical and geopolitical terrain can occasionally dilute the specificity and rigor of his arguments. While the book is ambitious in scope, some readers may find that its conceptual framework lacks sufficient empirical grounding, particularly when it comes to linking specific historical precedents to contemporary and future trends.
Despite these limitations, *Millennium* remains a valuable contribution to the literature on globalization and world order. Attali's analysis of the global future is both imaginative and challenging, provoking important questions about the trajectory of economic and social development. His work encourages readers to think critically about the consequences of globalization and the ethical imperatives of managing global transformations.
“Millennium* is an ambitious and wide-ranging exploration of global change, notable for its interdisciplinary breadth and its ability to anticipate many of the challenges facing the contemporary world. While not all of Attali's predictions have proven accurate, his work remains relevant for those interested in the long-term dynamics of globalization and its potential to reshape the global order. As an intellectual exercise, the book succeeds in highlighting the complexity of global systems and urging readers to consider the deep interconnections between technology, economy, and society in the 21st century.
GPT
Attali’s work is distinguished by its interdisciplinary approach, as he draws on history, economics, politics, and sociology to outline three stages of globalization: "the capitalist order," "the market order," and "the planetary order." According to Attali, the first two stages—rooted in industrial capitalism and the rise of nation-states—will give way to a more complex, transnational system marked by an interdependence of markets, cultures, and political institutions. He identifies key drivers of this transformation, including technological innovation, the growing mobility of capital, and the increasing influence of non-state actors.
One of the strengths of *Millennium* is Attali's lucid treatment of global historical patterns and his ability to synthesize the forces shaping international relations. His analysis is framed by a cyclical understanding of history, where global orders emerge, stabilize, and eventually collapse, only to be replaced by new paradigms. This allows him to address the potential for instability within the international system, especially with regard to the unequal distribution of power and wealth. Attali emphasizes that the coming global order will likely produce both winners and losers—hence the title of the book—and warns of the dangers posed by uncontrolled economic growth, environmental degradation, and rising social inequalities.
Attali’s predictions, while often insightful, tend to oscillate between optimism and alarmism. On the one hand, he foresees the promise of technological advances that will democratize access to information, improve living standards, and foster global cooperation. On the other hand, he issues stark warnings about the dark side of globalization, including the marginalization of entire regions, the exacerbation of poverty in developing countries, and the possibility of conflict between wealthy "techno-elites" and impoverished masses. He frequently returns to the concept of a bifurcated future—one that could either lead to greater human solidarity or to deepening divisions and widespread unrest.
Where the book falters is in its predictive specificity. Written at the cusp of the 1990s, Attali's foresight was prescient in many respects—particularly his focus on the information revolution and the impact of digital technologies. However, other aspects of his prognosis, especially those concerning the rise of certain political or economic powers, have not borne out as neatly as anticipated. For example, his prediction that Japan would emerge as a dominant global force was largely overtaken by the rise of China and the relative economic stagnation of Japan in subsequent decades.
Moreover, Attali’s reliance on broad generalizations and his attempt to cover vast swathes of historical and geopolitical terrain can occasionally dilute the specificity and rigor of his arguments. While the book is ambitious in scope, some readers may find that its conceptual framework lacks sufficient empirical grounding, particularly when it comes to linking specific historical precedents to contemporary and future trends.
Despite these limitations, *Millennium* remains a valuable contribution to the literature on globalization and world order. Attali's analysis of the global future is both imaginative and challenging, provoking important questions about the trajectory of economic and social development. His work encourages readers to think critically about the consequences of globalization and the ethical imperatives of managing global transformations.
“Millennium* is an ambitious and wide-ranging exploration of global change, notable for its interdisciplinary breadth and its ability to anticipate many of the challenges facing the contemporary world. While not all of Attali's predictions have proven accurate, his work remains relevant for those interested in the long-term dynamics of globalization and its potential to reshape the global order. As an intellectual exercise, the book succeeds in highlighting the complexity of global systems and urging readers to consider the deep interconnections between technology, economy, and society in the 21st century.
GPT
July 30, 2015
read while preparing my MBA
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews