CIA’s Report of the National Intelligence Council’s 2020 Project: Mapping the Global Future

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

By OmEr Jamil

By Advocate Sadia Rahat

L.L.B Honors, Shariah & Law

International Islamic University

Islamabad, Pakistan

cia, central-intelligence-agency, usa, united states, america, nic, national-intelligent-council, cia report, 2020 Project, Mapping-the-Global-Future pakistan, islamabad, advocate sadia rahat, shariah, law, political islam, muslim, moslem, moslim, potent force, muslim world, islam world, khilafah, khilafat, caliphate, caliph, khalifah, khaleefah, afghanistan, russia Some months ago, a dear friend of mine (Dr. Abdul Moeed) sent me this article (below: Urdu article) which I couldn’t earlier go through and share with you. Well, here I am now… As we already live in yesterday’s future, our visions of the future become more and more concrete. Today, looking into the furture is not reserved for clairvoyants or warlocks, but is a field for well established scientists and market-researchers. Lately two interesting new studies of the future have been released.

THE CIA STUDY:

The CIA has also introduced its vision with the “Report of the National Intelligence Council’s 2020 Project: Mapping the Global Future”. The 2020 vision of the NIC predicts that American global dominance could end in 15 years. Based on consultation with nongovernmental experts around the world, this future-report states the likely emergence of China and India as new major global players, and that the “political Islam” will still be “a potent force.” But the report also mentions an increasing number of global firms, the spread of new technologies, and the believe that the great power conflict is unlikely to escalate into total war.

“The very magnitude and speed of change resulting from a globalizing world will be a defining feature of the world out to 2020. Other significant characteristics include: the rise of new powers, new challenges to governance, and a more pervasive sense of insecurity, including terrorism. As we map the future, the prospects for increasing global prosperity and the limited likelihood of great power conflict provide an overall favorable environment for coping with what are otherwise daunting challenges.”

All in all the report predicts a positive picture of the future and econonomical growth, but does not forget to include some warnings: “The future of globalization is not fixed; states and nonstate actors” including both private companies and NGOs “will struggle to shape its contours”. “The benefits globalization won’t be global. The greatest benefits of globalization will accrue to countries and groups that can access and adopt new technologies.”

Looking at Europe, the Project states that “Europe’s strength could be in providing a model of global and regional governance to the rising powers. But aging populations and shrinking work forces in most countries will have an important impact on the continent. Either European countries adapt their work forces, reform their social welfare, education, and tax systems, and accommodate growing immigrant populations (chiefly from Muslim countries), or they face a period of protracted economic stasis.”

all quotes are from the following reports: